Discover our 2026 Star Award winners here
Exuding endless Old World charm, Helvetia & Bristol Firenze is located in Florence’s historic center and in one of the city’s prettiest squares. Dating back to the late 19th century, the hotel has long held a luxurious, sophisticated ambiance — it’s no wonder it has attracted a number of famous figures over the years, including Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi, poet Gabriele D’Annunzio and playwright Luigi Pirandello.
These days, it caters to in-the-know travelers who want comfortable, luxurious digs; a discreet staff; and an excellent central location from which to see the city — cultural sites, celebrated restaurants and designer boutiques are within easy walking distance.
These days, it caters to in-the-know travelers who want comfortable, luxurious digs; a discreet staff; and an excellent central location from which to see the city — cultural sites, celebrated restaurants and designer boutiques are within easy walking distance.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- Cibrèo Caffe serves as the hotel's "living room," with a warm color palette, wood paneling and refined Baroque furnishings; the cocktails are painstakingly crafted by meticulous bartenders.
- From 2019 to 2022, Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione was fully restored, preserving the building's original 19th-century structure. The Bristol Wing's details — herringbone oak flooring, wainscoting, silk and velvet curtains, chandeliers, opaline glass and cast-iron canopy beds — were made by leading Italian artisans.
- Helvetia & Bristol Firenze has a great location in Florence: it is in the heart of the historical center of the city — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — just a short walk from Palazzo Strozzi and the Duomo.
- Begin the day with breakfast in the lovely glass-ceilinged Winter Garden. Its mint walls recall 18th-century chinoiserie motifs, with Tuscan scenery featuring pomegranates, olive trees, water lilies, hoopoes, kingfishers and gray herons. It is also an ideal space to host private events.
Things to Know
- A few of the rooms have a bird’s-eye view of Brunelleschi’s Duomo — ask for one of the recently refurbished top-floor suites if you want to gaze at the architectural masterpiece from the comfort of your bedroom.
- While views of Florence are lovely, you may also want to procure a room that doesn’t face the main street to avoid noise.
- This is a pet-friendly hotel. Small animals are welcome for a fee.
The Rooms
- No two colorful guest rooms look the same, but the unifying factor is Old World elegance.
- The 64 rooms in the Helvetia Wing feature antique furniture and restored artwork, giving them a refined, understated feel. The remaining 25 rooms and suites, in the Bristol Wing, were designed by Anouska Hempel. She drew on the style of historic Florentine palaces and updated it for a contemporary look.
- Accommodations showcase original paintings of Europe, antique prints and rich velvets and silks; some rooms have grand tapestries and brocaded wallpaper.
- Bathrooms have smooth, gray and white Carrara marble.
The Restaurants
- At the timeless Bristol Winter Garden, Iginio Massari Alta Pasticceria serves a breakfast that's generous yet light and balanced, made with top-quality ingredients personally chosen by Massari and his children, Debora and Nicola. The spread includes brioche and croissants freshly filled with cream, soft plum cakes, biscuits, cakes and the Maestro's celebrated pastries — a fitting way to start the day in any season.
- Cibrèo opened in May 2021 as a partnership with Cibrèo, one of Italy's best-known names in gastronomy, now led by Giulio Picchi. The cuisine celebrates traditional Florentine and Tuscan family recipes and flavors, with a seasonal menu.
- Cibrèo Caffè is designed as a Florentine "salotto" — a welcoming, social gathering spot for coffee, lunch, aperitivo or dinner. It has indoor seating and an outdoor terrace with views of Palazzo Strozzi's historic façades. The food includes some well-known signature dishes alongside classic Cibrèo cooking.
Getting There
Via dei Pescioni, 2, 50123 Florence, Italy
TEL39-055-26651
TEL39-055-26651
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
FLR (20 min)
