Florence Travel Guide — Bawan Sisters

After being rained out in Positano we continued on to Florence.

We got to Florence via train from Naples. Due to all the heavy rain there were issues with railway flooding so our initial train was cancelled. Luckily we got on the next high speed train. The journey from Naples to Florence is only 2.5 hrs.

Helpful tip: if you ever have a long wait in the Naples train station they have a Bottega prosecco bar. I was able to pick up a special SCC Naples football club Bottega prosecco which I can't wait to try!

We were not in Florence long but we had a great time. I wanted to share a few of the things we did while there.

Where to stay:

The main reason for my trip to Italy was a radiology conference being held in Florence. The conference was at the St. Regis Florence which is a gorgeous hotel that I have always wanted to stay at.

Address: Piazza Ognissanti, 1, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Phone Number: +39 055 27161
Website: St. Regis Florence

Check-in Time: 3:00 PM
Check-out Time: 12:00 PM

Disclosure: Thank you St. Regis Florence for collaborating on this post. All thoughts and opinions are always my own.

Our Room

We stayed in the Arno River view Junior suite. The rooms are all gorgeous but this one was stunning. The bed felt like it was for royalty.

The room was very spacious which was perfect for two girls with a lot of luggage. The suite had two balconies. One balcony faced the square in front of the hotel and had a small seating area. This space was perfect for our morning coffee or a drink before dinner.

There was a smaller second balcony facing the Ponte Vecchio.

The best feature of the room was a soaker tub facing the river. I made use of it to unwind after my conference.

Where to eat

Winter Garden Restaurant / Winter Garden Bar

The Winter Garden restaurant is the main restaurant of the St. Regis Florence. The restaurant serves modern Tuscan cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea is also served in the restaurant. I love the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant. It exudes an old world charm like the rest of the hotel. Apparently the winter garden restaurant was the original courtyard of the St. Regis building where horse drawn carriages would enter. This has now been converted into the restaurant and bar.

We had dinner one night at the hotel and got to enjoy all the hotel had to offer, from the bar to our fine dining experience.

We started our evening off at the adjacent Winter Garden Bar. A tradition of the St. Regis hotels is the champagne evening ritual. This ritual takes place every night from 7 - 8pm at the bar. A guest of the hotel can ask to sabrage a bottle of bubbly. At the St. Regis Florence they open the Franciacorta Antinori which is a lovely light and fruity sparkling wine. It is the perfect way to start the evening. The wine is accompanied by some small complimentary appetizers which are delicious. I was lucky enough to sabrage one of the wine bottles and it was an amazing experience I will never forget.

After our sparkling wine we tried a cocktail from the bar. If you love cocktails you need to check out the winter garden bar. The cocktail list is extensive! As per usual the sparkling cocktail list did not dissapoint! I started off with a classic champagne cocktail.

The stand out dishes from the meal were a vegetable salad served with an avocado sorbet and an asparagus risotto with prawns.

Truthfully it is truly hard to choose a favourite dish from dinner. The presentation was all exquisite. There was a great mix of vegetables, seafood and meat. If you had dietary restrictions they were great at accommodating.

We left dinner happy, full and satisfied.

Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura

As a foodie and fashion lover eating at the Gucci Osteria in Florence has always been on my to do list. You know its fate when the ONLY reservation opening in May is the one day you are free in Florence.

The food at Gucci Osteria was some of my favourite from Florence. The decor is bold and colourful while still being classy. I love the prints they used for the menus and china.

We tried the Benedita primavera to start. This was scallops with a raspberry sauce. This is a combination I have never thought to pair together before and it was delicious. For my main I tried the tortellini with parmigiana reggiano cream. The tortellini was amazing. The sauce was not too heavy but perfectly thick and cheesy. The tortellini were small and bite sized which was a perfect serving for lunch.

After eating I got to indulge in some shopping. I got myself a wallet that is unique to the Gucci Gardens store.

