Last Updated on October 31, 2024 by Jade and Deeshen

Oltrarno Splendid Hotel Review: Stay in a boutique hotel in the heart of Florence!

We stayed at Oltrarno Splendid for 3 nights while visiting Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, which was our 4th stop of a 2 week Italy trip. With its iconic Duomo cathedral dome, exquisite Renaissance architecture, artistic cultural heritage, postcard worthy skyline views, and delicious Italian food – Florence is a destination that deserves a few days in your Italy itinerary! The Oltrarno Splendid in Florence was our first hotel experience in Florence. I honestly couldn’t have imaged a better place to start my many Florence trips to come!

Indeed this luxurious 18th century palazzo was a gorgeous place to stay to explore Florence! Let me give you my honest review after staying for 3 nights.

Florence, the capital city of the Tuscany region in Italy, is known for many things, including its outstanding art, Renaissance architecture, and distinguished cultural heritage. One of the most famous landmarks in Florence is the magnificent Duomo Cathedral, with its massive red dome dominating the city’s skyline.

Planning a trip to Florence? Check out our Florence itinerary guide for the perfect weekend getaway.

The Hotel

Let me give you some info about Oltrarno Splendid, a boutique hotel that is tucked away in the centre of Florence and a part of the Michelin Guide hotel selection. This unique 4 star hotel has 14 uniquely designed rooms spread over the top floors of an 18th century palazzo, overlooking the gorgeous Florentine skyline and the historic Via Dei Serragli.

The architecture of this hotel provides the quintessential Florentine style and I was immediately amazed by its vintage renaissance beauty! Imagine entering the hotel through huge castle sized wooden front door, crossing a stone courtyard, to the hotel, where the most welcoming reception awaited us.

It is located in Florence’s most vibrant and artistic Oltrarno area, just minutes from the Ponte Vecchio and historic centre. It is in a quieter part of the city, away from the mass tourists, but well located and a short walk from great restaurants, shops, and things to do.

The hotel provides 14 rooms and suites:

– Superior, Deluxe, and King Rooms
– Every room is individually and uniquely designed
– Hotel features vintage Renaissance beauty with views of the Florentine skyline

The hotel grounds itself is stylish, chic, and luxurious with vintage vibes. There are several spaces within the hotel itself to sit back, relax or hang out. The walls are filled with gorgeous artwork.

The King Deluxe Room

We stayed in the King Deluxe double room for three nights and it was one of our favorite luxury stays in Italy. My room was located on the top floor of the hotel (the only room on the crown of the building) and featured a super king size 2x2m bed, a vintage bathtub in the room perfect for romantic bubble baths, as well as a luxurious shower in the bathroom. Very spacious with hardwood floors, and gorgeous vintage furniture. You can enjoy a splendid view of Florence skyline and the city rooftops.

The ensuite bathroom featured a walk-in shower and a double washbasin. All rooms have unique Florentine features and are complemented by iconic furniture and vintage details.

The elegance of this room amazed us at first sight! We found the room so beautiful that we didn’t want to leave. We found the bed very comfortable and the spacious room with gorgeous views was also perfect to relax at the end of each day.

We were welcomed with pastries, a bottle of wine, and a variety of cheese and breads. Every the staff was bringing some new tasty bread and cheese spreads. My favorite treats were the croissants! The air-conditioning worked perfectly and we felt refreshed from the summer Italy heat.

Sleeping in this room brought me back in time and we could picture myself living in Florence!

From every window of every room the view looks out onto Florentine skyline and gorgeous rooftops, and roofs of the more authentic, artisanal Oltrarno area.

The breakfast at Oltrarno Splendid Hotel Review

We highly enjoyed the breakfast at Oltrarno Splendid in Florence! Many sweet and savory options are available in the Italian breakfast bar, therefore you can make a feast out of it! On the savory side, there were a vast selection of fresh pastries, cakes, freshly baked breads, croissants, all types of fresh cheeses, and salami. On the sweet side, there was a choices of jams, cereals, fruits, juices, yogurts, and freshly made coffee. Sweet treats and afternoon pastries were available all day in the lounge area.

The breakfast seating area was so exquisitely decorated and quaint. My favorite things were the cheeses, and Deeshen’s was the lattes and variety of freshly baked local breads.

The breakfast is served daily between 6am and 10am. You can eat it in their beautifully decorated lounge area or breakfast bar. You can also go out early in the morning and see the Florence sunrise (highly recommended!), then come back by 9am in time for breakfast. The beauty of the environment, excellent service, and quality of cuisine made the breakfast at Oltrarno Splendid the perfect way to start a day of sightseeing!

The Location and Activities

The location is perfect. Our favorite restaurant in Florence is right around the corner – Trattoria Giovanni.  The Oltrarno Splendid is a 10 minute walk to the Duomo, is a few steps away from the Arno, 15 minutes to the Bardini Gardens, and 15 minutes to the train station. Every place I shared in my free Florence itinerary was all accessed on foot!

There are plenty of things to do and see around like the Piazza del Duomo Cathedral, the Piazzale Michelangelo, take a vintage car tour to visit the Florentine Hills, Ponte Vecchio bridge spanning the Arno River. We loved seeing the sunrise at Ponte alla Carraia Bridge. You can also book a half day get away with wine tasting in the Chianti wineries.

Booking car tours or walking tours is a great way to discover the area! The hotel concierge is happy to help with booking cars.

What I loved about Oltrarno Splendid Hotel

I loved the delightful boutique decor, luxurious Florentino details, and the artistic culture surrounding the hotel at Oltrarno Splendid! This hotel felt like a magical oasis! After a day of sightseeing and exploring the Florentine hills, our luxurious room was the perfect place to rest and unwind in Florence!

The quality of the breakfast and quaint ambiance is a perk that made my stay even better! We are foodistas so this is something very important to us and I can tell you that our taste buds were satisfied!

The staff were all very lovely, welcoming, and even anticipated our needs. The staff were helpful at every turn. They always smiled at the guests and asked if we wanted a drink or any help during our stay. This is something we appreciated!

The location was perfect, only 15 minutes walk from the Duomo, 10 minute walk to the center of Florence, and located in a trendy neighborhood of San Frediano and Santo Spirito, with plenty of restaurants, shopping, and things to do.

This hotel is one of a kind. Whether you are staying for a romantic weekend getaway or honeymoon, I would highly recommend Oltrarno Splendid, without hesitation!

Oltrarno Splendid Hotel Review Key Information | Florence Italy

Location: Oltrarno Splendid Via dei Serragli 7 Florence Italy

Price: from $220 USD per night depending on the suite (*the rate is an approximate and is based on my own independent research, at time of writing. I cannot guarantee this rate in any way).

Book here: Oltrarno Splendid

Hotel Front Desk: 390554648555
Email: info@oltrarnosplendid.com

If you are planning a trip to Italy, you will find some of my other articles very useful:

• 24 Hours in Florence Guide
• The Only Itinerary You’ll Need to Visit Cinque Terre
• Top 10 Cinque Terre Instagrammable Photo Spots
• Ultimate Guide to Venice in One Day