Wow, what a stunner of a hotel - real design aspects in Rimini old town.

From the second you walk in to reception it is an impressive place. Staying in the mid range room we were happy with virtually everything - it was clean, bright, good AC, comfortable and mostly quiet, though on some nights we could hear people outside in the bar downstairs, though the sound proofing was great.

The only problems we had were the shower / bathroom - it was a gorgeous wet room shower, but the head was half falling off and it didn't "rain" down as well as it probably should have, and the fact that the bathroom just steamed up so badly that it took ages to clear.

Now to our surprise in a hotel room in Italy, the only mirrors were in the bathroom. It seems crazy - so the steaming up meant delaying getting ready because there were no mirrors to see yourself.

Anyone reading this from the Duomo - please put more mirrors in the bedroom! Then next time I stay there - 5 full stars!

Overall though, a great standard and worth the extra money.

This little hotel is right in the centre of Rimini, which you would say is a disadvantage. Most nice hotels would be on the beach-front, right? This place carved a great niche for itself, because everything about it is quirky with a tasteful elegant modern design twist. The minute you walk into this place, you know you're going to be pleasantly surprised throughout your stay. The reception desk is a huge chrome doughnut like something out of the Starship Enterprise. The rooms are tastefully designed in a retro-60's type look. The best thing is the minibar based on trust. Every floor has a little minibar set up in the corridor with all the drinks you can imagine. You just take what you want, and write it down in a little logbook with your room number next to it. That's trust for you!

The good
-Breakfast: everything on the buffet is home-baked and home cooked
-Design: very nice
-Service: very friendly
-Decent bed
-Sound-proofed floors: a soft linoleum that eliminates annoying footsteps of neighbours.
-Bathroom: modern with rain-shower

The bad
-Can't get to it with your car, but they have a valet car parking and minibus service in a VW bus

Location is excellent. It is in the historic town. The main shopping street of Rimini just right on the corner. i really mean it.
The street where the hotel situated is quiet.
The interior design is amazing. Thanks to Ron Arad. That's how a design hotel should look like. Spacious lobby with a fantastic counter desk. It's like something from the Star Trek.
We had one of the suites. Well designed. Nothing really else to say. Go, see for yourselves.
White and green colours in the living and sleeping area. Tasteful. The bathroom is mainly white with redish brown wooden flooring. Nice Alessi stuff inside. My kinda design.
Furnitures are a bit worn out. A small spot here, a small spot there. This was only thorn in my side. A world class design hotel should not have these spots.
The staff is kind, friendly and helpful.

Anyway, it's a perfect place to stay when you are around.

4 nights in May at this great hotel. Ultra modern design works well, great "honesty" bar on each floor with free water. Excellent breakfast. The staff were extremely helpful, their recommendations for restaurants were infallible. Only problem is gettin there by car, the sat nav insisting on taking us up the pedestrian precincts. Located in the centre of the old city but only 15 minutes walk from the beach this was one of our great finds.