Where to Stay in Florence Right Now
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Florence is known as the Cradle of the Renaissance, and its reputation for unmatched art and architecture has made it a must for visitors to Italy. But the Tuscan capital is far from stuck in the past: Throughout the 20th century, it ascended as one of the world’s great fashion hubs. Many of the city’s best hotels strike a fine balance between these two sides—at once dripping in historic grandeur, while also showcasing a sleek, modern aesthetic. That might mean you’ll be sleeping in a 15th-century palazzo with cabanas by the pool, a 19th-century villa with sensory showers in the rooms or an old bank with a spa in the former vaults. Each of these nine hotels is nearly as much of a masterpiece as the nearby statue of David.
Hotel Savoy
Piazza della Repubblica
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Now a member of Rocco Forte Hotels, this elegant classic opened on the Piazza della Repubblica in 1893, within steps of the Duomo. More recently, the interiors were refreshed with glossy parquet floors, vividly colored fabrics, botanical wallpapers and plenty of artsy depictions of shoes and hats—a nod to the hotel’s ownership by the Ferragamo fashion dynasty. The restaurant, Irene, pays homage to traditional Tuscan flavors, and Bar Artemisia, which takes its name from pioneering 17th-century female painter Artemisia Gentileschi, offers clever cocktails like truffle Negronis and a signature martini with notes of tomato and basil. While you’re in town, the hotel’s concierge can set you up with a day trip in a luxury car, a Chianti wine tasting or a private baking lesson.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
San Marco
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Few hotels in Florence have as strong a sense of place as this 121-room Four Seasons outpost, which sprawls across a 15th-century palazzo and a 16th-century wool guild building. Symbolism-laden frescoes and mythological bas-reliefs fill the ceilings and walls, and the grounds incorporate one of the largest private gardens in the city, complete with statues, fountains and trees that were planted centuries ago—plus a pool with lounge chairs and cabanas in soothing pastels. The on-site restaurants and bars are also quintessentially Tuscan, including the Atrium Bar for espresso, afternoon tea or Negroni trolley service; Onde for coastal cuisine; Bar Berni for vermouth with a garden view; and the renowned Il Palagio, where signature dishes include cheese-filled agnolotti with olives and candied cherry tomatoes.
The St. Regis Florence
Piazza Ognissanti
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Tucked away on the north bank of the Arno River, The St. Regis occupies a Renaissance-era palazzo designed by none other than Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect behind the Florence cathedral’s dome. In keeping with that spirit, you’ll find frescoes on the ceiling, antiques-filled suites and details like gilt mirrors and Murano chandeliers. St. Regis loyalists have come to love—and expect—the brand’s signature rituals, such as afternoon tea and a daily champagne sabering ceremony, and they’ll find them here. Of course, there’s also a Tuscan spin on the Bloody Mary, a drink that was perfected at the flagship St. Regis New York. In Florence, it gets a hint of sweetness from grappa made with the grapes more commonly featured in Brunello di Montalcino wine.
THE PLACE Firenze
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
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With just 20 rooms, this town house–style stay on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella feels more like the residence of a chic Florentine than a hotel. The design was inspired by the famed cathedral across the square, including the soft, subtle color palette. Rooms also feature midcentury lighting and contemporary Italian glass tables, while the on-site restaurant boasts crystal glasses, porcelain dinnerware and staff uniforms all made in Florence. Adventurous diners should opt for the “Sharing Is Caring” tasting menu, where every course is a surprise. Also worth trying? The Negroni Experience, which involves making and sipping seven variations on the Florence-born cocktail.
Dimora Palanca
Santa Maria Novella
Decidedly more modern than its grande-dame peers, the latest outpost of this London-based chain has 161 rooms, divided between a 16th-century palazzo and a postmodernist structure from the 1980s. Those in the historic wing nod subtly to Renaissance detailing, while the modern ones sport the bolder colors and geometric patterns associated with the Memphis Group. If the sunny interiors have you dreaming of the seas, the Alassio restaurant is inspired by the Italian Riviera and features a menu of crudos and tartares, plus pastas studded with purple prawns, red mullet, clams and more. Enoteca Violetta, meanwhile, is the hotel’s neighborhood wine bar, with affordable by-the-glass pours and snacks. Digital nomads will love spending time with their laptops in the courtyard, surrounded by potted olive and lemon trees and lulled by the soundtrack of a three-tiered fountain.
Grand Hotel Minerva
Santa Maria Novella
This art-filled grand hotel has lived many lives: It started in the 13th century as a home for monks who distilled prized liquors; it became a hotel in 1848, welcoming travelers on the Grand Tour; and it was redesigned in the 1950s by architect Carlo Scarpa. The latest remodel is a celebration of that midcentury incarnation, complete with a mix of modernist and antique furnishings, and the centuries of history still shine through in the coffered ceilings, elaborate frescoes and Venetian glass chandeliers. Art lovers will marvel at the private collection, which leans toward 20th-century Italian works, and the seasonal rooftop pool offers some of the most dazzling panoramas anywhere in the city.
La Gemma Hotel
Centro Storico
Opened in 2023 in the heart of the historic district, the family-owned La Gemma pairs Art Deco silhouettes and rich jewel tones (especially emerald green) with surprising nods to the tropics, such as wallpapers covered in palm fronds and macaws. There are only 39 rooms and suites, and each features furnishings by renowned Italian designers and sumptuous materials like velvet, linen and marble. If the constant flow of tourists outside your front door proves to be a little tiring, save time for a treatment (or two, or three) in the subterranean Allure Spa, which includes a hydrotherapy pool and aromatic saunas. The hotel also houses the ambitious Luca’s restaurant, where chef Paulo Airaudo dreams up unique dishes like Wagyu steak with artichokes and morels, quail plin with lemongrass and chile, and goat cheese flan.
Helvetia & Bristol Firenze
Starhotels Collezione
Centro Storico
Part of the Starhotels Collezione, Helvetia & Bristol is actually two hotels in one. Helvetia has been going strong since the late 1800s, when it welcomed intellectuals from across Europe; in 2016, Bristol wing was added in the 19th-century Banco di Roma branch next door. (Guest rooms match the vibe of each space, with antiques and restored artworks in the former, and modern furnishings in shades of gray in the latter.) The vaults of the former bank now house a spa that’s influenced by the Roman baths that once occupied this site. But the most picturesque part of the property might be the Winter Garden, which is decked out in chinoiserie-style wallpaper, blue velvet seats and potted palms under a stained-glass ceiling.
The Hoxton, Florence
Piazza della Libertà
Decidedly more modern than its grande-dame peers, the latest outpost of this London-based chain has 161 rooms, divided between a 16th-century palazzo and a postmodernist structure from the 1980s. Those in the historic wing nod subtly to Renaissance detailing, while the modern ones sport the bolder colors and geometric patterns associated with the Memphis Group. If the sunny interiors have you dreaming of the seas, the Alassio restaurant is inspired by the Italian Riviera and features a menu of crudos and tartares, plus pastas studded with purple prawns, red mullet, clams and more. Enoteca Violetta, meanwhile, is the hotel’s neighborhood wine bar, with affordable by-the-glass pours and snacks. Digital nomads will love spending time with their laptops in the courtyard, surrounded by potted olive and lemon trees and lulled by the soundtrack of a three-tiered fountain.
Booking With Chase Travel
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Looking for inspiration? Eligible Chase cardmembers can explore hotel reviews and editor-curated guides at chasetravel.com.
Lead photo courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze.
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