Design Destination: Florence's most stylish hotels, restaurants and shops
Forever seeking design inspiration, Amira Hashish scours the world for the most fabulous venues. This time she gets lost in Florence...
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Your support makes all the difference.Florence has a hold on all those who visit. Indeed, my dear friend Gaby popped over for a summer trip and is still there seven years later. "It's very special," she tells me whenever I try and lure her back to London.
Maybe it is those winding streets filled with delicious trattorias or the unbeatable architecture that gives the city its charming quality. This is an environment which breeds artisans and takes its fashion and design seriously.
The Ferragamo family dominates the fashion and social scene so it is only fitting that their boutique hotels are the epitome of style.
Their Lungarno Collection comprises four properties and the Portrait Firenze is a must visit.
Florentine architect Michele Bönan used the birth of Italian couture in the 1950s as his inspiration for the interiors. A grey, black and gold colour scheme oozes understated sophistication. Handcrafted furniture evokes Mid-Century Modern and there are kitchens in some of the rooms, niftily hidden behind glossy doors with brass handles. These well formed spaces offer a great lesson in functional luxury.
Iconic photos are seen throughout the six floors of suites and public areas with images taken from the Locchi, Giorgini and Alinari archives. Spot the picture of Salvatore Ferragamo dressing Audrey Hepburn or Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly holidaying in the city. Also look out for big scale works from Florence based master of interiors photography Massimo Listri.
The experience is tailored to be a home away from home and the Portrait Lifestyle Team provides bespoke experiences. Check in desks are a no-no and guests are invited to relax in the lounge, coffee in hand, before being escorted to the room.
Caffè dell’Oro is the place to go for a lovely breakfast or a traditional local dish in glamorous surroundings for lunch.
In the heart of Florence just steps from Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, it could not be better placed for exploring, lungarnocollection.com.
Portrait Firenze offers a three night stay from £968 per person booked through Red Savannah (01242 787800, redsavannah.com) based on two sharing. Includes: three nights in a Portrait Studio on bed and breakfast basis, return flights between Gatwick and Florence Airport with Iberia and private return airport transfers.
For a more classic choice head to Relais Sante Croce.
Fans of traditional Italian architecture will delight in this hotel. The refined spaces in the 18th century palazzo are draped in fine furnishings and frescoed ceilings. Do look up at those breathtaking ceilings or spot the secret holes in the lounge walls where musicans pop up on special occasions.
The suites are some of the biggest in the city and be sure to ask for a room with a terrace. Beautiful views of one of Florence’s most famous basilicas, Santa Croce, and the Florentine skyline are hard to beat.
Part of the Baglioni group, it is the enthusiastic staff that really make the experience. Guests are greeted by smiles and enthusiasm for the city. Ask for top tips for places to check out in the local area. There are some hidden gems in the surrounding streets, baglionihotels.com.
Relais Santa Croce, Florence has rooms available from £236 per night on a B&B basis, including taxes. For booking and further information please visit baglionihotels.com or call +39 055 234 2230.
For luxury encapsulated, head to Palazzo Tornabuoni where there are 27 Private Residences offered under freehold whole ownership. Managed by the Four Seasons group this is an exquisite property which oozes character and history. Indeed, it is where the first ever opera was performed. Owners are free to use their apartments as their principal or second home. Some of the one and two-bedrooms are fully furnished.
Think of it as a live in private members club. Impeccable and ultra exclusive, there aren’t any flats on the market at the moment but annual membership is available from €490,000 (£413,000) for a one bedroom. palazzotornabuoni.com.
Food & Drink hotspots
La Bottega del Buon Caffè
This super chic destination is the place to be seen for Florence’s hip crowd. Tables are draped in grey linen, exposed brick walls create a cool rustic look and quirky chandeliers hang from the ceilings. It is the latest project from Danish husband and wife duo Claus and Jeanette Thottrup who run residential and commercial property design practice PN Homes. After living in their adopted home of London they moved to Italy in 2001 and fell in love with the architecture. They have been developing historic buildings for the last 20 years but decided to combine their property expertise with hospitality. Their magnificent boutique hotel in Tuscany garnered such a strong reputation that they opened a sister restaurant in central Florence this year. The combination of Scandinavian style with Italian food and drink is divine.
“As most of our ingredients are forested, wild or farmed by us, I wanted the interior to reflect this with rustic wooden and forest green decoration. All materials are natural and most are created by artisans from Tuscany or Europe including the lamps, tables and the stone finishes or paintings on the walls. The restaurant also features sottopiatti (place setting) from the Italian navy,” Jeanette tells me.
Executive chef Antonello Sardi, 36, is at the helm. He has been lauded as one of Tuscany’s rising stars, leaping from dishwasher to Michelin-starred chef in the space of a decade. You can watch him prepare his incredible dishes in the open plan kitchen. This is quickly becoming one of the best restaurants in a city built for foodies so book a table while you can, borgointhecity.com.
