Review of Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, by Jamie Dunford Wood

The Hotel Helvetia & Bristol is situated at Florence's historical centre by Via Tornabuoni, the city's most exclusive shopping street. The Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria are also only a few minutes walk away, making this luxury hotel an ideal location for sightseeing as well as stylish living.

The thing that hits you first about this luxury hotel is the smell of old polish and fine leather. It's a well established grand dame of Florence, but one that has been modernised for 21st-century tastes with elegance and style while losing none of its classiness.

Downstairs, grey stone and cream walls mix with wood panelling, parquet flooring and oil paintings in classic Florentine style. There is an emphasis on top quality service, a rarity in Florence, so for many this is the only place to stay.

The facilities

The Helvetia & Bristol's Bibendum Bar and Restaurant offers a delicious Mediterranean menu that changes every four months with the seasons. The restaurant aims to match the contemporary with the traditional by transforming old Tuscan recipes into creative haute-cuisine dishes. Its decor is similarly cosmopolitan, with warm colours inspired by the souks of North Africa and Art Nouveau design touches. This five star hotel's restaurant is great for buisness lunches, as well as taking a break from all that shopping on Via Tornabuoni! Guests may also enjoy late dinners, as the restaurant is open until the small hours every day of the week.

The rooms

This luxury hotel has 67 air-conditioned rooms and suites. All rooms are uniquely furnished with items such as inlaid armoires, antique tables and splendid Chinese porcelain lamps. The bathrooms are built with Carrara marble and all have whirlpool baths. Each room also has access to the internet and cable TV.