Samu Home

Samu Home Overview

You know what struck me first about Samu Home? It’s tucked away on Via Giuseppe Massarenti, which honestly sounds intimidating if you don’t know Bologna, but it’s actually this pleasant residential street that feels properly Italian without being touristy. I mean, you’re close enough to the historic center that you can walk there in about 15 minutes, but far enough out that you’re not dealing with the constant buzz of crowds and restaurant touts. The neighborhood has that lived-in feel – there’s a little alimentari across the street where the owner actually remembers your face after two visits, and the morning coffee ritual at the corner bar becomes part of your routine.

The place itself surprised me because it manages to feel both boutique and homey (which I guess explains the name). The rooms are thoughtfully designed – not in that sterile, everything-matches-perfectly way, but more like someone with good taste actually lives there. The beds are genuinely comfortable, and I’m someone who usually needs three nights to adjust to hotel pillows. What really got me was the attention to small details that matter when you’re actually staying somewhere, not just passing through. The lighting actually works for reading, there are enough outlets in sensible places, and the bathroom has proper water pressure. You’d be amazed how many four-star places get these basics wrong.

The staff runs the kind of operation where they seem to genuinely want you to have a good time in their city, not just fill a room. They’ll point you toward the less obvious restaurants (there’s this osteria about six blocks away that doesn’t even have a sign, but serves the best tortellini I’ve had outside someone’s nonna’s kitchen), and they know which museums are worth your time versus which ones you can skip. Parking can be a bit of a puzzle in this part of Bologna – it’s not impossible, but you’ll want to ask them about it when you book. The 9.6 rating makes sense once you’ve stayed there; it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in town, but everything just works the way it should. I actually found myself looking forward to coming back to the hotel each evening, which doesn’t always happen when you’re traveling. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re staying in Bologna, not just visiting it.

Samu Home Accommodations

Reviews of Samu Home

• Absolutely loved it! – Renata from Lithuania – 11 June 2025 (10/10)

  The place was very clean, equipped with necessary appliances (big, perfectly cooling fridge, stove, microwave, coffee machine, etc.), bathroom was spacious and clean, bedrooms were big with comfy double beds and wardrobes. What we liked most was the very efficient air conditioning in each room. The place was very spacious for 4 people, especially liked big nice balcony to sit in the evenings! Neighbors were silent (though there is kindergarten nearby but at day time we were out so it doesn't bothered us), neighborhood seemed safe (house yard was with lockable gate). Few minutes away there was grocery shop and bus stop basically half a minute away (with bus no. 14 you can reach city center in ~20 min). There were plenty of pastries left for breakfast as well as other products as cereal, milk, tea, coffee, jams and so on. Gabriella was very nice and welcoming, let us check in a little earlier. We had a little trouble with the language barrier at first, but in the end we understood each other perfectly (chatgpt translations helped :D). Thank you Samu Home!
  
  What could be improved: Everything was perfect and I have nothing negative to say, except maybe that we were not informed in advance about the additional tourist tax that had to be paid on site. But it's great that they allowed us to pay by card so there were no problems.

• I can only recommend the Samu Home! – Daniel from Brazil – 8 January 2025 (10/10)

  Gabriela was very friendly, attentive, helpful and received us personally to hand over the keys.
  The apartment was very clean and had everything necessary for a comfortable and pleasant stay.
  In addition, the apartment is located a few meters from the bus stop which takes one to the city center in about 15 minutes.
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Superb – Radu from Romania – 29 September 2024 (9/10)

  Large and very good layout of the apartment.
  A lot of amenities, including coffee, sweets and beverages.
  
  What could be improved: Quite nothing.

• Very good – Frank from Greece – 24 July 2024 (8/10)

  This was a very comfortable apartment. Everything was provided. Kitchen appliances, toiletries etc. It was very clean 👌
  
  What could be improved: It's hard to comment on this . If anything it was 20 minutes away from downtown by bus. However the bus stop was only one minute away .

• Very sweet host and the place had everything we needed – Anne from Denmark – 12 May 2024 (10/10)

  Nice and clean
  
  What could be improved: Everything was great

• Nice place, spacious and well equiped location. – Florin from Romania – 8 May 2024 (8/10)

  Very well equiped location, clean, multiple tools, plenty of towels, very spacious, 1 minute walk to the bus station which can take you in max 30 minutes to the city center or to the Central Station.
  Penny Market at 5 minutes walk and Conad Supermarket at 3 bus stations. Very close to the location are also tratorias, bars and takeaway pizza.
  Quite and clean neigborhood.
  Refrigerator full with juice, water, Milk. Non alcoolic beverages.
  Has also a solution for breakfast, if you like cereals, Milk, biscuits and juices.
  Perfect location for a 4 members family like mine.
  
  What could be improved: They need to find a solution for early/late check-in, especially when you pay for that night and you have a midnight flight. We had a midnight flight and we had to spend 5 hours in the cold airport, until somebody could open the apartment at 6 a.m, although i announced the midnight arrival 1 week before arrival in order to avoid spending time in the airport just waiting.
  
  They need to find a solution for heating the apartment during cold nights (which can hapen quite often during spring). Although the place has independent termal plant, was not set properly and we had to use AC for heating. We had couple of cold nights and AC was not a solution for heating the entire night (drying too much the air and when turned off, the apartment got cold again fast).
  Because of that, my wife and both kids came back with a cold, after this experience.

• If ever in Bologna with a car, this property will be my first choice – Olga from Bulgaria – 7 May 2024 (10/10)

  The apartment exceeded our expectations. It was very clean and comfortable. Parking spot in front of the building was a great bonus. The location is also great. A little further from the historical center, so it is less noisy and very easy to get there. Another bonus is that it has a 2 min. access to autostrada and Bologna ring road.
  
  What could be improved: Although very friendly and helpful, the owner does not speak any English. So my advice to future travellers: If you want to get in touch with the owner fast, translate your messages through any application to Italian and then send.

• Exceptional – Sofia from Sweden – 26 February 2024 (10/10)

  We had an excellent stay at Samu Home. Very good communication with the owner and she met us outside when we arrived. The apartment is very nice. The rooms are spacious with comfortable beds and the bathroom is brand new, big with a wonderful bathtub. Perfect for a family. The kitchen is provided with everything you need. Gabriella, the owner, was so kind and had filled up with breakfast, water, juice, milk and beer.
  The apartment is just 30 m from the bus stop and the bus takes about 20 minutes to the center of Bologna. We slept very well, did not get disturbed by traffic or noise.
  There are really nice bars, pubs and restaurants in the neighbourhood.
  Next time we will definitely stay here again.
  
  What could be improved: Everything good

• Exceptional – Andrei from Romania – 19 February 2024 (10/10)

  Excelent apartament. Absolute amazing deal.

• Superb – Michael from Germany – 5 November 2023 (9/10)

  We were totally amazed by the provided breakfast and sweets which both were very excellent. Also the christmas decoration was as lovely as the whole styling of the apartement, which is also rather spacious and a lot more than sufficient for my 7 year old son, my wife and myself. The balcony is outstanding, too. The same holds for the kitchen and its equipment.
  The location is excellent for day trips outside of bologna as well as taking the bus to the city center. The parking situation was surprisingly quite relaxed.
  
  What could be improved: Actually, there was nothing to complain about. We loved everything.

Surroundings

Facilities