PORTRAIT FIRENZE in Florence - Hotel Review with Photos

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Updated: April 26, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Lungarno Acciaiuoli, a block from Ponte Vecchio.
• Hotel website: lungarnocollection.com
• Hotel phone: +39 055 2726 8000
• Check prices for Portrait Firenze

Review of Portriat Firenze Hotel in Florence, Italy.

Portrait Firenze is a 5-star all-suite hotel with luxurious accommodations, a highly personalized service, and a great restaurant just steps from Ponte Vecchio.

Portrait Firenze – Grown-up 5-star offers elegance and a personalized experience.

An exclusive, quietly luxurious design hotel from the Ferragamo-owned Lungarno Collection, just off the north end of the Ponte Vecchio. Here luxury is interpreted as a bespoke experience. The focus is on personalized service; you are warmly greeted in the lounge by the lifestyle team which discusses your needs and is always available to make your stay unforgettable. The customization begins even before arrival – guests can choose pillows, flowers, and a morning paper, and notify about food allergies in advance. The design, by local star designer Michele Bonan, is a very swish classic/contemporary blend in soft grays and dark browns with gold accents, inspired by the city’s golden era of the fifties and sixties. The period and the idea of Portrait Firenze is also represented in charming photos of visiting stars, locals, and the city itself. All rooms are spacious suites, many large enough for families, with useful kitchenettes hidden in cabinets, iPads, and Carrara marble bathrooms. Breakfast in the Caffè d’Oro restaurant is a predictably luxurious affair.

Portrait Firenze – Location

Address: Lungarno Acciaiuoli, 4.
Area: Superb location on the river, just off the north end of the Ponte Vecchio. In the heart of the historic center, surrounded by great restaurants and bars, with high fashion on Via de’ Tornabuoni just a 3-minute walk (0.1 mile) away. Piazza della Signoria and the Duomo are both strollable at 4 minutes (0.2 mile) and 9 minutes (0.4 mile) away respectively. The main train and bus station, Stazione Santa Maria Novella, is a 14-minute walk (0.7 mile).
How to Get There: From Florence Airport, Peretola, you can take the T2 tram; it’s a 20-minute trip to the terminus at Unità at only €1.50, then a 12-minute walk (0.6 mile) to the hotel. From Pisa International Airport, trains and buses both run to Stazione Santa Maria Novella, a 14-minute walk (0.7 mile) from the hotel. The station itself is a common arrival point from within Italy. To minimize walking from Santa Maria Novella/Unità, take the C2 bus to Clarks Orsanmichele, then walk 5 minutes (0.2 mile), or take a taxi.
Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about €50 from Florence Airport and about €170 from Pisa International Airport – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
Handy to: Ponte Vecchio, Galleria degli Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio, Duomo.

Portrait Firenze – The Basics

Ages: Guests tend to be experienced travelers, 40 and up, including families, looking for an intimate hotel. Children are very welcome.
Kids Club: VIK (Very Important Kids) club organizes fun activities and tours for children aged 4 to teenagers.
View: Gorgeous views of the river and Ponte Vecchio from the front of the hotel.
Kitchen: Each room comes with a well-equipped kitchenette with a hob, fridge, and mini dishwasher.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools or jacuzzis.
Laundry: Laundry, dry cleaning, and ironing services are available (extra charge).
Parking: Valet parking to a local garage. Note: Driving in Florence is not fun and walking will get you to most places faster.
Extras: 24-hour front desk and lifestyle team at your disposal. Private check-in and check-out. Airport shuttle available. Quiet, elegant reception lounge. Walk-in wardrobe, fully-equipped kitchenette with Nespresso machine, coffee, tea and snacks, iPad, flat-screen TV, film and music library, and Bluetooth for streaming in the rooms. Personalized pillows, newspapers, and flowers. Generous amounts of complimentary Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries, robes, and slippers in the bathroom. Access to all other Lungarno Collection facilities, including the White Iris spa at Hotel Continentale. Exclusive experiences with local partners like photography workshops run by Leica. Bike hire.
When to Book: Book 3-4 months in advance for the summer high season.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +39 055 2726 8000
Email: portraitfirenze@lungarnocollection.com
Website: lungarnocollection.com

Portrait Firenze – Amenities

Pool: No pool.
Spa: In-room spa treatment menu and access to the Hotel Continentale’s White Iris spa.
Fitness Center: No fitness center.
For Disabled Guests: There is step-free access from the street, an elevator to all the floors, and the rooms are spacious, often with walk-in showers. There are also a couple of specially adapted rooms.
For Families: Cots are available for free on request. Children get welcome gifts, e.g. coloring books, and there are high chairs in the restaurant and child-sized robes in the room. Note: Extra beds are not available.
Activities: The lifestyle team will make it their mission to advise on and help with organizing exclusive activities for you in the city. These include exclusive experiences with local partners, e.g. photography workshops run by Leica, private customized tours, cookery classes, etc.
Other Facilities: Small pets are welcome. Dogs receive kennels, food, and water bowls from Dogue.

