The Family-Run Hotel That Will Make You Fall in Love With Florence

Stay Here For

A quiet, family-owned stay a few steps from the Duomo.

Hotel Savoy was built when part of the medieval city was razed and replaced by a handful of grand squares and boulevards. In 1893, the hotel opened on the site of the Mercato Vecchio, quickly becoming a meeting place for the Florentine aristocracy. It was considered the pinnacle of luxury, with all the latest technology, including central heating, elevators and electric lights. It was taken over by Rocco Forte Hotels in the 1990s and renovated in 2018 and 2025.

Rocco Forte may not be a household name in the U.S., but the hotel brand’s founder has hospitality in his DNA: Forte’s father once helmed one of the largest hotel companies in the world. Rocco Forte Hotels is a family affair—perhaps that’s why the hotels all feel like siblings. If you’ve stayed at one (say, Hotel de Russie in Rome or Villa Igiea in Palermo), you’ll recognize many of the same hallmarks at the Savoy.

As you approach the entrance, a bellhop will welcome you and whisk away your bags. Step inside the white sunlit lobby and you’ll find classical architecture jazzed up by colorful, punchy details like lavish displays of fresh flowers and an exuberant chandelier.

The rooms and suites are done in muted colors, with botanical wallpaper and unique only-in-Florence details, like tables by a local studio that makes brass furnishings, and in-room dining menus covered in marbled paper, an ancient craft traditional in Florence. There’s also a selection of classic titles, which you’re welcome to read during your stay.

All of Rocco Forte Hotels’ food and beverage programs are overseen by lauded chef Fulvio Pierangelini, who deals in simple Mediterranean dishes made with high-quality ingredients and local flavors. The unfussy fare gets a boost when Pierangelini employs lobster, black garlic or seasonal truffles as one of three. Irene’s entrée of veal cutlets served with green beans and saffron rice tastes anything but simple.

The whole thing is a love letter to Florence—a celebration of its artistry, cuisine and culture—and you might just find yourself feeling like part of the family before checkout.

The Essentials

The Location

Location, location, location: The exact center of Florence, marked by the Colonna dell’Abbondanza, is right outside Hotel Savoy.

The foremost characteristic of a Rocco Forte hotel is always its location, and in Florence it doesn’t get more central than Hotel Savoy. Its doors open directly onto Piazza della Repubblica. Major sites including the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Gallerie degli Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze are at most a 10-minute walk away. Caffè Gilli, directly opposite the hotel, claims to be the oldest café in Florence, and Badiani, just around the corner, is one of the city’s best gelaterias.

The Rooms

If the view over the iconic Piazza della Repubblica isn’t enough, Artist Suites are decorated with lots of dreamy visuals: original artwork, fresh flowers, parquet floors, sumptuous textiles and a lavish marble bathroom.

Olga Polizzi, the hotel brand’s director of design (and Forte’s sister), decorated the rooms and suites in pale blues and greens with pops of vibrant yellow, teal, cobalt or lime green. Rooms, some of which have wallpaper that looks like watercolor leaves, have bespoke furniture by local artisans. Veined arabesque marble bathrooms have either a rainfall shower or tub—if you want to be sure to get a bathtub, book a Junior Suite or higher. Some rooms look directly onto Piazza della Repubblica, with its colorful carousel, while others have a partial view of the Duomo. The rooms on the second floor have extra-high ceilings.

A 2018 renovation brought the room count down from more than 100 to 79, to create more spacious suites. There are 30 now, including four Artist Suites and the Duomo Presidential Suite, which has an oversize living room with views of Brunelleschi’s famous dome, a dining room with a wine fridge that can be personalized (options include Krug, Ornellaia, Gaja, Biondi-Santi and Marchesi Antinori), a king-size bedroom and two bathrooms.

The Bar and Restaurant

At Hotel Savoy’s restaurant, Irene, chef Fulvio Pierangelini’s signature ravioli is made with delicate sheets of fresh pasta and filled with broccoli, burrata and black truffle. Other menu highlights include gambero rosso crudo topped with ricotta, and a fillet of sea bass served over olive oil mashed potatoes and topped with artichokes. During breakfast, the restaurant puts on a lavish buffet laden with sweet and savory items, including mozzarella and prosciutto, croissants, fruit and fresh juices pressed to order.

The hotel’s new Bar Artemisia is dominated by a dramatic mural that combines elements from paintings by 17th-century artist Artemisia Gentileschi and her renowned teacher, Caravaggio. Between the bold interior design and an inspired cocktail selection, Hotel Savoy has created an instant Florentine classic. The spiced and layered Chianti Punch cocktail matches the murals and honors the classic Tuscan wine.

The Standout Feature

Just inside the 19th-century façade on the city’s lively Piazza della Repubblica, guests can relax into the effortless, modern hospitality of Hotel Savoy.

What really makes the difference at the hotel is the affability of the staff. Where other luxury hotels can sometimes feel stiff and formal, Hotel Savoy is invested in making you feel right at home. Little gestures make you feel seen, like a bookmark placed in the novel you’d left face down on the nightstand, and being greeted by name when you return from a day’s sightseeing.

The Time to Go

Spring and fall are ideal weather-wise, but as more travelers catch on to the shoulder seasons, it’s getting harder to escape the crowds, unless you come in winter. Summers are very hot and very busy, except in August, when locals escape to the sea.

The Vibe

The dark, moody design of Bar Artemisia contrasts with that of Irene’s light-filled and boldly patterned interior. (Photo courtesy of Hotel Savoy)

What are people drinking? Glasses of Tuscan wine rarely sold by the glass; at Hotel Savoy, the wines are kept fresh thanks to the Coravin system, so you can give them a try without committing to a bottle.

What might surprise you? The Savoy has won many awards, the most unexpected of which is for the best club sandwich in Florence. It’s well deserved: a perfectly toasted, dressed, trimmed and delicious delivery system for fresh local produce.

What are you packing? At dinner, the crowd tends to be well-dressed but not ostentatious. At breakfast, guests are dressed even more casually. You’re not going to scrutinize the bill, but over-the-top displays of wealth aren’t your style.

In addition to partaking in spa treatments, guests are invited to linger and enjoy the unparalleled views over Florence.

Everything Else