I love staying in accommodation with a difference, and unless you’re on a million-dollar luxury budget, I think the best way to stay in an authentic, memorable place is to look for a boutique hotel or B&B.

With less rooms, no corridor mazes, and much more local flavour, staying somewhere a little different will make the moments spent inside your room just as memorable as your time exploring.

As part of Hipmunk’s City Love initiative, I’m sharing the coolest boutique hotels in Florence, for your consideration.

Firenze Number Nine

Located next to the Medici Chapel in the historic centre of Florence, Firenze Number Nine is a recent addition to the city’s thriving boutique hotel scene.

The hotel celebrates the city’s reputation for artistic excellence, with original artworks such as paintings and sculptures in all the hotel’s public spaces. Firenze Number Nine has an on-site bar and bistro and an adjoining spa and fitness centre, complete with a sauna, whirlpool, and Turkish bath. The hotel’s 22 rooms and suites are divided into three categories, to meet the needs of families, business travellers, and honeymooners.

Hotel Rapallo

The three-star Hotel Rapallo oozes Florentine sophistication. In the heart of Florence’s charming historic centre, some of the hotel’s rooms have views over the city rooftops and out to the Fiesole hills. Drink and dine at the parlour and bar or unwind in the hotel’s chic, modern Italian lounge after a day of sightseeing around the city. The hotel has 26 lush and spacious rooms and suites, all air-conditioned, sound-proofed, and fitted with a range of amenities to ensure a comfortable stay.

JK Place Firenze 

With just 13 twin/double rooms, five junior suites, one penthouse suite and one master suite, JK Place Firenze is small enough that it feels like a home away from home – if you’re used to living in a luxurious mansion complete with marble Louis XVI fireplaces and a private rooftop terrace.

This luxury boutique hotel is in Piazza Santa Maria Novella in downtown Florence, making it the perfect base for a short stay in the city. 

UNA Hotel Vittoria

The modern UNA Hotel Vittoria is a breath of fresh air among Florence’s more traditional hotels. The striking design hotel captures the ancient spirit of Florentine hospitality and brings it into the 21^stcentury with bold colours and modern design features. Situated in the quiet residential neighbourhood of San Frediano, UNA Hotel Vittoria is a great place to escape the crowds and walk among locals, yet Florence’s best attractions are only a short stroll or bus ride away. 

Palazzo Magnani Feroni

Splurge on a stay at the Palazzo Magnani Feroni, a luxury boutique hotel housed in a 16^th Renaissance palace. The carefully restored building is one of the oldest buildings in the San Frediano neighbourhood and is just a short stroll from the iconic Ponte Vecchio. Old world elegance runs in the hotel’s veins, evident in the original Renaissance artworks in the hotel’s public spaces. Enjoy a glass of local Florentine Chianti while enjoying panoramic views from the Palazzo Bar on the private rooftop .

Where is your favourite place to stay in Florence?

Wterrace, or dine in the breakfast hall under the magnificent, original Murano crystal chandelier, hanging from the beautiful coffered ceiling that was once part of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome.