What it is

An 1885 legend revamped for today’s globetrotters, with 89 dazzlingly ornate guest rooms, a 5,800 square foot spa, two pools, and two visually delicious restaurants.

What it isn't

Starting the day off on the wrong foot. Famed pastry chef Iginio Massari churns out light-as-Italian-summer air brioche, cream-filled croissants, plum cakes and more each morning at the breakfast buffet in the glass-ceilinged courtyard Winter Garden.

What we think

Opting for a lustreless hotel in Florence is practically a crime punishable by law. Helvetia & Bristol is, blessedly, the opposite: eye candy in the form of a glamorous 19th century hotel. Recently redesigned (with a new wing) by New Zealand starlet turned decorator Anouska Hempel, the hotel is every bit as aesthetically delightful as you could dream, from the fireplace flickering by the pool to the gilt chandeliers twinkling over the cafe. Each guestroom is a treat, too: even the “starter” room category, 269 square foot Deluxe Helvetia, would suit Sophia Loren, with its plush velvet wallpaper, Murano glass chandelier and three-toned Italian marble in the bath. Instagrammers will want to treat themselves to a 410-square-foot Junior Suite View Helvetia, which are often adorned with canopied beds and antique furniture, plus Reel-worthy views over the Palazzo Strozzi.

You're here because

Everyone from Igor Strawinsky to the Danish Royal Family have vacationed here, and you’re quite sure that you, too, are an icon for the ages. You want to be in good company.

The Moment

Bellied up to the yellow Sienna marble new cocktail bar at the hotel’s Cibrèo Ristorante, you feel like a starlet on the rise. The only thing more delectable than the dirty oyster martini? These wild pork belly skewers with fennel rosemary olive oil. Heaven.

Restaurants & Bars

The Breakfast by the Maestro Massari - Breakfast consisting baked goods

Cibrèo Caffè - A unique location for a coffee, lunch, or aperitif and dinner in the historic center of Florence.

Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail Bar - An original menu based on Italian specialties and an innovative restaurant concept.

Location

The ancient heart of fashionable Firenze, two blocks from the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo (tucked inside a 13th century palazzo, natch) and also mere blocks from Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Montblanc, and so many more.