As a city stuffed year-round with tourists, Florence offers a dizzying array of hotels for any type of traveler. The spots on this list tend toward the more affordable ones in our guide. As such, these are not the selections for full-service and pampering. Instead, these are comfortable, cozy, and intimate hotels—those that prioritize design, practicality, and the little touches that make you feel like a local.
Velona's Jungle Luxury Suites
Santa Maria Novella
Out of the ordinary in location and decor, the four maximalist suites are located in the Porta al Prato neighborhood west of the Santa Maria Novella station, a quiet working-class corner that’s home to the Maggio Musicale concert hall. You wont find a gym or a pool at this niche boutique (although you will find an organic breakfast, served daily), but what it lacks in services it makes up in style.
Velona’s, as the full name would suggest, leans heavily into its jungle theme—leopard print chairs, leaf-print wallpapers, and high-intensity tropical colors—all inspired by 1950s exotica and composed with a surprising sense of subtly and taste—have been gathered from around the world by the antique dealer grandfather of the hotel owner.
Restaurants Nearby: Il Gusto di Xinge
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SoprArno Suites
OltrarnoA vintage lover’s hideaway, this quirky and stylish guesthouse has filled its 13 rooms on the upper floors of a 16th-century townhouse with art and antiques, accented by frescoes and vintage typography decorations. Breakfast is served in the hotel’s downstairs café, and a concierge is on-hand to assist guests with tips for Florence and the Oltrarno neighborhood, like the next-door Enoteca Spontanea, one of Florence’s best natural wine bars.
Restaurants Nearby: Cucina, La Leggenda dei Frati, Borgo San Jacopo
Casa Botticelli in San Felice
Oltrarno
Though it’s among the more expensive of our picks here, this gem of an 11-room hotel punches above its price point. Located steps away from Palazzo Pitti, Casa Botticelli sits at the heart of Florence’s Oltrarno, where the city’s younger, livelier venues attract locals and tourists alike. You’ll find plenty of longstanding artisan workshops here as well, some with accompanying shops along Via Santo Spirito and Via dei Serragli.
Owned by a pair of second-generation art dealers, Casa Botticelli’s nine rooms unfold like a rambling art gallery—and indeed, many works are available for purchase. The overall aesthetic is contemporary in the key of Tuscany: Frescoes serve as accents amid brightly modern color palettes, with a medley of antique furnishings thrown in for good measure.
Restaurants Nearby: Cucina, La Leggenda dei Frati, Borgo San Jacopo
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Corte Calzaiuoli
Duomo
On one of Florence’s busiest shopping streets, these 11 pared-down rooms are simple with a touch of style—and soundproofing. Occupying a floor of a Renaissance mansion that once belonged to the famous De’ Macci family, the building has been completely remade, from the dramatic white marble entrance, to the hotel rooms two flights up.
An extensive breakfast buffet is served each morning in a lounge overlooking the Orsanmichele church: Guests will want to head next door to its museum for works by Donatello, Ghiberti, and Verrocchio. Besides breakfast, the hotel can arrange parking, airport transfers, massages, laundry service, and wine tastings.
Restaurants Nearby: Luca's by Paulo Airaudo, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, Atto di Vito Mollica, Santa Elisabetta
Residence Hilda
Santissima Annunziata
Situated on a small street just off the piazza of the Museo degli Innocenti and the Santa Annunziata church, you don’t need to know Florence too well to understand just how central Residence Hilda is: The Duomo is visible from its doorway. A hotel this well located can afford to make a few concessions, and its 12 recently remodeled suites sport a pared-down and minimalist aesthetic. There’s no breakfast and no common areas either, but each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, perfect for anyone who needs a home base between trips out to see the sights. There is a concierge, and even when they’re not at reception, they’re available for queries via WhatsApp.
Restaurants Nearby: Il Palagio, Konnubio
Ricasoli Firenze Luxury Apartments
Santissima Annunziata
Seven apartments make up the Ricasoli, a mix of convenience and luxury that makes this a special option in Florence. Just down the street from the Accademia, guests have Michelangelo’s famous statue of David for a neighbor, with the Duomo a short walk away. The apartments themselves run from sober to exuberant (and from one to three bedrooms), each a uniquely designed space with anything from wood-paneled walls to glass stairs to French balconies overlooking the inner courtyard. No matter the size of the apartment, each comes with a fireplace, a Jjacuzzi in a spa-style bathroom, and furnishings crafted by Tuscan artists.
Restaurants Nearby: Konnubio, Il Palagio
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Riva Lofts
Oltrarno
This century-old factory at the edge of the Arno River has been transformed into stylish, minimalist suites in the green, residential Isolotto neighborhood. A 35-minute walk (or shorter bike or tram ride) from the center, the garden grounds offer tranquility and a stunning pool. The 10 lofts range in size from mini to massive — each boasting a private entrance and a gorgeous view, and most with kitchens. Don’t miss the on-site restaurant, Riva K, serving dinner Wednesday through Sunday.
Restaurants Nearby: Il Gusto di Xinge, Io Osteria Personale
Hero image: Velona's Jungle Luxury Suites