Portrait Firenze – Food and Drink

Restaurant: Smart osteria Caffè dell’Oro serves unfussy Italian food in a sophisticated 50s-inspired dining room by the river. Open 7am-10pm daily. $$-$$$. Note: Portrait Firenze guests can also order in from the other Lungarno restaurants – delicious sushi from Fusion at Gallery Hotel Art next door and Michelin-starred fine dining at Hotel Lungarno’s Borgo San Jacopo just across the river.
Lounge/Bar: Guests can enjoy a drink in Caffè dell’Oro and on its terrace outside by the river. Other excellent Lungarno bars are steps away – fine cocktails at Fusion and swish drinks with a view at Hotel Continentale’s La Terrazza rooftop bar.
Breakfast: Gourmet continental buffet with hot food a la carte is served 7-11am in Caffè dell’Oro or the room. The buffet can be included in the room rate, else it is €38. Expect a lavish spread of fresh bread, pastries, yogurt, granola, homemade jams, and several kinds of honey from Lungarno’s own bees.
Room Service: 24-hour room service is available.

Portrait Firenze – Rooms

Room Types: Deluxe Studio • Deluxe Studio with River View • Family Suite • Superior Suite with River View • Prestige Suite with River View • Timeless Suite • Portrait Suite with River View • Family 2 Bedroom Suite • Ponte Vecchio Suite • Portrait Penthouse Floor • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: Portrait Firenze is 100% smoke-free.
Best Room: Rooms are uniformly beautiful and spacious. The 6th-floor Ponte Vecchio Suite is an apartment of over 120m², comprised of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living areas, and a balcony over the river that runs the length of the suite. It is even possible to book the whole Penthouse Floor – all 4 suites – the Ponte Vecchio, the Timeless, a Family Suite, and a Superior Suite with River View, for an astonishing space of 273m² in total.
For Families: It is possible to book interconnecting rooms, and many suites have sofa beds in the living room, or even a second bedroom, with ample space for 3-4 people. The Family 2 Bedroom Suite sleeps 5.

Portrait Firenze – Local Transport

Walking: Walking in Florence is a pleasure as well as the most efficient way to get to most places. The big attractions are all within easy reach: the Ponte Vecchio is a 1-minute walk (50m), the Piazza della Signoria is 4 minutes (0.2 mile), and the Duomo is 9 minutes (0.4 mile). The main train and bus station, Stazione Santa Maria Novella, is 15 minutes (0.7 mile) away.
Tram and Bus: Both operate from a hub at Stazione Santa Maria Novella. Local buses, run by ATAF and Linea, serve the city from here, e.g. the C2 runs to Clarks Orsanmichele, close to the hotel (0.2 mile). Two tram lines also operate, connecting the suburbs to the city center; the T2 is particularly useful, as it runs from nearby Unità directly to Florence Airport, Peretola. Intercity and international train and bus services also run from here, including to Pisa International Airport.
Taxis: A taxi from Florence Airport to the hotel will take around 20-30 minutes and cost €22, with a €1 charge per bag. One from Stazione Santa Maria Novella will cost around €10-12. While Uber is not available, other taxi apps exist, the biggest being Free Now. Note: Walking will get you to most places within the city more easily.

Portrait Firenze – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Nearby Tours

Curious Appetite – Italian-American food writer Coral Sisk and her knowledgeable team run a variety of private and small-group tours around the city, focusing on gourmet experiences from markets to aperitivi and gelato to progressive Tuscan food. Tours start at around 2.5-3 hours and $105 per person. Starting point depends on the tour.
Florencetown Boat Tour – See the city from a whole new angle, cruising down the river in a barchetto (a traditional Florentine gondola). Tours depart at 5pm and 6pm and last around 1 hour, long enough to enjoy a chilled glass of wine. The departure point is the Florencetown Tours & News Stand on Piazza della Repubblica. 5-minute walk (0.2 mile).

