J K Place Firenze

Florence’s trend-setting boutique hotel has style, space, service and a very sought-after address on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella

Those carefully unexplained letters, like the deliberately unsigned hotel door, invite enquiry. What is this secretive but stylish “J K” place? Nothing to do with the lead singer of Jamiroquai, in case you're wondering - though it's equally funky (take a look at the glowing pink bar). In fact, the initials are those of the owner’s father, and the place - once you swing open the wide wooden doors - turns out to be a small smart hotel for Florentine initiates.

It’s a pleasing combination, that of fashion with friendliness. For all its sleekly-styled rooms and its state-of-the-art technology, the atmosphere is intimate, the staff unfailingly kind. The soothing creams and matt metallics of the bedroom décor contrast with the warm hues of the sitting room and the cosy, vaulted lounge. Even the building itself is part historic palazzo and part modern townhouse, the 2 halves coming together around a broad lightwell, which drops to an airy, glass-covered dining room. It’s a successful synergy which manager Ori Kafri has worked hard to create.

Highs

• The friendly enthusiasm of the young staff
• Lovely location on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, near restaurants, museums and the designer delights of Via Tornabuoni
• The 20 smart rooms have calm cream-grey décor, with good soundproofing, quality furnishings and bathroom fittings, and lots of gadgets (flat-screen TVs, DVD players etc)
• The suites are large; most have good views
• There's a chic lounge-style restaurant, plus a rooftop bar and flash Pink Room for cocktails

Lows

• It’s quite expensive for the room size, but rates include a welcome drink, a fruit basket, snacks, newspapers, and complimentary soft drinks in your minibar
• Some rooms are quite small, with limited views
• The hotel is unsigned and can be hard to find without directions, but that's the point: everything is designed to make guests feel exclusive