The very best boutique hotels in Florence, Italy promise divine art and style in the Tuscan capital
The Jewel of the Renaissance excels at hospitality.
A holiday in Italy is always a good idea. And if you’re heading to Tuscany, a visit to the region’s capital is a must. Whether you’re there to marvel at the iconic Duomo, see David face-to-face, or to sample gelato in the city where it was invented, you’ll need somewhere idyllic to lay your head. Our guide to the best boutique hotels in Florence promise you an exceptional stay in this art-filled metropolis.
If you’re in Florence, you might like to join some of the skip-the-line gallery tours run by art historians available through CiaoFlorence.
The best boutique hotels in Florence, Italy
1. Villa Cora
Villa Cora is undoubtedly one of the most lavish hotels in Florence. Located in a park overlooking the famous Boboli Gardens inside a 19th-century villa, inside you’ll find no shortage of marble sculptures, gilded mirrors and marble fireplaces.
The rooms, which include the Classic, Deluxe, and the stunning Imperial Suite, all have incredible frescoed ceilings and elegant headboards, and some have private balconies overlooking the gardens. The Imperial Suite also features a bathroom made from coveted Carrera marble.
The large garden is home to a beautiful, shady swimming pool surrounded by white deck chairs and hundreds of roses, and you can simply head inside to the lower floor to visit the spa, which includes a gym, tepidarium, sauna and hammam, plus treatment rooms.
The luxury doesn’t stop there – you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel, which includes Italian classics and a seasonal dinner menu that is served outside in summer, or sip on a drink at the bar.
Discover more about Villa Cora
2. Etra Collection
You’ll find this luxury hotel just steps from the Duomo, down a small cobbled street inside Palazzo Todescan, a lavish 19th-century home. A self-proclaimed urban retreat, the interiors at Etra Collection combine touches of tradition with chic modern design and contemporary artwork.
Choose from Signature, Family, or the Presidential Suite – even the Signature sleeps six and comes with a spacious, leather-clad living room, roaring fire, and access to their two-Michelin star chef. The suites are more like apartments, with huge kitchens, hallways, multiple design-forward bedrooms, and epic amenities like cashmere sheets, sunken baths, and a chromotherapy shower.
Experiences at Etra are called exclusive for a reason: private chauffeured tours to nearby vineyards, access to a private catamaran, personal shopping and visits to some of Florence’s best museums in total privacy; Etra after all, is Arte backwards.
Check out Etra Collection
3. Casa G Firenze
A historic city home to an equally historic hotel, Casa G Firenze is housed in a former palazzo and has recently been restored to retain its heritage while introducing some modernity. The hotel has just fifteen rooms, starting from Cosy and going up to Suites, which span two floors. Each is spacious, with wooden floors and bright bedding, but the frescoed ceilings and antique furniture remind you of the building’s past.
The hotel packs a surprising amount into its walls, including a living room for decompressing with a glass of wine, two marble-clad breakfast rooms, and leafy patios perfect for soaking up the Tuscan sun. There’s an honesty bar and personal concierge service, and although Casa G doesn’t have an onsite restaurant, you’re surrounded by some of the city’s best eateries.
Read more about Casa G
4. Helvetia & Bristol, Firenze – Starhotels Collezione
Welcoming guests into its hallowed halls since, 1885, Helvetia & Bristol is something of a Grand Dame of the Florence hospitality scene. Always seeking to delight, a new wing has recently been added, with interiors by acclaimed designer Anouska Hempel. The addition includes the largest luxury spa in the historic centre, which includes caldarium, tepidarium, sudatorium, frigidarium, and two spa pools.
Rooms and suites are as picturesque as what you’d imagine for a property with such history. Great care was taken during the renovation to restore and resurrect vintage furniture at the hotel and exceptional thought was put into choosing soft furnishing that showcase the talents of local makers and artisans, from brocade to parquet flooring.
Guests will fall in love with the daily breakfast featuring pastries by Maestro Iginio Massari, plus local and international foodies flock to the onsite restaurant Cibrèo.
Learn more about Helvetia & Bristol, Firenze – Starhotels Collezione
5. Palazzo di Camugliano
In a prime location next to Santa Maria Novella, Palazzo di Camugliano is a prime example of a historic home-turned-hotel in Florence. The grand 16th-century residence is all thick rugs, velvet curtains, and gold detailing, making it feel palatial inside. The thirteen rooms have high ceilings adorned with gilded stuccos, plus four poster beds, and either marble or wooden decor, depending on the room level. Each room also features a flat-screen TV, a large marble bathroom, and adjoining rooms in the suites.
Elsewhere, there’s a sitting room and buffet room where you can enjoy high tea, and staff can cater to your every request, whether booking a restaurant or ordering a massage service. You can enjoy breakfast at the hotel and although they don’t serve other meals, you can book a private dinner, along with other experiences such as museum visits, cooking classes, Tuscan wine tastings, and excursions to nearby cities – including to the hotel family’s countryside estate for a day of truffle hunting.
Learn more about Palazzo di Camugliano
6. Arte’ Boutique Hotel Florence
If you’re searching for a stay with views of the Duomo, Arte’ Boutique Hotel Florence is the place to choose. The historic palazzo has been transformed with contemporary design, colours and furniture to create a fun hotel that still feels luxurious.
Rooms here are generally small and cosy, with the exception of the Penthouse and Grand Suites. The former is multi-storey and modern, with hot pink furnishings, a large terrace and a marble bathroom, while we recommend the Executive Grand Suite, which has 19th Century frescoes, rich blue and gold furnishings, Ginseng toiletries, and sleeps up to five people.
