Beautiful Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy - a Dog-Friendly Review

What’s it like staying at the Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy with a dog? Let’s just say I love staying in hotels that remind me “dog friendly” doesn’t mean sub-standard. The historic Hotel Astoria, the very first hotel erected in the city of Genoa, welcomed us and our dog, and did not disappoint. Here’s everything you need to know!

What You'll Find in this Post

Location

4 Piazza Brignole, Genoa, 16122, Italy

The facade of Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy at night

We don’t like to be totally dependent on public transportation, so finding a dog-friendly hotel that is within walking distance to where we want to go is critical. Hotel Astoria definitely checked the box. We only had one full day in Genoa (two nights at the hotel) and we were able to make the most of our trip on foot. The block the hotel is on is very unassuming, and for a minute I wondered if we were in the right place, but we were – just minutes from amazing restaurants, mouth-watering street food, the ancient harbor, and all the historic sights.

Booking

I booked the Astoria Hotel Genoa after finding it on Booking.com. I used the message feature right away to let the hotel know our arrival time, and that we would have a dog. This is always a good practice because some hotels and other lodging have designated “dog rooms” and only a limited number of them. So, you want to make sure that you are clear you will be bringing a dog.

I once ended up in a predicament standing in the lobby with my dog, only to be told they didn’t have a record of our request and that there were no more rooms. I’ll never make that mistake again!

I also made my standard ask, stating that we’d like a quiet room away from the elevator and foot traffic if possible. Nobody needs a reactive dog by the elevator!

They responded quickly, and all went well. Here’s the link if you need it.

Arrival at Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy

🕒🕚 Check-in time is 3pm, and checkout time is 11am. You can ask in advance for a later checkout which they will provide if they can for a small fee.

🚗 By Car

Parking for the hotel is not on-site, but about a block away. You can pull up straight to the door in one of the five available spots, and bring your luggage and dog inside, check in to the room, and then go park. Same for departure.

We drove here as the first stop of our 16-day road trip through Italy which you can read about here:

Epic 16 Day Italy Road Trip with Your Dog!

✈️ From the Airport

If you are coming in from the Genoa City Airport, it’s about a 19-minute ride by car service or taxi.

🚉 By Train

The hotel is about 1/4 of a mile from the Brignole Train Station, and the Brignole Metro Station.

The Building

You’ll have the pleasure of staying in Genoa’s first-ever hotel, that’s been given stylish modern touches while keeping some wonderful amenities from the past. The original elevator from the 1860s is a trip! I felt like a kid every time we used it! Even Helga the frenchie seemed quite interested in how the whole thing operated. And it amused me to see that it was made by Otis, an American elevator company still going strong today.

An iron grillwork surround for an old elevator in Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy — The original Otis elevator

The crystal chandeliers, arches, marble floors, elegant dining room, and large fish tank in the lobby all added to the atmosphere.

The Room

We stayed in a standard double room which was cozy but not cramped, and immaculately clean.

🛏 The bed was comfortable and Helga-approved, and with plugs on either side of the headboard! There was also a hard floor and no carpeting which we really like. Sometimes carpets can harbor smells only dogs can smell, and we try to avoid the inevitable consequences of that whenever we can!

A french bulldog on the bed at the Astoria Hotel in Genoa — Beds were comfy! Light linens because it was hot

Beds were comfy! Light linens because it was hot

🚿 I really liked the ensuite bathroom, with its black and white hexagonal tiles and modern fixtures. The real treat in there were the toiletries! I don’t normally scavenge all the lotions and potions from hotel rooms, but I totally did this time! The brand is Culti from Milan, and smelled heavenly.

The size of the bathroom was great for Helga, as we usually set her up a little “doggie condo” with everything she’ll need when we go out to dinner or somewhere we can’t take her. It was also adjacent to the outside, rather than another room so it was nice and quiet. She could hear street sounds, but not voices or noises right on the other side of the wall.

🪟 The view was just out to the street, so nothing special there, but the location – so close to everything – made up for that.

✅ The mini-bar came stocked with water and a couple soft drinks which were complimentary. There was also air conditioning in the room, and free wi-fi.

The Breakfast at Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy

Breakfast was 15 Euros per person (about $17) and we thought it was worth it. You’ll find a beautiful selection including eggs and bacon, all kinds of fresh fruit, and amazing baked goods. The dining room is all glass, and full of morning light. We enjoyed it so much that we didn’t bother to seek out any nearby café for our second morning, and opted to do a repeat of the hotel breakfast. And cheese slices were available to take back to the room for the doggo!

Concierge Service

The front desk staff were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They have a full concierge service that will help you plan trips and tours to local attractions in Genoa, and also to Cinque Terre which is only about an hour away up the coast.

The concierge recommended several restaurants for us, and we lucked into an early table at one of them. I highly recommend contacting the hotel well in advance for advice, and making your bookings and dinner reservations as early as possible. I’ll pass along their excellent recommendation to have dinner at Zeffirino, which was full of charm, and made table-side basil pesto which was the absolute best I’ve ever had. Genoa invented basil pesto, so I shouldn’t have been surprised, but this place was *chef’s kiss*

Pet Friendliness of Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy

🍵We did not find bowls or a dog bed in the room, but that was fine because we’d brought our own. And they do have them available upon request which is nice to know in case you are traveling light. Let them know in advance of your stay if you’ll need those, and they will be in your room waiting.

🌳 The hotel sits fairly close to a couple nice parks for walks, but there’s no green space immediately adjacent.

💰At check-out we were surprised to find out that pets stay free! This is very unusual, and at times we’ve paid up to 30 Euros a night for Helga. So, that was a nice touch!

Would We Stay Here Again?

Oh heck yes! The whole experience of staying at Hotel Astoria with a dog was memorable in the best possible way. The staff was kind and helpful, the facilities were clean and well-appointed, the location was great, stellar breakfast, and we and Helga felt very welcomed.

Rating: 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

If you’re ready to book and stay at the Hotel Astoria with your dog, you can do it HERE, and tell them Helga the frenchie sent you!

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Beautiful Hotel Astoria Genoa Italy – a Dog-Friendly Review