Dahlia

Hotel Description

So I’ve stayed at Dahlia twice now – once in spring and again last September – and honestly, it’s one of those places that just gets Chianti right. You know how some five-star places feel stuffy? This isn’t that. It’s perched up in Lucolena, which is basically a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village about fifteen minutes from Greve, and the whole property feels like someone’s incredibly elegant Italian family just decided to open their doors to guests.

The first thing that hits you is the silence – I mean, proper countryside quiet where you can actually hear birds and maybe a tractor in the distance. The building itself is this restored stone farmhouse (well, farmhouse is probably selling it short) with those thick walls that keep everything cool even in August. Check-in was refreshingly low-key – no marble lobby drama, just genuine warmth from staff who actually seem to live in the area and know their stuff about local wineries. Speaking of which, the concierge Marco steered me toward this tiny cantina in Panzano that I never would’ve found otherwise. The rooms are spacious without being cavernous, and whoever designed them understood that when you’re surrounded by vineyards, you don’t need to compete with the view – just frame it properly. My room had these massive windows that opened onto terraced hills, and the bathroom actually had decent water pressure (not always a given in restored Italian properties, trust me).

What really sets Dahlia apart is how it handles the whole luxury thing without losing its soul. The restaurant sources most ingredients within a twenty-kilometer radius – I watched them load up at the Saturday market in Greve – and the chef does this thing with local pecorino that’s honestly worth the trip alone. The wine list leans heavily into Chianti Classico estates you’ve probably never heard of, which is exactly what you want. There’s a pool area that doesn’t feel like a resort – more like a really good friend’s backyard if that friend happened to have impeccable taste and unlimited funds. The spa is small but thoughtful, and they use olive oil from trees literally growing on the property. Now, fair warning – if you’re looking for nightlife or shopping, you’ll need to drive to Siena or Florence. This is countryside luxury, which means your biggest decision might be whether to read by the pool or take that cooking class they offer on Thursdays. The 8.2 rating feels about right – it’s not perfect (the Wi-Fi can be spotty, and good luck finding the place without GPS), but it’s authentic in a way that’s getting harder to find. If you want to experience Chianti like you’re visiting sophisticated friends rather than just passing through, Dahlia nails it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $123. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed and 2 × 1 single bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Good location for Florence. Great pool. Recommended – Liz from United Kingdom – 9 October 2023 (8/10)

  Not obvious from the documentation where the property is. It is west of Dudda on the SP16. You actually go the the Castle winery reception at Castello Di Querceto and they show you round the location. Popular with Dutch families. Great pool. If you're going to Florence there's a free car park east side of station in Figline Valdarno and train is good value. Shops in Greve. They do winery tours.
  
  What could be improved: Only one plug in the apartment fitted our British 2 pin travel adaptor (in the bathroom), the others all had smaller pin holes. A touch old fashioned in decor, but not sure that is a criticism.

• Mooi complex maar niet voor ons – G from Netherlands – 2 June 2025 (7/10)

  Mooi appartementencomplex met prachtig zwembad en goed onderhouden tuin. Prima bed, lekkere ligbedden bij het zwembad.
  
  What could be improved: Overdag is er niemand van de accommodatie. Alles verloopt via het verderop gelegen Castillon. Ook eventueel ontbijt moet je daar nuttigen. De meeste vakantiegangers zijn overdag weg. Accommodatie ligt best afgelegen via een slingerende weg te bereiken.
  Wij vonden het veel te stil en miste de reuring. Appartement vonden wij erg donker en miste een directe uitgang naar de tuin.

• Leuke week in mooie omgeving – Klaas from Netherlands – 19 June 2024 (7/10)

  Ligging
  
  What could be improved: Geen directe uitgang naar tuin en appartement erg donker

• Exceptional – Andjela from Montenegro – 14 May 2024 (10/10)

• Superb – Nathalie from France – 1 May 2024 (9/10)

• Exceptional – Miroslav011 from Serbia – 27 April 2023 (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities