Ottantotto Firenze
"Set the scene for us. What do you see as you arrive? This renovated historic “palazzetto” in the less-touristed Oltrarno neighborhood has just seven rooms, each decorated with different floral and botanical printed fabrics, antique decor, and funky-cool furniture. Guests enter using a private passcode that's emailed to them before arrival, and check-in takes place in “The Living Room,” where there's also a huge fireplace and an open kitchen where the breakfast buffet is served. There's also a shady, stone-paved garden filled with trees and flowering plants. Nice. What's the crowd like? If you're staying here, chances are you're not the kind of visitor who's in Florence to check a few things off their sightseeing bucket list. You're here because you want to get to know the real city—the cozy, family-run restaurants, the cool vintage boutiques, and the handmade stationery stores. It's an unpretentious, in-the-know vibe. Right up our alley. And how are the rooms? Each of the seven rooms has historic bones (wood-beamed ceilings, casement windows, the occasional mantlepiece-turned-headboard) and elegant but unfussy touches, like fabrics printed with cheerful florals or botanical drawings of monkeys and tropical plants. It's fun and playful without being even a little bit cheesy. The bathrooms are spacious and modern, all done up in colorful tiles. Try to get one of the rooms that overlooks the garden. Any other amenities of note? They've got all the basics: free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, air conditioning (not always a given in Europe), and laundry service. There's an honesty bar in the living room stocked with drinks and snacks, and having breakfast in that garden is just dreamy. Sounds like it. How about the food options on-site? If you're staying in a Superior room or in the suite, you can get breakfast in your room or on your terrace. Otherwise, it's just the buffet and the honesty bar. Bottom line: why would you recommend this one? An elegant, unfussy hotel for people who want to see the cooler side of Florence." - Erica Firpo
