When you travel to Florence, you’re hoping for elegance, streets steeped in history and stunning architecture. And at Hotel La Gemma – the best hotel in Florence, according to our latest Time Out ranking – you’ll find all three.
All of Time Out’s lists are curated by local writers and travel experts who know exactly what makes for a good stay, and if you’re planning a city break to Italy’s Renaissance capital, we’ve just given our guide to the best hotels in Florence a major update. On it, you’ll find ‘a mixture of boutique beauties, homely charmers, and five-star titans’ – and a new entry has made its way to the top.
Time Out’s choice for the best hotel in Florence is La Gemma, a super-central, very cool little spot which Time Out contributing writer Phoebe Hunt describes as ‘a grand building with an even grander history’.
La Gemma’s greatest asset is its location. According to Hunt, it’s ‘tucked down a quiet side street metres from Piazza della Repubblica’ and is ‘a literal and figurative oasis from the city bustle’. But you won’t be in a hurry to leave – in-house restaurant Luca’s has a menu dedicated to innovation, with dishes concocted by two Michelin-starred chef Paolo Airaudo who ‘adds his own fine dining flair’ to hotel dining. Plus, the service is ‘impeccable’; ‘from Harrods-esque doormen in dark green suits to cheery mixologists in bow ties, the friendly staff are always on hand to dish out local tips’.
Downstairs there’s a luxurious spa, and you can have dinner under the stars on the rooftop. According to Hunt, ‘few spots in Florence feel this private and romantic’.
In second place was the ‘downright iconic’ Hotel Savoy, and the Stella d’Italia, described as ‘whimsical’ and ‘Alice-in-Wonderland-esque’, came third. You can read more about both on our updated list.
Check out Time Out’s top hotels in Florence now.
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