Il Palagio at the Four Seasons, Florence
For an elegant evening there is no better place than this exquisite restaurant in the Four Seasons. Michelin-starred Italian cuisine, superb wines (there are 400 to choose from) and an indoor-outdoor setting make for a glittering destination. Friendly executive Chef Vito Mollica and his team have earned international acclaim for thoughtful preparation of the freshest local fare.
Coveted ingredients include Paolo Parisi eggs and artisanal Amadei chocolate. Order the tasting menu featuring Lobster Salad or Risotto with seasonal porcini mushroom, chorizo and Bettelmat cheese. Then ask the enthusiastic restaurant manager Gabriele Fedeli (formerly of the Ritz London) for one of his signature rum cocktails, set alight and served with pizzazz, ilpalagioristorante.it.
Le Bistrot at Villa Cora
This palatial property was built in the 1870s by Baron Oppenheim for his wife. It is a love letter to art and architecture. Unashamedly opulent it strikes that perfect balance of extravagance and good taste.
The interiors reflect the relationship between the aristo and his belle. Roses, the Orient, ornate parquet and frescoes conjure passion. The hotel is also home to the only heated outdoor pool in Florence and dinner is served here between April and October. Marble tables sit under a smart white canopy and as the evening draws in the lights twinkle. The authentic Tuscan tasting menu takes you on a tour of the region’s signature dishes. Delicious in every sense of the word, villacora.it.
La Terrazza
When the smart set fancy drinks with a view, they head La Terrazza. This buzzing cocktail bar is at the top floor of the medieval Consorti tower of the fashionable Hotel Continentale. There are views of the Arno, Brunelleschi's Dome, San Miniato, Palazzo Vecchio and Forte Belvedere. Soak it up with a Spritz, lungarnocollection.com.
Alternative attractions
A trip to Florence isn’t complete without perusing its most famous attractions including the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia but there are some brilliant alternatives for those seeking interiors inspiration:
Antico Setificio Fiorentino
One of the last remaining workshops for silk manufacturing in the world. Founded in 1786, its hand-operated and semi-mechanical looms weave beautiful fabrics, embellished by a warper designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. Tours of the factory are by appointment only. Book to see inspiring craftswomen in action, anticosetificiofiorentino.com.
Museo Salvatore Ferragamo
Just below the flagship store, the museum is devoted mainly to the Ferragamo company’s history and the life of its founder Salvatore. The latest exhibition, Across Art and Fashion, questions whether fashion is a cultural movement and features incredible pieces from Alexander McQueen to Andy Warhol, ferragamo.com/museo.
Opera Duomo Museum
Following a major overhaul, the museum opened its doors again this year. More than 750 Renaissance masterpieces are reunited in one grand space, museumflorence.com.
Gucci Museum
Charting the fashion empire’s 90-year history, from its 14th century roots to the present day, guccimuseo.com.
Shopping gems
The Mall
From Pucci to Prada, luxury brands with bargain price tags in Tuscany’s luxury outlet. So worth the 40 minute bus ride from the city centre, themall.it.
Bjork Florence
A concept store with Scandi style fashion brands and books. One for the scenesters, bjorkflorence.com.
Selfhabitat
From 20th century masterpieces and design classics to the latest in contemporary furnishings, there are some coveted items but keep the credit card handy,selfhabitat.it.
Flair
Glamour and craftsmanship come together in a furniture haven, flair.it.
Mio
Quirky design gifts and funky furniture in a cute setting, mio-concept.com.
Frilli Gallery
The best antique and contemporary bronze sculptures, frilligallery.com.
Galleria Bellini
The most famous spot for contemporary art, galleriabellini.com.
Pratesi
The place to go for fabulous Florentine linens, pratesi.com.
Mario Luca Giusti
Striking glassware that won’t break the bank, mariolucagiusti.com.
Top tip
For an ultra exclusive experience visit Firenze Yes Please
Eleven five-star hotels have joined forces with an Italian publisher to set up a website called Firenze Yes Please which is launching imminently. It is aimed at those seeking exclusive access to the city.
The unique project, created by a team of leading media and hospitality professionals, is designed for a sophisticated and cultured clientele of top international spenders. It aims to stir the desire to learn more about the place and the people who live there. The motto is "arrive as guests and leave as friends”.
Famous personalities of the local social, cultural and entrepreneurial scene reveal lesser-known but equally fascinating aspects about the city. The likes of opera superstar Andrea Bocelli, Maison Image director Laudomia Pucciand Uffizi Gallery director Eike Schmidt are on board. Multidisciplinary artist and creative Felice Limosani, whose exhibitions have been on show at Art Basel Miami and the Louvre, is at the helm as Firenze Yes Please's curator.
Contact the organisers to set up a tour of Michelangelo's Secret Room under the Medici Chapel, which is usually closed to the public. Only discovered in the Seventies, this tomb like space is where Michelangelo took refuge and his sketches still remain on the walls. Breathtaking, firenzeyesplease.com.
Follow Amira Hashish on Twitter @amiranews and Instagram @thedesigneditor
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