Best Nearby Restaurants

Ora d’Aria – Michelin-starred Tuscan chef Marco Stabile balances tradition and innovation in his gourmet menu at ‘Hour of Air’, and very refreshing it is, too. The lunch menu is a selection of ‘Tuscan tapas’ or small plate servings of dishes like pigeon cooked three ways with foie gras. Reserve in advance. (0.1 mile).
Irene – Retro chic bistro with a terrace on Piazza della Repubblica, owned by Hotel Savoy. Celebrity Chef Fulvio Pierangelini serves up creative delights like octopus, beetroot and radicchio salad, sweet pumpkin ravioli, and ice cream. (0.3 mile).
La Cova – Munch authentic Spanish tapas and pintxos and sip yummy Cava at the bar of this cool Santo Spirito location. The menu changes regularly, so there are usually new delights to discover. (0.4 mile).
Berberè – Hip, raw brick pizza place that simply sells organic sourdough pizza and craft beer to a cool, young crowd of fans. 8-minute walk (0.4 mile) to the Santa Croce branch.
Il Santo Bevitore – Enjoy classy modern Tuscan food by candlelight in this stylish, vaulted venue. Highlights include handmade pasta with spicy nduja sausage and a delicious wine list. Do book ahead, or arrive early, as it is a favorite with locals. (0.4 mile).
#RAW – Bringing raw vegan food and minimalist style to meat-loving Florence, #RAW is a real departure from the norm. Nourishing salads, gently warmed burgers, and tacos are on offer, to be washed down with cold-pressed juices or smoothies. (0.5 mile).
La Leggenda dei Frati – The chicest dinner-with-a-view in Florence, located on a hill in Giardino Bardini. The cuisine is Michelin-starred gastronomic Italian and worth it if your budget can handle it – tasting menus range from €115 to €140. Reserve in advance. (0.4 mile).
Essenziale – Hip warehouse restaurant where young chef Simone Cipriani reinvents Tuscan cuisine with an international edge. Intriguing dishes such as olive oil ice cream with meringue are brought to you and explained by the chefs. The tasting menus are 6 courses for €65 and 8 courses for €80. Reserve in advance. (0.6 mile).
Enoteca Pinchiorri – Tuscany’s only Michelin 3-star restaurant inside a grand palazzo hotel. Chef Annie Féolde uses French techniques to create sophisticated Tuscan-based cuisine – think pigeon in a cocoa bean crust and risotto with sea scallops and roasted veal marrow. Tasting menus start at 7 dishes for €275. Book well in advance. (0.6 mile).
Trattoria Mario – A local legend by Mercato Centrale, well worth the walk. It’s a packed, family-owned spot that’s been feeding hungry locals Tuscan specialties since 1953. The bistecca alla fiorentina is one of the best in town. Open for lunch only. (0.7 mile).
Bottega del Buon Caffè – Michelin-starred, designer chic restaurant which makes the trip to San Niccolò well worth it. The menu is farm-to-table, with spices to make the local ingredients shine – vegetables come from just outside Florence and meat from nearby farms. Check out the 4-course lunchtime tasting menu for €80. (0.8 mile).
Caffè Cibrèo – Florentine superstar chef Fabio Picchi runs this block in Santo Croce, with no less than 5 restaurants, including the dinner theater experience that is Teatro del Sale and Tuscan fusion dim sum at Ciblèo. Check out Caffè Cibrèo for a lovely Tuscan breakfast, a light lunch, and 3 set menus at dinner (€40–60). The emphasis is on seasonal ingredients and great service. (1 mile).

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

Amblé – Hip hangout with colorful furniture (that you can buy) and its own radio station. Great for a cocktail at aperitivo hours, when it gets busy, and tramezzini (Italian sandwiches) any time. (100m).
Le Volpi e l’Uva – Brilliant, unassuming wine bar/bottle shop by the Ponte Vecchio. Head here for aperitivo to try exciting wines sourced from small Italian producers, paired with delightful crostone (toasted sandwiches) and cheese or meat platters. The knowledgeable staff also runs wine tastings. (0.2 mile).
Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina – Sample handpicked Tuscan and other Italian wines from small producers with a view of the spectacular Palazzo Pitti. Enoteca also offers a seasonal food menu and wine tasting flights. The team recently opened the lovely restaurant Osteria dell’Enoteca not far away. (0.3 mile).
Manifattura – Central cocktail bar with vintage style and music. Come celebrate all drinks Italian with noted mixologist Fabiano Buffolini – try one of many negronis – along with tasty small plates of Tuscan food. (0.4 mile).
Angie’s Pub – Friendly, good value central bar. People come for the relaxed vibe and decent beer selection, and on weekends, for the DJs who perform till late. (0.4 mile).
Il Santino – Small but mighty wine bar owned by neighboring Il Santo Bevitore. Great place for a glass of wine or artisanal beer with friends. The menu also suggests food pairings to go with your wine, focusing on cheeses and cured meats; there are also more substantial small dishes. Note: It gets very busy during aperitivo hours. (0.4 mile).
Love Craft – Dedicated whisky bar in cool San Frediano, with a serious collection from €5 a glass. (0.5 mile).
MAD – Souls and Spirits – Tiny but very warm place, with the kindest bartenders serving inventive, and most importantly, madly delicious craft cocktails. (0.5 mile).
PanicAle – Hipster bar by Mercato Centrale, where the kind staff delights fans of craft beer and inventive cocktails. (0.7 mile).

