Hotel Lungarno

Italy
Europe

The Experience

If art is what attracts us to Florence in the first place, then the Hotel Lungarno, a magnificent treasure trove of 20th-century artwork, is the icing on the cake. Crammed with 450 original masterpieces, including canvases and prints by Picasso and Cocteau, the hotel has the authentic and uncontrived—if sedate—elegance of an aristocratic Italian home. The riverside location on the Arno also contributes to the rarefied atmosphere, with the tangible sense of serenity and soothing reflective light that being beside water always imparts. Owned by the Ferragamo luxury goods empire, the hotel is beautifully tailored and polished as befits a fashion house synonymous with quality and meticulous design.

The Rooms

You don't need to book a suite to enjoy an amazing view over the Arno and Ponte Vecchio. Most of the standard bedrooms share these views, and some (such as 652 through 655) even have balconies, which give an impression of space even in the most modestly proportioned room. No, space here is not the main commodity; what you are paying for are the views over Brunelleschi's Dome and Giotto's Bell Tower, as well as a slice of the ultimate lifestyle dream. The well-conceived and comfortable interiors, along with the highly covetable accessories and objets d'art--from antique Chinese porcelain, rare oils and silver-plated lamps to leather frames and cashmere throws—exude a sense of quiet luxury.

The Service

Polished sophistication is the Ferragamo hallmark, whether it's the design of a shoe, the decor of a hotel room or the service offered at the Lungarno. From the helpful concierge to the kind waiters patiently talking you through the dishes of the day even when the restaurant is packed (which it invariably is), the seamless professionalism is what makes this hotel stand out.

The Highlights

Avoid the stampede of tourists in Florence's city center by booking (in advance) for dinner at the Borgo San Jacopo restaurant, especially magical at night on the terrace overlooking the Arno. First enjoy a cocktail in the hotel bar beneath the gaze of the Picasso etching—or on the terrace of the trendy Fusion Bar—but don't fill up on the complimentary offerings of canapés. You will want to leave room for the dinner menu, an array of unfussy but classic Italian regional dishes served by equally agreeable and informal waiters in black trousers and shirtsleeves, who go out of their way to prove that fine dining does not have to be a stuffy affair.

 

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