Picteau Bistrot and Bar

Picteau bar is located within the Lungarno hotel. The restaurant has a terrace as well as indoor seating. If you want gorgeous views of the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio and sunset this is the place to be! While the food and wine was delicious the restaurant served my friend regular gluten pasta (which she started to eat) even though she was celiac. While apologetic they still charged her for her meal and the restaurant cover charge which I thought was poor service for a high end hotel.

SE·STO on Arno

SE·STO is the rooftop restaurant of the Westin Florence. The Westin is conveniently located across the square from the St. Regis. This is another must try spot for a gorgeous sunset. The cocktails, food and service was all amazing.

We had a pea puree with burrata that was truly amazing. The slivered almonds added the perfect crunch. The asparagus risotto as expected was divine. We also tried a traditional dish which is salt crusted fish that is based. The fish came out light and moist without being too salty. It was a great was to enjoy some fish.

harry’s bar

Harry’s Bar has a few locations in Italy. The original is in Venice and it’s thought to be the birthplace of the Bellini. We stopped at the bar for afternoon drink because it looked cute and we were not disappointed. If you are looking for a riverfront stop for cocktails give Harry’s a try. The views from the Picteau terrace are better but Harry’s is still charming.

Procacci 1885

Procacci is located amongst the designer shops and is the perfect place to stop for a drink and snack after some shopping. It is a small space that is beautifully decorated with shelves of wine, a marble topped bar counter and some seating. I noticed Procacci because of how beautiful the space is and once my SA at Bottega recommended it I knew I had to give it a try. Apparently it is a favourite amongst the locals.

I had the Franciacorta fizz which was light, crisp and the perfect way to quench my thirst. I tried their truffle pasta because you have to try something with truffles when here! This is probably one of my favourites finds in Florence. They had some amazing looking tiny sandwiches however I didn’t try any. Apparently this is what they are known for!

Wine Windows

While meandering around Florence we came across 3 wine windows but only 1 was open. There was a bit of a line but it moved fast. You can order wine or a basic cocktail from the windows. While the concept is fun I personally do not get the hype. Reality is you get your wine and just stand or sit on the street drinking it. While nice to be outside it would be great if you could take your wine and walk around. It didn't help that the people behind us were pushy and didn’t let us even enjoy our moment at the window.

Sunset Drinks

SE·STO on Arno and Picteau Bistrot have amazing sunset views.

What to do

Sights to See

Since I was in Florence for my conference I sadly did not have much time for sight seeing. If you are strapped on time here are some must see sights:

Florence Cathedral

The Cathedral is an iconic landmark of Florence. There are many parts to the cathedral which you can visit. The main floor of the Cathedral is free to visit just be prepared to wait in a long line! To visit the Dome and climb to the top you need tickets. Even though we looked for tickets about 1-2 weeks before we went they were already sold out!

There are also skip the line guided tours and these were a great way to see as much of the cathedral as possible.

galleria dell’accademia

The Galleria houses the famous David statue. You need to get tickets in advance and they seem to sell out so early!

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria is one of the most iconic squares in Florence. The Piazza is located between the Piazza del Duomo and the Arno River. It is surrounded by several important buildings, including Palazzo degli Uffizi, the oldest art museum in the world, and Palazzo Vecchio, the former palace of the Medicis.

In this Piazza you will find many historical statues including a copy of the David.

The Gucci Gardens and Osteria is located next to this square so you can visit both!

Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is a unique bridge filled with various stores. Mainly jewelry stores are located on the bridge however you can get gelato! I didn’t know that apparently gelato was invented in Florence.

Shopping

If you can think of a brand, they have a store in Florence.

I picked up a new Bottega Veneta bag in Florence. The service at the store was amazing and I recommend a visit!

Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

If you love fragrances you need to visit the Santa Maria Novella Perfume store. The store is stunning with amazing floral displays. The product packaging is classy and makes the perfect addition to any nightstand or table. The customer service is friendly and attentive. They took the time to help me find the perfect scent. I can honestly say I have found my all time favourite fragrance. I have a vast perfume collection but this is my go to. It is called Alba di Seoul and its the perfect masculine yet feminine scent. I gravitate towards more masculine scents and this perfume is the perfect mix of deep amber woody notes which still being fresh.