The boutique hotel combines the quaint, personal attention and unique personal touches of an inn or bed and breakfast with the luxury of a big hotel. The term brings to mind the difference between shopping at a small boutique store versus a big box chain. They are smaller than a standard hotel, maxing out at around 150 rooms, and seek to have individual personalities that make each one completely unique.
These boutique hotels are found throughout the world, and can enhance the experience of traveling to a new location. In Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance movement and one of the most artistically important cities in the world, these hotels have the opportunity to play on these themes and create an even more amazing experience in this ancient city.
Whether guests come looking for chic and sophisticated, modern and elegant, or the warm greetings of an exuberant Italian family waiting to add more members, there are great opportunities in the boutique hotels of Florence to find exactly that. Here is a look at some of the most popular choices of these fun and eclectic hotels that can be the perfect addition to any trip to Florence:
7. JK Place Firenze[SEE MAP]
Old meets new in this elegant boutique hotel. Rooms range from doubles to suites, and even a penthouse and a “master room.” The style here has won it the Conde Nast gold award, and feels luxurious and stylish with special attention to older architectural furnishings combined with ultra-modern fixtures and furniture. The ground floor is neoclassical, channeling Audrey Hepburn, while the rentable lounge is pop art, recreating the Andy Warhol underground party scene. Rooms at the JK Place Firenze are not cookie-cutter, but vary in color and furnishings based on what’s best for the room, while maintaining a similar style to the others. Flat screen computers are available in every room for internet use.
6. Palazzo Magnani Feroni[SEE MAP]
This Renaissance Palazzo strives to make their guests feel like royalty, and has limited their accommodations to twelve luxury suites. It is a sixteenth-century palace that has retained all of its period splendor, and won both awards and historic preservation certification. The function of each suite varies, from individuals to romantic honeymooners to families. However, all are welcome to partake in the panoramic terrace to see the splendors of Florence. The location also serves as a wedding venue, and can help guests to plan their special day in-house.
5. Hotel L'Orologio[SEE MAP]
This boutique hotel in Florence is an offshoot of the Why The Best boutique hotel chain. This gives them the benefit of knowing what guests want, while staying true to the one-of-a-kind aesthetic that a boutique hotel offers. As orologio means clock in Italian, the time-themed boutique hotel offers many different intricate details of clocks and watchmaking. Rooms are simple, modern,elegant, and minimalistic. They range from junior suites to superior, some with views and some without.
4. Il Guelfo Bianco[SEE MAP]
Shabby chic and artistic elements grace every corner of the three-star Il Guelfo Bianco. From exposed, centuries old brick accents to tiled murals, there is a touch of whimsy and artistic flair throughout the fifteenth-century building. The hotel was originally a palace, and both the beauty and historical context has been preserved, while adding modern conveniences as well as a large collection of modern art to the building. A must-see for art lovers.
3. Firenze Number Nine Hotel[SEE MAP]
Firenze Number Nine Hotel calls themselves a chameleon hotel, and strives to be the perfect experience for many different kinds of guests, from couples to business travelers. There are three styles of rooms, from family to business to honeymoon. They offer great location, next to the Medici chapels, a robust and welcoming bar and lounge, and have turned their hotel into a gallery celebrating the artistic history of this amazing city.
2. Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni[SEE MAP]
Staying in the tower house of Tornabuoni will feel like staying in a storybook castle. This thirteenth century tower home was built in the early 1200’s, and has had an important part in the history of Florence through several historical periods. The rooms are varied and enchanting, and range from the more modest Florentine-styled rooms to deluxe suites with balconies, library rooms, and more. Its splendid design makes it a popular location for weddings and events, which they will plan and cater in-house.
1. Hotel David[SEE MAP]
The feel of family greets any guest of the Hotel David. This hotel is very proud of their history. The building began as a countryside manor outside of Florence, until it was changed to a hotel in the 1950’s. The current family who owns it is on its third generation of proprietors, and they have re-furnished it to be as a charming Italian countryside home. The formula for their success has worked, as they are the recipients of travelers choice awards from TripAdvisor for five years in a row.
