TL;DR

• Creative atmosphere – a boutique hotel in keeping with Oltrarno’s artistic, independent spirit.
• Standout design – vintage Italian elegance mixed with bohemian flair.
• Beautiful rooms – individually designed spaces with luxury touches, city views and plenty of personality.
• Excellent location – ideally positioned for Santo Spirito, Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens.
• Good value – guests praise the impressive rooms and overall value for money.
• Check prices here

This eclectic boutique hotel fits naturally into Oltrarno’s creative, independent spirit and offers quite a different experience to Florence’s more traditional, more central hotels.

Of course, the south side of the river isn’t nearly as underrated as it used to be, but there’s still a certain underground flair perfectly encapsulated by Oltrarno Splendid’s intriguing decor.

Its style blends vintage Italian elegance with a bohemian, creative edge.

The cool, individually designed rooms are the attraction here, and we like the reasonable rates, but one drawback is the limited amenities.

What are the rooms like?

• 14 rooms – individually designed spacious rooms with plenty of character and historic charm.
• Distinctive style – exposed beams, aged walls and vintage details create a unique atmosphere throughout.
• Luxury touches – espresso makers, plush bathrobes and thoughtful extras come as standard.
• Best upgrades – King Deluxe Rooms stand out for their claw-foot tubs and impressive city views.
• See each room in detail here

Each of the rooms in Oltrarno Splendid is different, still, there are a few things in common.

They all include extra touches such as espresso makers and luxury bathrobes.

The general aesthetic manages to be consistent throughout, even with such different elements in each room.

Old to ancient architectural details are also on the list, from stylishly ‘unfinished’ walls to wood beam ceilings.

Four room categories provide a meaningful range of sizes and comfort levels.

Superior Rooms are the most straightforward, a better value option, but are still quite spacious and full of character.

Our favorites though are the King Deluxe Rooms with the lovely claw-foot bathtubs, and supplemented by some lovely city views.

What are prices like?

• Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

• Excellent breakfast – a generous buffet spread of local favourites starts the day well.
• Atmospheric setting – breakfast served in a welcoming top-floor space filled with Florentine character.
• Limited facilities – the focus here firmly on accommodation and location.
• Helpful concierge – staff on hand with recommendations for the neighbourhood.

Oltrarno Splendid offers B&B style accommodation, more or less. Breakfast is a buffet, not a la carte, but it’s a daily delight.

Served on the top floor, you’ll start each day with a spread of fresh goodies, from cured meats to salty cheeses to sweet jams and pastries.

A friendly wall of Florentine photographs provide plenty of inspiration for adventures in the city.

The entire breakfast area has a comfortable, kitchen-like atmosphere, but, like, a kitchen where you don’t do the work, of course.

For everything else, we’re sad to say you’ll have to chat with the concierge.

Which is fine, they’re very good at what they do, but a few more onsite amenities would be nice.

Luckily, Oltrarno is known for a healthy ecosystem of bars and restaurants. Dinner won’t be hard to find.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

• Prime Oltrarno base – located in one of Florence’s most vibrant and characterful districts.
• Nightlife nearby – Santo Spirito’s bars, restaurants and lively atmosphere are just moments away.
• Major attractions – Palazzo Pitti, Boboli Gardens, the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio within walking distance.
• Easy exploring – quick access across the Arno makes reaching the Duomo and historic centre effortless.

Oltrarno Splendid sits right at the most exciting part of the neighbourhood, in our opinion.

The nightlife of Santo Spirito is super easy to get to, surrounding the area’s simple yet charming basilica.

Most of the must-sees live on the other side of the river, but that doesn’t mean you wont find any attractions nearby.

On this side of the Arno, we have the Palazzo Pitti or the Boboli Gardens to explore, along with a labyrinth of charming streets easy to get lost in.

Ponte alla Carraia is less than two blocks away, bringing you over the river and 10 minutes walking to the Duomo.

You’ll find Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi, and the Bargello easy walking distances.

From there you can wander the other side at your leisure, popping back across the river if it gets too crowded.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Absolutely beautiful, huge and glamorous room for our 3 day Florence stay. The staff were lovely and personable. Breakfast included was very nice and convenient. I would have loved to stay here for longer just to enjoy the room. The value for what we got was excellent, especially compared to other hotels that seemed to offer a similar experience. If we return to Florence we will ABSOLUTELY stay here again. The King Room is totally worth it!…”

“Stunning property. The room was magnificent. The original wall paintings were sublime. It truly was a magical romantic visit….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Honestly, we didn’t have any complaints. If I had to nitpick the Double shower wasn’t ideal. Although looked beautiful and a lovely idea when both showers were on the room flooded. Could maybe do with two plug holes…..”

”There was nothing I disliked about this property, the only recommendation I would give is to add full length mirrors and maybe a table or shelves to be able to place your toiletries outside the shower. In my room I kept all my toiletries on the floor…..”

Read all the reviews right here