The Excelsior, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence

You know what? I was actually skeptical about The Excelsior when I first walked up to Piazza Ognissanti – I mean, it’s right on this busy square across from the train station, and honestly, my first thought was “great, another tourist trap.” But the moment you step through those doors, it’s like someone flipped a switch. The lobby has this old-world Florentine elegance that feels completely authentic, not like some chain hotel trying too hard to be Italian. The marble floors have that perfect worn patina that only comes from decades of actual use, and the staff – well, they actually remember your name after day one, which is rarer than you’d think at five-star places.

Here’s the thing about the location that most people don’t realize until they’re there: yes, you’re literally a three-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella station, but you’re also perfectly positioned between the Oltrarno artisan district and the main tourist circuit. I’d walk out in the morning, grab coffee at that little place on Via dei Fossi (locals know it), then either head toward the Arno or cut through those narrow streets toward the Duomo. The rooms facing the river – and trust me, it’s worth the upgrade – give you this incredible view of the Santa Maria delle Carceri dome that most tourists never even notice. The sound situation is actually pretty good too; I was worried about train noise, but the windows are solid, and honestly, the gentle hum of the city becomes kind of soothing after a day or two.

What really got me was how the hotel manages to feel both luxurious and liveable. The concierge team knows their stuff – not just the obvious restaurant recommendations, but they pointed me toward this incredible little enoteca near Santo Spirito that I never would’ve found otherwise. The spa area is tucked away on the lower level, and it’s genuinely relaxing, not just Instagram-pretty. Room service actually arrives when they say it will, the beds are properly firm (none of that squishy hotel mattress nonsense), and the bathroom marble feels substantial under your feet. I stayed there during late September, which I’d recommend – still warm enough for the rooftop terrace, but past that intense August heat when Florence can feel overwhelming. The breakfast spread is solid Italian fare, though I’ll be honest, after day three I was sneaking out to get cornetti from the pasticceria around the corner on Via della Vigna Nuova. Sometimes you just want to eat standing up at a bar like a proper Florentine, you know?