Hotel Bernini Palace

The Neo-Classical ground-floor lobby sets the tone with its vaulted ceilings and white stucco detailing and is grand and glamorous with none of the stuffiness you might expect. For dining, La Chiostrina, in a restored 16th-century loggia with soft light filtering through the old courtyard, serves a monthly menu that leans into bold Tuscan flavours with a modern edge, and the sommelier is well worth a conversation. The lounge bar blends traditional Florentine furnishings with mod touches and makes a cosy spot for an Aperol before heading out.

The 74 rooms are all individually furnished and no two are alike. The dedicated Tuscan Floor is a standout: think beamed ceilings, four-poster beds, terracotta tiles and rich tapestries that channel a Renaissance-era warmth. Higher up, rooms shift to a more refined palette with gilded accents, stained glass and plush carpets to sink into. Deluxe rooms come with Murano glass lamps and generous proportions, while the suites offer separate living areas with views that make it hard to leave. Marble-floored bathrooms are a good size, and most have both a bath and shower.

With the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo all within a five-minute stroll, you hardly need to plan... just step out the front door and wander. If you're feeling more last minute, the hotel's concierge can sort skip-the-line museum tickets, private walking tours and day trips to Chianti's vineyards or the medieval towers of San Gimignano. Why not hire a bicycle to explore the Oltrarno neighbourhood's artisan workshops and quieter piazzas, or book a private boat cruise along the Arno at dusk? For something different, ask about truffle-hunting excursions in the Tuscan hills, followed by a rather memorable lunch.