Piazza Venti Settembre 2, Bologna, Italy | (888) 708-2081
Located minutes'
walk from main train station
Bologna's
historic center within walking distance
Deluxe Room bathrooms
finished in slate with sleek bath fixtures
Buffet and early-bird
breakfast free of charge
Contemporary
restaurant and lounge bar
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Parking on-site
(for a fee)
Some rooms in
need of renovation
Cold,
charmless interiors
No spa or health facilities
The 156-room NH Bologna De
La Gare is a business-oriented chain hotel set close to
Bologna's main station. The location is in an excellent spot for access by car and train,
and the city's charming historic center is within walking distance. While some
pricier rooms are nicely finished, those awaiting renovation are in real need
of a makeover (and don't live up to the property's advertised four-star status). Lack of spa or health amenities is another shortcoming and
though there is a contemporary restaurant and bar, it may be hard to justify the hotel's relatively
pricey rates.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Smart, business-oriented hotel in characterless block
The NH Bologna De
La Gare occupies a featureless office-like block remarkable only for its lack
of any obvious charm. Inside, the lobby too is light on character with formal
minimalist black and white interiors with chrome trim detailing lit by ceiling
spotlights and glowing circular lampshades. A collection of comfy, contemporary
couches provide various seating areas around the lobby, while a trio of
elevators ferry guests to the hotel's five floors. Hallways are spacious and
smart, some with stone cladding and glass paneling while others are
finished in polished wood and marble. The hotel as a whole has a slightly
soulless and corporate atmosphere, the design favoring business-like, sleek
functionality over warm and welcoming, and so tends to attract business guests
and the odd unwitting tourist.
Location
Overlooking a piazza near the train station and 15 minutes' walk from historic center
The hotel is
located on an open cobblestone square just inside Bologna's ring road and a
couple minutes' walk from the main train station. Just a block away is the Via
dell'Indipendenza -- the main shopping street of Bologna with numerous bars, restaurants,
shops, and markets -- which leads to the picturesque central square of Piazza
Maggiore about 15 minutes' walk away. The Two Towers -- the symbol of Bologna
-- are also within walking distance as are the city's numerous are numerous
pretty churches and basilicas. The hotel's location also gives easy access to Bologna's
Guglielmo Marconi Airport six miles away, or about 15 minutes by car.
Rooms
Fresh and contemporary or tired and dated -- depending on room type
The hotel has 156
rooms which can be roughly divided into the Deluxe category, which have been renovated, and Standard, which haven't. Deluxe Rooms are fresh and contemporary, with
wood floors, simple white furnishings, and stylish green accents in the bed throws and wallpaper behind the beds. Standard Rooms, on the other
hand, are dated and tired with old-fashioned furniture, drab decor, and
worn red carpets. All rooms were given new mattresses in 2014,
while in-room amenities include free Wi-Fi, minibars, and flat-screen TVs with
satellite. Deluxe bathrooms are nicely finished in black slate with sleek fixtures, while many of the Standard-level bathrooms are showing signs of wear.
The top floor houses the hotel's suites which have superb views overlooking the
city.
Features
Particularly good buffet breakfast free of charge
The hotel's Amarcord
Restaurant serves an extensive buffet breakfast, generally included in the rate
-- an early-bird breakfast-to-go is also available as well as regional
specialties for lunch and dinner. A small, contemporary bar serves drinks and
snacks until midnight in slightly frosty, minimalist surrounds, while there are
nine rooms equipped for meetings or events. Parking is also available for guests arriving
by car, but it's quite expensive.
