Helvetia & Bristol Firenze - Starhotels Collezione

Character and identity

Set between Via Tornabuoni's designer windows and Piazza della Repubblica, this 67-room hotel occupies a pair of joined 19th-century buildings in the heart of UNESCO Florence. The original Helvetia wing carries old-world weight: antiques, Rubelli fabrics, Carrara marble baths, hand-crafted oak floors. The newer Bristol wing, designed by Anoushka Hempel inside a former Banca di Roma headquarters, is pared back in greys, silks, and custom local ironwork. Food and drink are run by Cibreo, the storied Florentine kitchen. Below ground, LA SPA stretches 5,800 square feet through old bank vaults in honey travertine. Service is discreet, concierge-led, and properly attentive.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets this place apart is the combination of location and craft: a Cibreo kitchen, the largest spa in the historic centre, and two distinct room aesthetics in one building, all steps from the Duomo. Book a top-floor suite if you want the Brunelleschi view, and specifically request a room off the main street. The Bristol wing suits contemporary tastes; the Helvetia wing rewards classicists.