Smart hotels can mean lots of fuss - ingratiating porters, time-tabled meals, achingly slow room service and (worst of all!) other guests - which can leave you less relaxed than when you arrived. At the elegant Residence Hilda you get more privacy than at any 5 star hotel, more freedom than your own home, and you set the agenda.
Whether you want to party all night with friends, get up at the crack of dawn to be first to the sights, make your own breakfasts or stay in bed until teatime, this is the place. Here you can come and go as you please with your own pass key. With 12 carefully crafted apartments over 4 floors, this tranquil haven is perfect for families and discerning couples alike. Centrally placed in a pedestrian zone 3 blocks north of the Duomo, this historic apartment building was transformed after an 18-month refurbishment, and still looked as fresh as a daisy on our latest visit. Interiors are light and streamlined, designer details conspicuous only by their restraint. The efficient and helpful Valentina can book tours and excursions, restaurants and onward travel.
Highs
- Excellent central location for sightseeing, shopping and nightlife
- Well equipped serviced apartments, each with a bedroom, kitchen and living room (some have an additional sofabed)
- No minimum stay length - unusual for a self-catering set up
- Cool, classy interiors which are kept spotlessly clean, with truly impeccable service
- There's a lift - rare in Florence's historic buildings - and 2 wheelchair-friendly rooms
Lows
- No restaurant or breakfast room, but breakfast available at the cafe next door or delivered to your apartment. Room service or lunch and dinner available
- No communal areas apart from reception, but each apartment has its own sitting area (or, in the Executive, a separate sitting room)
- Check-in is restricted to 3-7pm; if you intend to arrive later, you need to clear it in advance
Best time to go
Florence is a city with something happening at all times of the year. Late March, April, September and October are the busiest times. Midsummer (July, August) can get very hot and a tad crowded and most Tuscan life takes to the hills. Winter (mid-Nov to mid-March) is quiet, with just a few ‘indoor tourists’ - art-lovers, fashion buyers, friends and parents of those studying here.
- Boutique Apartments
- 12 bedrooms
- Self-catering, restaurants nearby
- Under 12s welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Concierge Service
- Laundry Service
- Towel/linen change 3 times/week
Rooms
Each of the 12 airy apartments (or 'suites', as they call them) has a sleek design and plenty of space. You get a comfortable bedroom, a living area with kitchenette (these are separated in the Executive) and a bathroom. There are teak parquet floors, calm off-white walls, soft beige furnishings and the occasional colour accent - relaxing orange sofas in the standard suites, or light blue throws on the beds.
The furniture is mostly modern Italian designer, with some Philippe Starck pieces and the odd family antique. Original double-height, double-glazed windows are hung with fine cream curtains with blackout and shutters that ensure a perfect night's sleep on the Simmons mattresses. Personal touches include fresh roses grown by the family and, for those who stay longer than 3 days, complimentary bottles of wine and oil. A few judiciously placed pieces of classic artwork - architectural drawings in the main hall, German romantic paintings in the apartments, and old plant prints - maintain the clean, classy effect.
Bathrooms are spacious, well-fitted (hairdryers are included) and classy; soft beige walls covered with fine Italian porcelain contrast with black marble surfaces around the basin and shower or bath.
There are 3 classes of apartment - Junior, Deluxe and Executive in ascending order of size. All have one double bedroom and space for a cot (Junior/Deluxe) or an extra single bed in the living room (Executive only). The quiet Executive on the top floor is preferred for honeymooners. Some Deluxe apartments have views over the Via dei Servi towards the Duomo; others face towards the Brunelleschi Rotunda.
Features include:
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Iron
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Although there's no restaurant on site, there's a room delivery service available offering hot and cold breakfast dishes, plus varied choices for lunch and dinner including vegetarian and vegan options.
All the apartments are fitted with cleverly designed kitchenettes. Arranged along one wall of the living room (sliding opaque glass doors neatly hide them in some suites), their off-white and black colour scheme chimes with the rest of the decor. You get a 2-ring hob, microwave oven (with grill), toaster, sink, tea and coffee-making facilities, fridge and a dining area with table and 4 chairs; ideal for whipping up simple meals. A basic welcome pack awaits you.
