THE PLACE Firenze

Character and identity

Tucked into a corner of Piazza Santa Maria Novella, a few minutes' walk from the station and Via Tornabuoni, this 20-room townhouse hotel positions itself as the home of a cultured Florentine friend. Architect Luigi Fragola's 2021 refresh keeps the clean, contemporary aesthetic but layers in forest green, regal purple, brass and velvet against neutral oak-floored rooms. There's no reception desk: arrivals happen over an antique library desk or by the lobby fireplace, often with a cocktail. The ground-floor lounge bar and piazza terrace anchor social life, and the menu runs to sea bass ceviche, beef tartare and shrimp-stuffed black tortelli.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for is the service register and Claudio Meli's address book, not square footage or resort facilities. Book a Master Suite for the piazza-and-church view, or stretch to the Duomo Rooftop Loft for the altana balcony and one of the city's best hotel bathtubs. Ideal for a three- or four-night Florence stay where you want to feel locally plugged in.