Continentale Firenze

Continentale is a small property with an elegant character reminiscent of haute couture of the 1950s in Italy. Decorated in a generous amount of white, there’s a minimalist atmosphere to the property broken up momentarily by black-and-white photographs or subtle hints of color in the '50s-style furniture of the lobby. Overall, the hotel is stylish and sophisticated with artistic touches in the wood display around the fireplace in the lobby or a projector screen in a sitting area showcasing a black and white film. Public spaces are meant to be cozy and comfortable here. Benches are overflowing with fluffy pillows and thick padding. There are even relaxation rooms with beds and pillows that look out to the bustling streets around the hotel. The hotel’s most notable space is the seasonal rooftop bar, which has lovely views of Florence’s major attractions, all from a wooden terrace with umbrellas and comfortable cream seating. With such a centralized location and romantic rooftop bar, most guests are couples on vacation. 

For tourists, it's hard to beat Continentale’s location in the city center. It sits next to the Arno River, just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The neighborhood is teeming with restaurants and shops, while the Palazzo Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery are just three-minute walks away. Travelers will find that most popular attractions are easy to get to on foot. The Florence Cathedral is a seven-minute walk away, and the Piazza della Signoria takes three minutes to reach on foot. There’s a bus stop outside the hotel for those that need it. It takes 25 minutes by car to reach the Florence Airport, Peretola. 

Continentale's rooms exhibit a minimalist style with white beds and white bed curtains as the central focus. The furniture is simple and has a similar wooden blond color as the floors, which pops against the all-white background. Most rooms are fairly compact, which isn’t out of the ordinary in Florence, so to have a bit more space, travelers will want to book the Junior Suite or the Panoramic Consorti Suite, a two-level loft with a canopied bed on the first floor and a large tub on the second with views of the Florence Cathedral. There are a few rooms with views of the Arno River. All rooms feature air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, small flat-screen TVs, minibars, Bose sound systems, and safes. Bathrooms are simple with white tile and showers or shower/tub combos. Hairdryers and Biano di Carrara bath toiletries are provided. 

As this is a small hotel in the center of Florence, features are a bit limited due to space, but what is available is refined. La Terrazza, the seasonal rooftop bar, gets rave reviews for the bar’s views and cocktails in the evenings. It serves double duty when it plays host as a yoga space or art class studio. A breakfast buffet is available daily, but it costs a fee and is quite basic in content -- pastries, fruit, yogurt, muesli, tea, and coffee. Guests are pointed to the sister hotel across the street for a hot breakfast that includes eggs, though it’s a bit pricey. To maintain the elegant atmosphere, there is a spa with massages and beauty treatments on offer, though no gym or pool. Free Wi-Fi is available. Parking costs a fee.