Bedding down in one of the Tuscan capital’s most fashionable addresses, Chloe Frost-Smith reflects on a long weekend spent riverside in the Ferragamo family’s Hotel Lungarno — with plenty of Ponte Vecchio-peeping from the Arno-adjacent rooms and sun-drenched terraces included.
The lowdown…
As the flagship hotel of the Florentine fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo, Hotel Lungarno is as stylish as it is superbly positioned — right on the Renaissance city’s riverbanks, dressed in nautical interiors by Florentine architect Michele Bonan which draw on the hotel’s waterfront setting and Leonardo Ferragamo’s love of sailing. Throw in an eye-catching art collection, Michelin-starred dining, and a your-wish-is-our-command concierge, you’ll soon be tempted to sightsee from your window (and let those iconic landmarks wait just a little bit longer).
Set the scene…
A short passeggiata from the Boboli gardens, Palazzo Pitti, and Uffizi Gallery, Hotel Lungarno’s location on the Arno’s southern bank simply couldn’t be better. But what really sets this Florentine mansion apart is the river views — you can practically pick out the diamond-encrusted displays from the Ponte Vecchio’s glitzy windows in one direction, and people-watch across the Ponte Santa Trinita in the other, as local oarsmen row below its elegant arches.
Style points?
Decked out in a palette of navy blue, red stripes, and cream piping, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’ve stepped aboard one of Ferragamo’s yachts. The full-height windows overlook the Arno at every turn, creating the wonderful illusion that you’re drifting along its waters. The walls are adorned with over 400 pieces of art from the Ferragamo family’s private collection, including sketches by Picasso and Jean Cocteau (hence the Picteau Bistro’s portmanteau name, but we’ll come to this shortly).
Tell us about the rooms…
The nautical theme continues upstairs, flowing through the bedrooms’ navy carpets and co-ordinated striped headboards (matching those ever-present river vistas). An impressive 40 out of the 63 rooms and suites face the river, so you can bid the Ponte Vecchio “Buongiorno!” each morning as you throw open your windows — playing out the fantasies of an E.M. Forster character in A Room with a View.
You’ll find Ferragamo’s Tuscan Soul products in the marble-clad bathrooms, and a striking red hardback copy of Salvatore’s autobiography, Shoemaker of Dreams, on your nightstand. The Ferragamo lip balm left on your cloud-like pillow at turndown is yet another thoughtful touch, best applied after donning the fluffy robe and slippers (or on your way to aperitivo hour).
The food and drink?
Foodie options in Florence are dizzying enough, but Hotel Lungarno’s various bars and restaurants encourage guests to wine and dine in — for at least one evening. The one-Michelin-starred Borgo San Jacopo is a showstopper, with tables overlooking — you guessed it — the Ponte Vecchio and two tasting menus which champion classic Italian flavours with a contemporary twist (the porcini mushroom ice cream is not to be missed). Save Picteau Bistrot & Bar for aperitivo hour to sample the vintage Negronis, mixed up using original spirits from the Fifties (inspired by the Florentine noble, Conte Camillo Negroni). To take the river views up a notch, head over the bridge to Lungarno’s sister rooftop La Terrazza, which crowns the top floor of the medieval Consorti tower. Be sure to peruse the Blumelange cashmere boutique next to the hotel if you need to wrap up — dining alfresco is practically compulsory, even on chillier off-season evenings.
Breakfast is a leisurely affair in the Picteau lounge, with a generous buffet spread to choose from alongside à la carte options like pan brioche with caramel and whipped cream, pancakes drizzled in local honey, and eggs Florentine (naturally). The Tuscan bakery section on the buffet is particularly worth raiding, and there’s a kid’s corner stocked up with sweet treats if you’re travelling with little ones.
Anything else to note?
You’ll be handed a privilege card on check-in, which grants you free access to the Ferragamo Museum just across the bridge — plus a discount in the designer boutique and the Lungarno Collection’s dining outlets.
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