Family-run hotel
with emphasis on welcoming ambience
Set on relatively
quiet road one block from main shopping street
Walking distance
from main station and central square
Apartments
include well-equipped kitchens
Free buffet
breakfast
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Small rooms and
tiny bathrooms
Decor a little dated and
mismatched
The 18-room Paradise Hotel is a family-run, mid-range property set on a narrow side street in the center of Bologna. The location is excellent for exploring the city, with the historic center and main train station both within walking distance. Interiors, while well-maintained, are a little dated and even kitsch in places though friendly staff and personal touches create a welcoming atmosphere. While the Paradise Hotel doesn't quite live up to its name, it's one of the better value options in the area if you don't mind the dated decor and rooms on the small side.
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Scene
Welcoming family-run hotel with polished though mismatched interiors
The Paradise Hotel occupies a simple terracotta-toned, corner building whose part-flaking facade and dated signage doesn't give the best first impression. Passing under its red awning and through a set of curved sliding doors, guests enter a long, thin reception area brilliantly lit by copious ceiling spotlights reflected in a polished white floors and numerous mirrored surfaces. While the scene is certainly bright and well maintained, interior design feels generally dated and lacking panache. The family who runs the hotel, however, ensures a warm welcome and the mismatched, occasionally random decor creates an inviting, even quaint, atmosphere.
Location
Set on the corner of a narrow side street 10 minutes' walk from the main square
The hotel is set on a narrow and generally quiet side road just north of the historic heart of Bologna. 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 10 minutes' walk away. The hotel is just inside the ZTL (limited traffic) zone though access by car is still an option (car license should be registered at reception) alternatively Bologna's main train station is under 15 minutes on foot which is also serviced by numerous buses.
Rooms
Rooms are clean and well-maintained, though small and a little dated
The hotel has 18 rooms spread over four floors, as well as a few apartments in a nearby annex that can house up to four people and include small but well-equipped kitchens. Interiors are clean and polished with tiled floors, modern-style furnishings, and patterned fabrics -- like most of the hotel, decor feels dated though clean and well-maintained and there's usually a personal touch in the form of a small gift or note. Rooms, however, are generally very small, especially bathrooms, and while free Wi-Fi, minibars, and flat-screen TVs come as standard, there's not enough rooms for tea/coffee facilities. There have also been reports that the bar opposite the hotel can get a little noisy at weekends, so light sleepers should avoid front-facing rooms.
Features
Simple buffet breakfast and Wi-Fi included in rate -- though little else
There is no restaurant in the hotel, but a simple, buffet breakfast is served each morning and included in the rate. Beyond this, there's little else in the way of facilities besides a very small bar area and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. There is paid parking nearby for those arriving by car, and the hotel staff also has a reputation for being particularly helpful.
