Bosh. Right in the middle of Florence is where you’ll find this compact but substantial property, a hop and a skip from many of the city’s a-tier attractions. Like a lot of the actually decent posh hotels in Florence, Helvetia & Bristol is an enjoyable combination of contemporary swishyness and time-worn, almost eccentric grandiosity. In fact the hotel’s split personality is more in-your-face than usual: it’s technically a combination of two different buildings, with one part being more old-world opulence, while the other (the ‘Bristol’ bit) is relatively contemporary (lots of sleek, pale wood and grey fabric).
We stayed in the old-school section. Our room was splendid but friendly, with tall windows, a stylish antique dresser and a very royal-looking carved oak headboard behind the mega-wide bed. And no one dislikes a marble bathroom, do they? However, despite all of this, none of it seems garish or tacky. This is Italy, after all. The room felt like a bedroom in a home. A huge home, possibly belonging to a viscount, yes. But a home nonetheless.
Food and drink come by way of the bombastically snazzy Cibreo restaurant and cocktail bar. Did the red banquettes, yellow marble and razzle-dazzle uplighting kind of clash with the lived-in grandiosity of our room? Yes, but no harm done. I liked the fact that at the top of the menu there’s an option to just order ‘a bunch of good things’ fresh from the local market. There is also an equally Unapologetically Snazzy 'winter garden', where you can sit while munching your freshly made pastries in the morning.
Neighbourhood
Downtown Florence, baby. The hotel is surrounded by high-end boutiques, the looming Palazzo Strozzi art gallery (you can’t miss it) and plenty of bustling cafes and restaurants. Obviously, the tourist-heavy areas can be a nightmare to navigate in peak season, but if you have your wits about you, you can get to much less-busy areas in 10 minutes or less. The vibey Santo Spirito is a quick bridge-hop across the Arno river. Alternatively, the area around the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is a good shout for rougher-around-the-edges Florentine fun.
Nearby
Santa Maria Novella Even if you’re not interested in smelly stuff, this 13th century perfumier is worth a visit. If you are interested in perfume, then you should consider it a necessary pilgrimage.
The Vasari Corridor Linking up two of Florence’s main squares is a sneaky secret corridor which was built in the 16th century to allow the all-powerful Medici family to move about their city unseen. Organise a tour of it in advance.
Uffizi Gallery Yes, it gets very busy. But if you set an alarm and get there 15 minutes before it opens, you can be in the gallery ahead of all the inevitable tour groups. Just stay two rooms ahead of them at all times!
Time Out Tip
If you enjoy being pampered, then book yourself in for one of the hotel’s spa sessions. It’s the biggest one in the city. Molto zen.