Brad A. Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact
Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact

Quick Review: Gallery Hotel Art, Florence, Italy

  • June 29, 2014
  • Brad A. Johnson
Gallery Hotel Art, Florence, Italy (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Gallery Hotel Art, Florence, Italy (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Gallery Hotel Art, Florence, Italy (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Gallery Hotel Art, Florence, Italy (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Florence, Italy (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Overview: The family who built Italy’s Ferragamo shoe empire also owns a cluster of hotels called the Lungarno Collection. They operate several intimate hotels in Florence, all on the same block, including the brand new 36-unit Portrait Suites, which opened in April. But that one didn’t open until two weeks after my trip, so I stayed instead at their 74-room Gallery Hotel Art, next door, which is the most affordable of the Lungarno hotels in Florence.

The Location: The hotel is tucked into a quiet courtyard just off the main boulevard that runs along the Amo River adjacent to the Ponte Vecchio bridge, just around the corner from Piazza della Signoria and the Duomo, in the heart of historic city center. Surprisingly, despite being in the middle of everything, this courtyard location is extremely quite and hidden.

Room: Gallery Double (entry-level category), fourth floor. The room is tiny, as expected, but we’re here for only one night, barely using the room, so it’s big enough. The bathroom is thankfully quite large, with a double vanity, heated towels, plush bathrobes and Ferragamo toiletries. The king bed is superb, wrapped with exquisite Italian sheets and fluffy down pillows. There’s barely room to accommodate two accent chairs, clad in beautiful Ferragamo leather. Seven-foot tall French windows open onto a false balcony, offering a great birds-eye view of local life on the narrow streets below.

Food/drink: The hotel’s lunch/dinner restaurant is called Fusion and serves Asian inspired cuisine and sushi. Fortunately, they also serve great local salumi. A lavish buffet breakfast is served in the library, just off the lobby.

WiFi: Free and fairly fast.

Public spaces: As the name suggests, every inch of the hotel also serves as a gallery, showcasing modern installations that change every year or so. The library is calm and inviting. There is no gym.

Service: From the bellmen to the maids, all the staff are genuinely warm and friendly. Everyone at the front desk also doubles as a concierge, able to assist with dinner reservations and the like. Turndown service in the evenings.

Cost: $255, advance purchase rate on Expedia, a savings of nearly 25 percent.

Bottom line: Florence is an expensive city with a lot of very expensive luxury hotels. The Gallery Art is one of the best values for the money in the city’s historic core, offering true luxury at a fraction of the price of the bigger hotels.

Where: Vicolo dell’Oro, 5
Phone: +39-055-27263
Online: lungarnocollection.com

More from Florence
    • Travel: Culinary
    • Travel: Europe

One Night in Florence, For a Steak

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • June 29, 2014
    • Travel: Europe

Hotel Review: Four Seasons Florence

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • May 9, 2010
Share
Tweet
Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the James Beard Awards, Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, World Food Media Awards, pdn Food Photography Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as restaurant critic for the Orange County Register.

Previous Article

Where to Eat Now: San Francisco

  • June 28, 2014
  • Brad A. Johnson
View Post
Next Article

One Night in Florence, For a Steak

  • June 29, 2014
  • Brad A. Johnson
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Travel: Adventure
  • Travel: Asia
  • Travel: Culinary
  • Travel: Europe

R.I.P. Crystal Cruises (Update: Returning in 2023!)

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • February 6, 2022
View Post
  • Travel: Europe

Photo of the Week: Isola San Giorgio (Venice), Italy

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • April 19, 2020
View Post
  • Travel: Europe

Photo of the Week: Ravello, Italy

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • December 14, 2019
View Post
  • Travel: Culinary
  • Travel: Europe

Dish of the Week: The Hams in Spain

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • March 16, 2019
View Post
  • Travel: Europe

Hotel Review: The Nadler Soho, London

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • May 4, 2016
View Post
  • Travel: Adventure
  • Travel: Asia
  • Travel: Culinary
  • Travel: Europe
  • Travel: United States

World’s Best Cruise Line for Cuisine

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • May 17, 2015
View Post
  • Travel: Culinary
  • Travel: Europe

One Night in Florence, For a Steak

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • June 29, 2014
View Post
  • Travel: Europe

Hotel Review: Rosewood London

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • May 17, 2014
This is the new Lao restaurant in Westminster that everyone will soon be talking about. The pork sausages, the barbecue chicken thighs, the sticky rice, the khao piak (Lao chicken noodle soup)...⁠ Link in stories. 179 5
Finally got around to discovering Del Rey, a super-sexy little speakeasy and tapas bar tucked inside the estate of Villa Royale in Palm Springs. Very tasty. Very cool. More details on the blog. ⁠ 122 4
Villa Royale, Palm Springs. Really cool vibe. Quick review on the blog. Link in stories. Will definitely be back. ⁠ 120 1
A few more scenes from my annual 75 Best Places to Eat in the @ocregister. Hungry yet? ⁠ 239 3
Today's the day! My annual dining guide to the 75 Best Places to Eat in Orange County is live. (The OC Register's print subscribers will find the print supplement in tomorrow's home delivery; unfortunately, the printed version is not available on newsstands.) The ranked list is back for the first time since 2019, plus a big new twist this year. It's behind the paywall, sorry. ⁠ 355 44
#JoshuaTree #Camping #Airstream #vacation #roughingit 88 4
Brad A. Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact
Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.