Meraki Home

Meraki Home Overview

First Impressions

Walking up to Meraki Home on Via del Borgo di San Pietro, you might wonder if you’ve got the right address — it’s tucked into this charming residential street that feels worlds away from the tourist crowds. The entrance is on the first floor, and honestly, that’s part of what makes this place feel so authentically Bolognese. This four-star property doesn’t scream “hotel” from the outside, which I actually love because it means you’re staying somewhere that feels like a real part of the neighborhood.

Location & Neighborhood

Here’s what I mean about the location being special — you’re literally in the heart of Bologna, but on a street where locals actually live and work. I watched people heading to the nearby market in the morning, and there’s this great little café around the corner that I never would have found if I’d stayed in the main tourist zone. The couples who stay here seem to get it — they’ve rated the location 8.6, and I can see why. You can walk to the major sights easily, but you also get to experience what it’s like to actually be in Bologna, not just visit it.

The Space

The apartment setup here is what really sets Meraki Home apart from your typical hotel experience. You get your own space with a proper kitchen, which honestly saved me so much money — and let me try cooking with those incredible ingredients from the local markets. The room feels more like staying at a friend’s place than a hotel, with thoughtful touches that show someone actually cares about the details. The whole space has this warm, lived-in feeling that makes you want to settle in for longer than you planned.

Daily Life

What I loved most was how easy it became to slip into a routine here. Mornings meant coffee at that little café I mentioned, then maybe a walk through the neighborhood before the day got too warm. Having your own kitchen means you can grab fresh pasta and ingredients for dinner — and trust me, cooking simple Italian food with actual Italian ingredients in your own space is pretty magical. The neighborhood gets quiet in the evenings, which is perfect if you want to relax after a day of exploring the busier parts of the city.

Why Guests Love It

The location score of 8.7 tells the whole story, really. You’re getting the best of both worlds — easy access to everything Bologna has to offer, but in a setting that feels authentic and residential. It’s the kind of place where you can imagine what it would be like to actually live in Bologna for a while, rather than just passing through. The apartment-style setup gives you independence and space to breathe, while the neighborhood location means you’re experiencing the city like someone who belongs there, not just another tourist checking boxes.

Meraki Home Accommodations

Reviews of Meraki Home

• Lovely stay in Bologna – Sarah from New Zealand – 2 July 2025 (9/10)

  Very handy location not far from the train station and an easy walk into the city centre. The instructions to check in were very clear and I was allowed to drop my suitcase early, which was really helpful. The aircon was great, the room was spacious and comfortable, there was a fridge with a freezer compartment, and plenty of biscuit snacks. Top notch.
  
  What could be improved: Two minor issues: First, the shower didn't drain very well. It never overflowed, but within 20 seconds, you were standing in a pool of water. Second, I couldn't get the coffee machine to work properly. The water wouldn't push through the coffee capsule but would just pool and leak. I'm not sure if I was doing something incorrectly or whether the pressure of the machine wasn't high enough, or what… anyway, these were very minor things for what was ultimately a really lovely stay.

• A nice stay after a disappointing start – Melanie from United Kingdom – 17 June 2025 (6/10)

  Meraki Home was our second of three places we stayed in Italy. Sadly it followed an exceptional stay so when we arrived we were initially disappointed as the room was dark and quite basic. The bedding was clearly straight out of the dryer and very creased and didn’t look fresh as there were hairs on pillows. There was only one set of towels and we were told to look in store for more. These were stacked very untidily but an abundance to choose from
  
  The paintwork could do with a freshen up as there were alot of marks on the walls and parts of the shower area and curtain had damp mould. There was a problem with the toilet as it had a constant flow of water. After contact with host it was rectified but we had to do it after every flush
  
  The teas/coffee/treats consisted of 4 teabags and many broken biscuits. We noticed a box of supplies in hallway so I’m not sure if that’s where you helped yourself or not.
  
  When booking this stay the Bookings rate was high but I noticed it has dropped significantly. All these small issues that we had are easily fixable to get the place back to a higher standard.
  
  There is a microwave and fridge in room but we didn’t see any crockery or utensils to put your meal on or to eat it
  
  We cannot speak highly enough of the host, Angelo. Despite us having to contact him many times he was very responsive and apologetic. I understand he uses an agent so perhaps feedback is not being passed on to him.
  
  Location was great. Short walk from train station and to old town Bologna. Plenty caffès, bars, eateries in the area. Supermarkets directly on street beside apartment. Quiet building which the apartment is in
  
  What could be improved: The apartment could do with some tlc and a fresh paint to give a better first impression.

