Helvetia & Bristol Hotel

An old classical hotel which feels like being in an old movie set, lovely decor full of antique furniture feels homely and cosy. The rooms are well appointed and you get the genuine feeling of being in Florence; special, elegant and old fashioned. I felt it was definitely a hotel for the older generation, full of history and substance with stories to tell. It’s a genuine, warm environment. It’s comfortable with all the necessaries and a good breakfast. The location is perfect, a fabulous area surrounded by churches, museums, restaurants, designer shopping and piazzas all incredibly central and also close to the station. A very good base in Florence.

The location of the Helvetia Bristol could not be better. Right on a lovely square and accessible to basically everywhere you would want to go in Florence. When we first arrived it took a minute to figure out that the entrance is actually just around the corner from the big sign and the flags. But not to worry! It's actually nice to have a quieter entrance.
The lobby is a cozy library feeling, with wonderful leather chairs. The feeling of the whole place is definitely old world. Usually I lean more to the contemporary modern atmosphere, but somehow this place charmed me. I especially loved the bar & restaurant with it's super orange walls and upholstery. There's an outdoor on-the-street eating area just off of the bar -- all white in total contrast -- and that is a really lovely spot to be on a warm evening.

Classic Euro-elegance, all the way. It’s just across from a big plaza with an impressive museum (that was ironically showing American art), and is just a stone’s throw from upscale shops like Stefano Ricci and Cartier. The hotel’s décor seems to hearken back to its past as a private mansion, with dark wood accents, antique furniture, and classic art. The bar is supremely gorgeous – especially the unique molten gold-looking chandeliers. The breakfast room is equally dazzling (sometimes used as a meeting room, though it reminds me more of Central Park’s Tavern on the Green than a place for business meetings), with natural light filtering through green glass. Everything here is lovely, old, and really well-kept, if not exactly soothing – kind of like being in someone’s rich uncle’s mansion. The rooms feature all the amenities you’d expect from a luxury hotel – a safe in the room, a Jacuzzi tub, a laundry service where you can put your dirty clothes in a bag in the morning and get them back clean that afternoon. This hotel also boasts a Michelin-star chef. I can’t speak for all of his cuisine, but his truffle dishes are legendary.

I know my grandparents would have loved it and it's super opulent and gorgeous, but I prefer a newer look. The room I was in was gorgeous (two floors!), but the windows weren't terribly sound-proofed. The location was perfect, however, in the exact middle of Florence.