The hotel is relatively small, so there’s no restaurant or bar to speak of, but from 6pm each day, you can enjoy a free glass of fizz and appetisers before you head out into the city for dinner.
Read more about Arte’ Boutique Hotel Florence
7. Hotel Lungarno
Hotel Lungarno is a classic reimagined after undergoing a huge renovation for its fifty-year anniversary. The hotel is right on the River Arno and has stylish interiors that mix wood, glass, and leather to create an upscale feeling.
There are a variety of rooms to choose from, but our pick is the opulent Rooftop Terrace Suite, River View, in which you’ll enjoy 360-degree views over Florence from your private roof terrace while eating breakfast or watching the sun go down. It has two bedrooms, a living room and a balcony overlooking the Pitti Palace, and as in other rooms, there’s a king bed, minibar, and coffee machine.
Hotel Lungarno may be in one of the world’s foremost art cities, but it’s also a museum in itself, as the private residence of an art collector who has scattered works by Picasso, Bueno, Guidi and Tosi throughout the rooms and common spaces. The hotel doesn’t lack in the dining department thanks to its incredible one-Michelin-starred riverside restaurant, plus a cafe, two bars and the rooftop terrace bar for sundowners.
Discover more about Hotel Lungarno
8. Hotel Horto Convento
In a different yet equally central neighbourhood near the Ponte Vecchio, Hotel Horto Convento is located inside a 12th-century monastery and has retained all of the stunning original architecture despite undergoing a modern makeover.
The rooms and suites are clean and bright, with a simple black-and-white aesthetic. The Superior King rooms lead the way thanks to their gorgeous archways and living area, but all come with rain showers, Italian linens, a Nespresso machine, and a flat-screen TV.
There are two well-manicured gardens onsite where you can enjoy a drink or lounge by the pool, while each morning, the breakfast room is stocked up with hot cappuccinos and fresh Italian pastries.
The hotel offers a myriad of services too, such as personal shopping or museum tickets, plus they’re dog friendly and even have babysitting if you need a romantic Italian night out.
Learn more about Hotel Horto Convento
9. Il Salviatino
For somewhere a little quieter just outside Florence, Il Salviatino in Fiesole is the place to be. Hidden in a restored 15th-century villa in the hills, not only can you enjoy uninterrupted city views, but you’ll also have access to spacious gardens and stunning design.
Mixing traditional, formal furniture and architecture with modern materials and colours is what makes this hotel five-star – expect stone and frescoed ceilings and archways, and vintage furniture mixed with pastel colours, plus lots of glass and greenery.
Out of all the rooms, the Greenhouse Suite is one of the most spectacular, featuring a huge curved window, marble busts, a wooden throne, and gilded paintings. Happily though, you’ll also have a big, comfy bed, free-standing bathtub, and a small garden.
Unlike many hotels in the city, Il Salviatino has the benefit of one of Florence’s best spas, which offers massages, scrubs and facials, along with heated outdoor pools overlooking the Tuscan hills. There’s only one restaurant, but it’s a good one: Giacomo, part of a much-loved Milanese restaurant group, which serves authentic Italian cooking using delicious local ingredients, including vegetables from the hotel’s garden.
Read more about Il Salviatino
10. Hotel Savoy
Hotel Savoy is a stone’s throw from most of Florence’s major landmarks. The interior gives off sophisticated Italian townhouse vibes, adorned with touches of the city, like huge chandeliers and marble busts. The rooms have plenty of natural light and pared-back design; for the best, try a Deluxe Room or one of the suites, which have comfy patterned furniture, marble bathrooms, and views over the cobbled streets, plus Irene Forte toiletries, a smart TV, and fluffy bathrobes.
On the fifth floor are the Wellness Retreat rooms, where you can have a massage or facial overlooking the city, and you can also make use of the Technogym, yoga, and dance classes.
During the day, you can experience behind-the-scenes museum tours, perfume making, Tuscan road trips in a vintage car, wine or truffle tastings, or a night at the opera before settling down to a traditional Tuscan meal at Restaurant Irene.
Find out more about Hotel Savoy
11. Hotel Monna Lisa
Sitting in the heart of the city, Hotel Monna Lisa is a charming and historic hotel that feels more like being in the home of a local than a hotel. Inside this 14th-century palace, the spiral staircases and marble columns are offset by warm, cosy furniture, wooden ceilings, and a large garden for relaxation.
The rooms are equally homely yet luxe with patterned wallpapers, thick linens and old-fashioned furniture that pays homage to the building’s origins. Rooms range from Classic to Deluxe, some coming with balconies, plus a walk-in shower with Florentine toiletries and complimentary breakfast.
There’s a small but elegant bar downstairs where the bartender will mix you up a cocktail at any time, and Bistro Monno Lisa serves delicious lunches until 3pm. However, you might be too immersed in their experiences, which include yoga classes in the garden, meditation and Tibetan singing bowl classes, plus tours led by art historians, and afternoon tea.
Find out more about Hotel Monna Lisa
12. Hotel David
Hotel David, named for the statue which draws millions to Florence each year, is a true family affair in the middle of the city. Although the building is historic, the old-fashioned furniture, warm lighting and plush linens everywhere make it feel like stepping into the home of a local nonna.
Rooms go from Economy all the way up to Junior Suites and somewhere in the middle is the lovely Double Balcony, which has leafy views of the street. Patterned tiles, comfy beds, and a smart TV ensure the room is cosy yet functional, and for more space, a few rooms also come with small terraces.
The intimate nature of the hotel means there’s no restaurant, but they do serve a big buffet breakfast in continental style, with pastries from a local bakery, plus your minibar drinks are complimentary and they hold happy hour every evening in the garden with snacks and local wine.
Learn more about Hotel David
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