This Portrait Firenze Hotel Review in Florence, Italy is part of a trip report featuring the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Singapore Suites, Air Berlin Business Class, and luxury hotel stays, dining and activities in Berlin and Italy.
For the prior posts, please see:
Review: Air Berlin Business Class A330 JFK to Berlin
One of Europe's Best Hidden Secrets: Guess the Place
Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, New York JFK Airport
Review: Singapore Suites A380 New York JFK to Frankfurt with a Kid
Katz Orange Berlin Restaurant Review
Marzapane Rome Restaurant Review
Emma Pizzeria Rome Review: Great Pizza in Rome
Review: Pompeii with Private Tours of Pompeii
Review: Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel and Spa, Amalfi Coast
Paestum's Greek Temples: A Must See While Staying on the Amalfi Coast
Review: Ristorante Il Refettorio at Monastero Santa Rosa
Herculaneum Photo Tour: Better Preserved Than Pompeii
Review: Castello Banfi Il Borgo in Tuscany, Italy
Review: La Sala dei Grappoli and Dining at Castello Banfi Il Borgo, Tuscany
Castello Banfi Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at L'Enoteca
TravelSort Clients enjoy Virtuoso benefits at Portrait Firenze:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
- A bottle of Italian sparkling wine in room upon arrival
- Complimentary one-way transfer to airport
- Complimentary internet access
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Portrait Firenze Location and Check-In
The Portrait Firenze, at Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 40, has the perfect central location in Florence, right on the Arno River and steps from the Ponte Vecchio, and just a 4 minute walk to the Uffizi Gallery and 6 minute walk to Piazza della Signoria. Thank goodness, since we had a very tight schedule, having arrived at the hotel about 20 minutes before we were to meet our private guide at Piazza Signoria.
Thanks to the warm yet professional and efficient Portrait Firenze reception team, we were able to drop off our luggage, enjoy very welcome glasses of chilled mineral water, and double check walking directions to Piazza della Signoria. When we later returned to the hotel after our tour, our luggage had already been transferred to our Superior Suite, River View and the staff, asking how our tour had been, escorted us to our room.
Portrait Firenze Superior Suite River View
We were thrilled to be upgraded to a Superior Suite with River View, a spacious 560 square feet suite with bedroom and separate living room, both with a lovely view of the Ponte Vecchio and Arno River:
A beautiful fresh fruit welcome amenity and bottled water also greeted us. The Portrait Firenze and Portrait Roma both had immaculate fruit displays that included fresh cherries and strawberries, definitely a cut above what I typically see in a fresh fruit welcome amenity.
The living room included a sleeper sofa that was converted into a bed for our son, during turndown service.
Each suite is individually decorated, and ours had an Audrey Hepburn theme for the photos–very appropriate, given that Salvatore Ferragamo's specially designed ballet pumps for her helped define her elegant yet effortless style.
An alcove of the living room included an espresso machine with espresso pods, Dammann Freres tea, minibar, and even microwave, dishes and silverware.
It's also the only suite of this size that I've stayed in which even came with a mini dishwasher–fantastic if you actually decide to dine in your suite or are traveling with a baby and need to sterilize bottles.
The King bed in the bedroom was very comfortable, with supremely soft linens:
An iPad was available on the bedside table for guest use:
The marble bathroom isn't huge, but still managed to have double sinks, which we love.
As at Portrait Roma, bath products were Tuscan Soul, by Salvatore Ferragamo.
My son loved the fact that even the toilet paper had its own compartment and silver door that was flush with the wall, and insisted that I take a photo of it:
The marble shower was spacious and tall, which my 6'5″ husband appreciated. Sometimes European showers have unduly low shower heads–not the case here.
Portrait Firenze Breakfast
As at Portrait Roma, breakfast at Portrait Firenze was a highlight. It's held in the Caffe dell'Oro, which was on the first floor, just down the stairs from our room.
There's a generous cold buffet, which would be ample for most appetites as it included fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit, smoked salmon, cold cuts, cheeses, yogurts, cereals, breads and pastries.
There was also a menu of hot dishes, from which we selected the frittata and crispy bacon. Both came in cast iron dishes and were excellent.
The Verdict
Florence is a great walking city, and Portrait Firenze is the perfect luxury boutique hotel given its central location close to everything. I highly recommend reserving a suite with a view of the Ponte Vecchio and Arno River. Even my husband, for all his joking about Italian designer shoes, smirking as he spied yet another picture of a Ferragamo shoe, had to admit that this was a fantastic place to stay, and the Superior Suite was a great setup for us with our son in his comfortable sofa bed in the living room. Attention to detail was evident, from the magazine-perfect fruits in the welcome amenity to the well-stocked kitchenette and built-in international power outlets for electronics. Service was attentive and friendly, and breakfast was extremely high quality and delicious. Highly recommended.
If you've stayed at Portrait Firenze, what was your experience?
Related Posts
Florence: Gourmet Dining and Foodie Delights
Virtuoso Hotel Benefits Explained
Review: Castello Banfi Il Borgo in Tuscany, Italy
Disclosure: I enjoyed a complimentary stay at Portrait Firenze. The views expressed in this post are mine.
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