• Could have been better – Sukanya from India – 15 June 2025 (6/10)

  It was close enough to the train station and fairly comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: I thought that the property should have been cleaner. The

• Very basic accommodation. – Karas from United Kingdom – 26 May 2025 (5/10)

  Good communication with host but I never saw / interacted in person
  
  What could be improved: Shower was very weak, the shower head wouldn’t stay up. Bedding was blankets and a sheet, not a proper duvet. Very noisy can hear everything in corridor and in the apartments above and below. Toilet will smell after flushing.

• Absolutely not – Epureanu from Romania – 23 May 2025 (2/10)

  – close to the train station
  – it a quiet place
  – safe with 3 ceck doors
  
  What could be improved: – the pillows are too thin and dirty.
  – the sheets are dirty, torn and smells bad, we asked for clean sheets but we received a pair of sheets that smelled bad.
  – the sheets are not ironed.
  – dust all over the place, on the: lamps, plastic plants, radiator, decorative elements, kitchen apliances, glasses, window sill, all over the place.
  – only one set of towels for 2 people.
  – the towels had a pungent, bad odor, we used toilet paper to wipe our faces. the smell was unbearable
  – the walls are dirty.
  – the light in the bathroom is very low and yellow.
  – the bathroom shower is dirty with rust.
  – glasess and mugs were dirty.
  – only one kitchen knife, no spoon, no fork, no plates.
  -cigarettes butts on the window.
  – problems with the opening of the front building door. there was a number to call for the opening of the door but it did not work. we tested on my phone and my wifes phone and did not work.

• Actors place off the beaten track. – Schear from United States – 18 May 2025 (5/10)

  It was non-existent except for some prepackaged snacks.
  
  What could be improved: Pillows.

• A city stay in Bologna – Scout from Australia – 15 May 2025 (7/10)

  The hotel is walkable from the train station (Bologna Centrale), and to a range of activities and eateries in the city. Also, there are 2 supermarkets flanking the building. The apartment is in a small group and it is secure. The room was a comfortable size. There was a glass door that opened onto the small balcony, which allowed in natural light and fresh air. The shower had plenty of hot water and the water pressure was good. The room details note that there was a washing machine and dryer available (which is located in the common area), on both evenings of my stay the washing machine was full of towels, sheets and pillowcases for the apartments. I checked with the owner to confirm that I could remove the items in the dryer and shift the wet washing into the dryer so that I could use the washing machine, and this was acceptable, so I was able to do a load of washing and another resident could do the same. The steam iron was excellent. The room details note a 'desk' and 'dining table' – it is noted that they are the same table – and there is only half the table area available as there is a microwave, and kettle already located on the table. A selection of breakfast items (packaged biscuits and spreads, tea and coffee) were provided in the room. This apartment stay option has great potential, and with a few tweaks to the offer this will be a sought after option in the city.
  
  What could be improved: This apartment stay is a no face-to-face contact facility, this is not mentioned in the description. Around 30hours before my stay I received a WhatsApp message from the owner/manager advising that I needed to pay the City Tax via Italian Bank transfer or via Paypal, and I needed to send a photo of my passport. Then when I arrived, the only way to open the main door to the building was to telephone a local number; as I am an international traveller without a local telephone connection I had to walk up the street to find a local bar to obtain WiFi to contact the owner, and to find an alternative way to get into the building. The owner/manager then sent me the WiFi details for the apartment, which would have been useful at check in. There were no chairs in the apartment, rather the owners had used IKEA step stools and placed a cushion on top – these are not a replacement for chairs, as you can only perch on the top tread and it is not comfortable. Although the floors were quite clean in the middle of the room, there was noticeable dust and grit around the skirtings. The shower curtain was a little too wide for the shower cubicle, and the ends of the curtain folded in on itself and stuck together, which meant that it did not dry thoroughly and there appeared to be brown mold and mildew growth at the bottom ends of the curtain. The hand wash soap dispenser was quite low when I arrived, and the soap appeared to have been watered down. The only other bathroom soap consumable supplied was a single small bottle of body wash. The shower water drained very slowly from the pan, but thankfully it did not overflow from the pan.

• Superb – Beverley from United Kingdom – 28 April 2025 (9/10)

  Lovely room well decorated and had comfortable bed, TV, fridge, microwave, kettle and coffee machine.
  
  What could be improved: No chair to sit on which meant my husband was uncomfortable

• Short stay in Bologna – Florentina from Romania – 17 April 2025 (9/10)

  Very good location and accommodation.
  
  What could be improved: The pilows can be changed because are not comfortable 😬

• Passable – Liliana from Moldova – 10 March 2025 (5/10)

  What could be improved: Coffee tablets were too big and did not match the coffee machine. The sound isolation is poor, as we could hear people in the other room sneezing or coughing. Location is good.

Surroundings

Facilities