In short… A pink and pistachio’d Art Deco oasis in Florence’s San Gallo neighborhood.
The surroundings… The Hoxton Florence is a short walk from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and La Galleria Dell’Accademia di Firenze, in a vibrant area of Florence filled with traditional Tuscan restaurants, book stores and wine shops.
The history or the background… The latest Italian addition to the Hoxton’s Group’s lineup is a wonderful combination of 16th-century palazzo—complete with original facade and vaulted arcade—and a wood-slatted, Andrea Branzi-designed building from the 1980s. An architectural juxtaposition melding agreeably in the Florentine sun.
The vibe… Peaceful. After a crowded train ride from Pisa Airport into the city center’s Santa Maria Novella station and finally a short taxi to the hotel, I was welcomed into a tranquil and spacious environment: wine bar, restaurant, cafe, roof terrace and garden. I immediately felt at ease after the slightly hectic and tumultuous journey here.
The rooms… I stayed in the palazzo part of the hotel in one of their Studios, which contains a rather grand looking spiral staircase in the far corner leading up to a mezzanine level containing a super-king bed. Seeing as I was there for the men’s trade show Pitti Uomo, having the two spaces (one for sleep, one for work) was ideal.
The wellness… While the Hoxton doesn’t have any on-site fitness facilities, they do offer special rates and day passes to a nearby yoga studio and gym. They also organize running clubs in association with community group Runners of Florence. They meet every Tuesday for an 8km run around the city center. Be sure to inquire at the front desk.
The food… First things first: upon arriving at the hotel, I set up shop at the garden bar where I was served an extremely refreshing signature house cocktail, an amusingly named ‘No Offense’ made of gin, elderflower liqueur, fennel and tonic. A welcome alternative to the more potent Negronis I knew were heading my way in the coming days.
I was running around from appointment to appointment over the course of my stay and unfortunately didn’t have a chance to sample all of the delights that the Hoxton’s Alassio restaurant had to offer. But seeing as I’m a sucker for a decent pizza, I tried their Firenze—a cannellini bean, onion and pancetta ham delight—and a plate of the wild boar pappardelle, a Tuscan dish that I always try to indulge when back in the city. I would highly recommend both.
Extra tip goes to… Chiara in front of house, calmly assisting me as I anxiously rebooked my return journey a day early due to a national transport strike.
Be sure to… Use one of several bicycles that The Hoxton has on site. An excellent way to get around the city, which can be tricky to meander through, especially given the potentially crowded historic (read narrow) sidewalks.
Parting words… I’ve been coming to Florence for Pitti Uomo biannually for the last 15 or so years, and to finally have a “home away from home” while here makes all my previous stress and worry around traveling for work disappear.
Date of stay… June 16-19, 2025
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