In the heart of Florence, Helvetia & Bristol is a jewel of history and elegance, a refuge for the international high society since the glittering years of the Grand Tour. A hotel that reveals the most sophisticated soul of the city, with a spa where you can relax among video-art works and ancient Roman remains, a breakfast designed by Iginio Massari, and a gourmet project by the iconic Cibrèo.

A stone’s throw from Palazzo Strozzi, the hotel has been part of the Starhotels Collezione network since 2016 and, after a major renovation, in 2021 it was expanded by annexing the Bristol building, the historic and former prestigious headquarters of Banco di Roma.

Two different yet complementary souls: a historic and precious one where you can breathe the charm of retro grand hotels, the Helvetia, and a more contemporary one, the Bristol, entrusted to the vision of designer Anouska Hempel, the first to launch the “boutique hotel” concept in 1978.

We aimed to create a place of beauty, well-being and thoughtless both for our guests and for the Florentines.

(Elisabetta Fabri, President of Starhotels)

The beautiful hall that opens beyond the entrance retains the flavor of a welcoming noble living room, among velvet sofas and authentic collections of Chinese vases and eighteenth-century paintings. In fact, the building was born in the early nineteenth century as a private residence and only in 1885 it was transformed into a hotel. 

The precious original furniture, including consoles, coffee tables, large houses and bedside tables, were carefully restored by Antonio Casciani, a Florentine craftsman who collaborated also with the Uffizi and the Metropolitan in New York and was selected, together with other excellent local workers, by Elisabetta Fabri, President of Starhotels, who took care of the décor of the rooms.

Damasks, trimmings and velvets were made by the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, taken over in the 1950s by Emilio Pucci and now owned by the Ricci family, who since 1785 have continued to weave their creations on period looms that belonged to the noble families of Florence.

In the wonderful Bristol Winter Garden, you can have breakfast or sip tea immersed in the atmosphere of the late eighteenth century accentuated by the beautiful botanical themed wallpapers in chinoiserie style designed by the artist Ottavia Moschini. Here there is also the Tinello, a tribute to the Tuscan hearth created by Riccardo Barthel, another name of excellence in the Florentine panorama. It is here that the dream breakfast created by master pastry chef Iginio Massari is served.

The 64 rooms of the Helvetia wing, each different from the other, are a hymn to the best Florentine and Italian craftsmanship, with Nobilis, Rubelli and Tessiture Rovezzano fabrics, solid oak parquet, original marbles that embellish the bathrooms, and glass chandeliers Murano.

In the Bristol building there are another 25 rooms and suites with luxurious atmospheres designed by Anouska Hempel. The sober colours, which explore intense shades of grey, from taupe to lead, are available in precious fabrics, from taffeta to velvet, and the furnishing accessories, such as the period photos on the walls, create a seductive atmosphere of great elegance. Here are also the beautiful tables by Bianco Bianchi, a historic and renowned Florentine craftsman.

Since May 2021, Helvetia & Bristol has begun a collaboration with Giulio Picchi, son of the much-loved Fabio Picchi, deus ex machina of the Cibrèo world. They have thus inaugurated, inside the hotel, the Cibreo Caffè, where you can discover the most iconic Cibrèo dishes or have an aperitif, and the Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail bar, fine dining perfect for an elegant dinner or an after-dinner drink to be enjoyed in the romantic external déhor or at the spectacular Siena-yellow bar counter.

Last but not least, an extraordinary immersive spa where you can relax among the poetic video installations of Felice Limosani and the archaeological remains of the ancient Capitoline Baths dating back to the 2nd century b.C. which were found during the construction works of the palace.

The Secret

In the Bristol building, there is a beautiful panoramic roof terrace with a view of the Dome of the Cathedral, designed by Brunelleschi, available to guests for romantic dinners or private events.

Useful Info

Helvetia & Bristol – Starhotels Collezione
Via dei Pescioni 2
50123 Firenze
Tel. +39 055 26651

Rooms and suites: from 750 to 1050 euro based on seasonality
Day Spa: single access (including a 50′ massage) 180 euro