Best Nearby Cafes

Caffè Rivoire – Historic, elegant café with a lovely terrace right on Piazza della Signoria (though it’s pricier than the bar inside). Famous for delicious chocolates and negronis. (0.2 mile).
Ditta Artigianale – Florence’s no.1 specialty coffee bar and roaster. Attracts crowds of hipsters with its delicious coffee, decent food, and laid-back air. They also boast a killer gin selection (over 150 types). 7-minute walk (0.4 mile) to the central branch on Via dei Neri and 5-minute walk (0.2 mile) to the Oltrarno branch.
La Cité – Cool and eclectic café/bookshop/jazz lounge. Great for a coffee in the day, a cocktail at night, and deep conversations any time. (0.5 mile).

Nearby Shopping & Cool Shops

Via de’ Tornabuoni – Florence’s most glittering parade of boutiques starts at the Ferragamo flagship store and museum by the river. Get your fix of luxury brands, especially Italian ones, here. (0.1 mile).
Borgo San Jacopo – Oltrarno, the south bank of the river, is known for its artisans and antique shops. Start exploring on Borgo San Jacopo, with leather-look washable paper bags at Uashmama, Tuscan wines and other foodie gifts at Obsequium, and vintage clothes and jewelry at 9 ROSSO Firenze. (0.1 mile).
Via della Spada – High-end and fashion forward boutiques are the name of the game here. Check out quirky accessories and homewares at Mio Concept, vintage designer pieces at Marie Antoinette, and the chicest of hats at Grevi. (0.3 mile).
Bjork – Nordic-style white, airy concept store selling everything from stylish clothes to art, photographs, and books in Oltrarno. (0.3 mile).
Benheart – Gorgeous handmade leather shoes, jackets, and accessories for men and women from local star Ben, who founded the company after a heart transplant. 5-minute walk (0.3 mile) to the flagship store on Via dei Calzaiuoli.
Via dei Fossi – Another great location for arty boutiques and antique shops. Find vintage glamor at Epoca, beautiful dresses and bags at Atelier C, and impeccable made-to-measure suits at Sartoria Vanni. (0.3 mile).
Luisaviaroma – Swish, eye-catching boutique carrying men’s and women’s designer ware, along with more niche brands. There’s a cool first-floor café if you need a break from all the shopping. (0.3 mile).
Flow Store – Luxury and vintage clothes for men and women in a deeply cool exposed-brick setting. Flow also sells books and music and hosts events. (0.3 mile).
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella – The grandest pharmacy you’re ever likely to see, the Officina was founded in 1612 by the local Dominican monks. It still sells traditional herbal remedies as well as luxury skincare and perfumes, all in a beautiful 19th-century interior. Great for gifts. (0.5 mile).
Sbrino Gelatificio Contadino – A fairly new gelateria whose passionate owners make mouthwatering gelato on-site daily. They source their ingredients in Italy – the organic milk comes from a Tuscan farm – and they have a winning way with flavor, from ricotta and fig ice cream to dark chocolate sorbet. (0.5 mile).
S. Forno – Truly artisanal bakery from the good people of Il Santo Bevitore. Their flour tends to be locally sourced and slowly fermented, and the resulting products – breads, schiacciata (the local flatbread), cakes, and even bagels – are to die for. (0.5 mile).