There are 3 supermarkets nearby, and delivery is part of the service. You can also order provisions in advance of arrival - a shopping list is provided on confirmation of your booking - and find it all in your Suite.
But most guests eat out - no surprise given Florence's excellent choice of restaurants, including the famous confectioners, Robiglio. The staff at the front desk are only too pleased to make recommendations and reservations for restaurants, bars and clubs.
For a full list of recommended restaurants in Florence, see our city guide.
Features include:
- Hob or stove
- Kids' meals
- Kitchenette
- Meal delivery service
- Microwave
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
- Shopping service
- Toaster
Activities
- Gawp at the tri-coloured marble façade of the Duomo on your doorstep and its adjacent baptistery and bell-tower; climb to the top of the dome for a bird’s eye view of the city
- Art lovers should spend at least half a day in the ultimate Renaissance picture collection, the Uffizi gallery, and amid the sculptures of the Bargello museum. Ask Valentina about advance ticket booking
- Culture vultures can choose from 6 more museums in the Palazzo Pitti, and any number of sculpture-filled piazzas. It is also recommended to book in advance for the Accademia
- Other notable buildings include the Synagogue, a few steps away
- Stroll through the boutique-lined lanes and the bustling street markets which attract fashion buyers, antique collectors and shopaholics from around the world
- Meander across the Ponte Vecchio at sunset, admiring the silvery river Arno or the golden sparkle of jewellers’ shops
- Ride through the city in a horse-drawn carriage, stopping to choose an ice-cream from the hundreds of flavours
- Get some fresh air in the Boboli gardens or the Forte di Belvedere, on the Oltr’arno (south bank)
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Art classes
- Cooking classes
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Traditional cultures
Kids
Florence can be over-whelmingly busy with tourists. Residence Hilda is a great option for families: a cool tranquil self-catering sanctuary, just three blocks from the Duomo. A host of baby equipment can be provided on request. Don't forget to mention that ice cream was invented in Florence...
Children under 12 are welcome - sleeping in an extra bed (just one per suite) in the Deluxe and Executive categories only. Suites can ideally accommodate two adults, 1 child under 12 and a child under 3 (they can be flexible on the ages). Teenage children (13-18) are only permitted by prior arrangement.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
All Suites can take a baby cot. Superior Suites have a sofabed and the Executive Suite can take an extra bed.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting available by arrangement, see Rates
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
- High chairs
- Changing mats
- Bottle warming
- Blenders
- Strollers
- Car seats
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
- Suites are fully equipped with sleek well-equipped kitchenettes
- Grocery shopping and delivery service available on request
Kids Activities on site:
- DVD players and DVD library of children's movies available on request, see Rates
Kids Activities nearby:
- Piazza Massimo D'Azeglio, a few blocks away, is an urban park in the Sant’ Ambrogio area which has a small football field, basketball hoops, carousel and jungle gym
- Leonardo da Vinci Museum is 2 minutes away, which has real size machines for kids to play on
- Private guides for families who tailor tours for children e.g. Science Museum, gelato shop, pizza making
Families Should Know:
In the event of an emergency, Residence Hilda can provide an English speaking doctor who is on call 24 hours a day.
Distances:
- Airport: 20 minutes
- Hospital: 5 minutes
- Shops: 1 minute
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Residence Hilda is centrally located just a few blocks north of the Duomo.
By Train
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, you can reach Florence and Tuscany quite easily from London. See the excellent Seat 61 for details. Santa Maria Novella central station is 1.2 km from Residence Hilda by foot (2.3 km by car).
By Air
There are some flights to Florence Peretola airport. However, most people fly to Pisa Galileo. Rome and Milan airports are about 3 hours from Florence.
From the Airport
Residence Hilda can arrange airport transfers. The journey is around 40 minutes depending on traffic.
By Car
You won't need a car if this is just a city visit but if this is part of a wider tour of the region see our car rental recommendations. If you do have a car, let Residence Hilda know in advance as they can organise private garage parking for you. There is public parking behind the Residence, free at night and on Sundays. Be warned that you are inside the pedestrian zone here.
Full directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Italy and getting around
Airports:
- Florence-Peretola 10.0 km FLR
- Pisa Galileo 85.0 km PSA
Other:
- Beach 70.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
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