They're listed in order of preference, but all come highly recommended. 93 Helvetia e Bristol isn't the most luxurious of Florence's hotels, but it's the most comfortable and the most central. Built for 19th-century aristocrats taking the Grand Tour, it has never lost its cachet. And it closed completely between 1987 and 1989 for total refurbishing, resulting in bathrooms of Carrera marble, air-conditioning and truly soundproof windows. The rooms aren't big, but the furniture is attractive, the mattresses firm.
Every room is different.
If the contrast of colors and patterns is a bit bold, the impression is vivid and cheerful. The decorator left a welcome touch of wear in the lobby, which has a pleasant, cozy feel, with leather chairs and a rustic terra-cotta tile floor. The winter garden, where breakfast is served, is a quiet place that also provides tea and drinks in the after-noon. The hotel building faces the Strozzi Palace, a reminder that the Renaissance nobles who built the city's glory preferred to live right in its heart. That's still the best approach for the visitor, too, and why we think the Helvetia e Bristol is Florence's top choice.