Nearby Attractions

Ponte Vecchio – An icon, the only bridge to survive the German occupation of the city. A pretty cluster of jewelry shops still occupies it and above them rise the arches of the Corridoio Vasariano. This private passage was built for the Medici and links the Uffizi and the Palazzo Pitti. (50m).
Galleria degli Uffizi – The top treasure-house of Italian Renaissance art in the world. The dizzying collection, arranged chronologically in a palazzo by the river, runs from the ancient Greeks to the 18th century. The highlights are the Renaissance masters – Giotto, Leonardo, and Michelangelo, and a whole room dedicated to Botticelli. Unmissable. (0.1 mile).
Museo Salvatore Ferragamo – Exciting museum in the basement of Ferragamo’s palazzo, which mounts exhibitions on art and fashion in a social context, though there is also space devoted to the life and shoes of Salvatore Ferragamo. Wonderful staff are happy to guide you around the collection. (0.1 mile).
Palazzo Vecchio – 14th-century fortress, built for and still home to the city government. The museum’s standouts include the Quartiere di Leo X (the apartments of the Medici pope), Donatello’s ‘Judith and Holofernes’, and the Salone dei Cinquecento created for the ruling council of 500 and painted by Vasari. There is a fantastic panorama if you climb the spiky Torre d’Arnolfo. (0.2 mile).
Palazzo Pitti – Only in Florence would a banker build a palace fit for a king. Duly taken over by the rulers of Tuscany, from the Medici to the House of Savoy, you can now visit their royal apartments, treasury, and art collection, which features more Raphaels than anywhere in the world. There’s even a fashion museum and a gallery of Italian modern art. (0.3 mile).
Museo Nazionale del Bargello – Former prison, now home to the best collection of Renaissance sculptures in the city. Wander the quirky building and encounter works by Donatello (including a David that was the first nude statue since antiquity), Cellini, and Michelangelo. (0.4 mile).
Duomo – Simply iconic, the Renaissance cathedral is topped by Brunelleschi’s groundbreaking dome. Climb to the top and you can see the double-shell construction for yourself; booking online or at the ticket office is necessary. A ticket will also get you into the campanile (bell tower), the baptistery, and the fantastic Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo. Here, on the site where Brunelleschi and Michelangelo once worked, you can see Ghiberti’s original Doors of Paradise, Donatello’s haggard Mary Magdalene, and learn about how the Duomo was built. (0.4 mile).
Cappelle Medicee – Admire the chutzpah and expensive taste of Florence’s dominant Medici family at their burial place. 49 members of the dynasty lie here, surrounded by multicolored marble and semi-precious stones, and some beautiful sculptures courtesy of Michelangelo. (0.5 mile).
Basilica di Santa Croce – Striking 14th-century Gothic cathedral. Built by di Cambio, with frescoes by Giotto, but the real highlight is the glittering array of Renaissance figures who rest here, from Michelangelo to Galileo and Macchiavelli. (0.5 mile).
Basilica di Santa Maria Novella – This 13th to 15th-century basilica and monastery, built by Dominican monks, is an artistic treasure trove and so very Florentine. Note the Holy Trinity by Masaccio, the Nativity by Botticelli, the Tornabuoni Chapel decorated by Ghirlandaio, and more. (0.5 mile).

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

Sapori & Dintorni – Well-stocked branch of popular supermarket. Good selection of groceries and essentials, including deli and regional specialties. Open till 9pm daily. (0.1 mile).
Mercato Centrale – Florence’s oldest and biggest food market is not to be missed. It’s packed to the brim with produce on the ground floor and artisans running food stalls on the first, with everything from luxury burgers by La Toraia to chocolates and ice cream by Cristian Beduschi. There’s even a cookery school up there if you want to dive further into Tuscan gastronomy. (0.7 mile).

Portrait Firenze – The Hotel

The Portrait Firenze hotel consists of 6 elegant floors facing the River Arno.

The entrance corridor overlooks the river.

The bright and quiet entrance corridor overlooks the river. It separates the hotel on the right and its restaurant Caffè dell’Oro on the left.

Bikes for hire are parked at the back of the hotel. Mountain bikes are also available.

The ground floor hotel lobby is restful, chic, and filled with retro-styled furniture and art.

Caffè dell’Oro is a small Italian restaurant.

Caffè dell’Oro is a smart osteria, in the same 50s-inspired style as the hotel.

It serves a wide selection for breakfast.

Just some of the gourmet breakfast buffet in Caffè dell’Oro – pastries, freshly baked cakes, cheeses, and several kinds of honey.

The cafe has a pretty outdoor terrace overlooking the river.

Caffè dell’Oro’s pretty outdoor terrace looks out onto the river.

The river views from the hotel are superb.

The view of the river and Ponte Vecchio from the front of the hotel is breathtaking.

