We check into The Hoxton Florence
The Hoxton already has one hotel in Italy, a Rome property that opened back in 2021
It’s recently doubled up on the Italian action with a brand new hotel in Florence. Anyone that’s been to Florence will tell you that the centre can get pretty hectic – and happily The Hoxton has a great location in the north of the city that’s just far enough away from the hubbub that you get a bit of peace and quiet. But crucially, it’s not so far that you can’t walk everywhere. You’re 10 minutes to the Duomo, 14 to Palazzo Vecchio, and 22 to the Uffizi. It’s absolutely ideal.
The property itself is nice and peaceful too, split across two buildings: a 16th century palazzo once owned by the affluent Ricasoli family (the inventors of Chianti wine) with a beautiful vaulted arcade and internal courtyard; and a new modern building opposite. The courtyard is filled with colourful parasols, relaxed rattan seating, a central fountain, festoon lighting and plenty of greenery – a lovely spot for a daytime pitstop or an evening aperitivo.
There are 160 rooms split across the two buildings, offering different vibes depending on where you choose. in the palazzo you’ll get historical Renaissance features, while in the new building you’ll get more of a postmodern cool, with minimal clean lines and bold pops of colour. There’s a real mix of designs and features across the property, with some offering glimpses of the iconic Duomo, while others feature outdoor bathtubs and landscaped terraces.
We were in the old building in a two floor room that had a living area and the bathroom on an entry level, and then a spiral staircase leading up to mezzanine bedroom. The combination of heritage elements with local Italian fabrics and artworks and The Hoxton’s trademark modern luxury all added up to great effect. It had a lovely residential feel, as if we had our own little apartment for the night.
Around the hotel, there’s a restaurant, Alassio, which occupies a beautiful indoor dining room as well as the shaded vaulted arcade at one edge of the courtyard. Alassio specialises in coastal Italian cuisine – think plenty of crudo and tuna tartare; fritto misto; octopus stew; and lots of seafood pastas including spaghetti with clams. It’s a welcome relief from the rest of Florence, which as you quickly discover, serves the exact same menu in every single restaurant. You really only need eat bistecca alla fiorentina once!
We also loved the cosy wine bar, Enoteca Violetta, with its comfy lounge seating and low lighting. There’s a few snacks on offer here too, but the main event is the drinks, with everything from cocktails and spirits to the huge wall of shelves laden with local Italian wines. Given the heritage of the building, it would have been remiss not to have this cool little wine temple included.
Breakfast is served buffet-style at Alassio and includes the likes of local Tuscan sausages, eggs, pastries and fruits. If you’re in a hurry though, there’s also a takeaway coffee shop where you can grab an espresso and a pastry.
All in all, The Hox Florence seems like another win for the brand, which has come a long way since its single hotel in east London. It reminded us a bit of The Hoxton Paris, with its blend of old and new and the outdoor courtyard. Florence is a fairly old school place too, so to have something more modern is a very welcome option among the city’s trad hotel scene.
Via delle Mantellate, 2, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy
thehoxton.com