The Portrait Suite is luxurious and spacious.

Part of the living/dining room in a Portrait Suite. This suite is a luxurious 85m², with 2 bathrooms.

All rooms have well-stocked kitchenettes.

All rooms come with a well-stocked kitchenette hidden inside a lacquered cabinet, with a fridge, coffee and tea-making facilities, a hob, and a mini dishwasher.

The living area in the Portrait Suite has a sofa that transforms into a double bed.

One of the bathrooms has a tub and shower combo.

One of the bathrooms in the Portrait Suite is not in Carrara marble. It also has a WC, bidet, and a shower over the bathtub.

Bathrooms feature Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries.

Bathrooms come with generous helpings of complimentary Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries.

Rooms come with walk-in closets, like this in the Portrait Suite. (This suite has 2 such closets.)

The second bathroom has dual vanities and a shower.

The main bathroom in the Portrait Suite has twin sinks in Carrara marble and a walk-in shower.

The walk-in shower is also in Carrara marble.

The rain shower in main bathroom is also in Carrara marble.

The bedroom has a queen bed and a sofa bed.

The bedroom in the Portrait Suite features a luxurious queen bed, another sofa bed, and a desk area.

The balcony is long and overlooks the Ponte Vecchio.

The balcony of the 6th-floor Ponte Vecchio Suite is the epitome of the hotel’s exclusive style – private, glamorous, and running the length of the grand 120m² suite.

One of two bathrooms in the Ponte Vecchio Suite. Even here guests benefit from the gorgeous balcony views.

The Ponte Vecchio is just steps from the hotel.

Come out of the hotel entrance and go left. The iconic Ponte Vecchio is less than a minute away.

Palazzo Pitti has a great collection of art.

Cross the bridge to the south and continue straight for 4 minutes. You’ll find the grand art-filled Palazzo Pitti on your left.

La Cova close by serves great Spanish tapas and wine.

Just 1 minute north on Sdrucciolo de’ Pitti are fine Spanish tapas and wine at La Cova.

4 minutes away is #RAW with its inventive raw vegan cuisine and smoothies.

Il Santo Bevitore serves a contemporary Tuscan menu.

Continue up Via Sant’Agostino, then right on Via dei Serragli to Il Santo Bevitore, for some of the best contemporary Tuscan food around. 4-minute walk.

MAD – Souls and Spirits is a great bar nearby.

Head west on Borgo San Frediano to find some of the best bars in Oltrarno – Love Craft, Cité, and 2 minutes away, MAD – Souls and Spirits.

Head west and across the river onto Via dello Sprone to find Bjork, a super white and super cool concept store. 9-minute walk.

More great shopping is steps away on Borgo San Jacopo. Go back up Via dello Sprone and right for gems like Obsequium’s wine collection. 3-minute walk.

Uashmama sells unique stuff like washable paper bags.

Find fantastic bags made of washable paper (yes, really) at Uashmama, also on Borgo San Jacopo, 1 minute east of Obsequium. 9 ROSSO Vintage is just across the street.

Amblé serves great aperitivos and drinks.

Amblé is a great, laidback choice for aperitivos and drinks, just behind the hotel.

Via de’ Tornabuoni has the city's best boutiques.

For the glitziest shopping in the city, head 3 minutes west to Via de’ Tornabuoni.

Michelin-starred Ora d’Aria nearby is very elegant.

Hidden away 3 minutes to the east is elegant, Michelin-starred Ora d’Aria.

Galleria degli Uffizi exhibits Renaissance works.

Galleria degli Uffizi with all its Renaissance treasures is just 3 minutes away.

Palazzo Vecchio houses the city government's offices.

Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s fortress of the city government, rises spikily just north of the Uffizi.

Friendly Angie’s Pub is a 7-minute walk east of the hotel.

Ditta Artigianale is a good place for coffee or gin.

Across the street from Angie’s is fine coffee and gin at Ditta Artigianale.

Enoteca Pinchiorri is Tuscan's only Michelin 3-star restaurant.

Tuscany’s only Michelin 3 star restaurant, Enoteca Pinchiorri is inside the palazzo hotel Baglioni Relais Santa Croce. 12-minute walk.

The Duomo nearby has a spectacular dome.

The iconic Duomo with its spectacular dome is 9 minutes north.

Mercato Centrale is Florence's biggest and best market.

13 minutes north is Mercato Centrale, Florence’s biggest and best food market, full of fresh produce and artisanal food stalls. Around the covered market is one of the best places to shop for leather goods in the city.