TL;DR
• Peaceful retreat – a tranquil, garden escape from Florence’s busy tourist centre.
• Loft-style living – stylish apartment-style accommodation with kitchenettes available in larger lofts.
• Relaxed comforts – free snacks, an honesty bar, and wellness treatments create a home-away-from-home feel.
• Local Florence – ideal for travellers who prefer neighbourhood discoveries over tourist crowds.
• Excellent value – unusually reasonable rates for such a stylish and characterful boutique hotel.
• Check prices here
Riva Lofts is a little bit away from the centre of Florence and what a wonderfully secluded, almost rural, little oasis it is.
We love Florence as much as anyone, but this boutique hotel allows a refreshing escape from the tourist hoards.
It’s definitely apartment-y too, and if you can work with the chic kitchenette you can have a fully independent stay, yet Riva Lofts doesn’t skimp on the common amenities, either.
Decor wise, it’s all done up in a clean, posh style with perhaps a bit too much white, but enough large windows that it’s difficult to notice.
The design feels light and airy, perfectly relaxing in line with the location.
If you’re hoping to wake each morning to busking opera singers around the Palazzo Vecchio, this isn’t the place for you.
If you want to enjoy a more tranquil side of Florence though, waking up, perhaps, to birdsong instead, Riva Lofts it is.
But the best thing of all about it? The rates. It really is so reasonably priced compared to more central places.
We always very much appreciate that when looking for hotels to recommend.
What are the rooms like?
• 10 lofts – a small collection of spacious, individually styled accommodations with high ceilings and abundant natural light.
• Apartment feel – loft layouts and kitchenettes in Deluxe Lofts make longer independent stays easy.
• Individual character – room styles vary considerably, from compact Smart Rooms to larger multi-level suites.
• Thoughtful comforts – quality linens, Malin & Goetz amenities, great showers and yoga mats on request.
• See each room in detail here
The general air of sophisticated calm resounds through the rooms of Riva Lofts, each one heavy on the whites and often on the windows. High ceilings abound.
With more than 5 rooms types and only 10 lofts, it’s hard to generalise.
Suite Lofts have skyline views and super modern staircases, Junior Suites two gorgeous floors with slightly less natural light.
It’s best to peruse and pick whatever fits your needs the best.
Distinct furnishings give each loft its own type of flair, from the cosy 20 square metre Smart Rooms to the sleek posh decor of the larger lofts.
Whichever you end up in, there’s plenty of comfort. TVs, lush showers, superb linens and Malin & Goetz bath amenities can be found in all the options.
Yoga mats are available on request.
Kitchenettes don’t pop up until the Deluxe Lofts, so cross the Rooms and Standard Lofts off the lists if you like full independence.
What are prices like?
And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?
• Welcoming lounge – complimentary snacks, tea and coffee are available beside a fireplace and honesty bar.
• Seasonal dining – RIVA-K serves creative Tuscan cuisine with a focus on local ingredients.
• Excellent brunch – the weekend buffet is a highlight during the warmer months.
• Wellness touches – massages and private yoga sessions can be arranged in the garden gazebo.
Riva Lofts’s common lounge is stocked with free snacks, coffee & tea, all before a fireplace near an honesty bar that makes it easy to snag a nightcap.
In season, there’s a delightful weekend brunch buffet served at the RIVA-K restaurant.
It’s, unsurprisingly, a lovely place to spend time in, with stone walls that add the perfect amount of character to the space.
They serve dinner Wednesday through Saturday, creative takes on Tuscan delicacies. Most items are local and seasonal, but always cooked to perfection.
Besides the lounging and the dining, you’ll find a gazebo in the garden perfectly suited to massages and private yoga classes.
These can easily be arranged on booking or arrival.
How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?
• Quiet setting – a calmer, more residential side of Florence away from the busiest tourist areas.
• Riverside walks – enjoy scenic strolls along the Arno while making your way into the city centre.
• Local atmosphere – nearby cafés, restaurants and shops offer a more everyday Florentine experience.
• Worth the distance – major sights require extra walking or taxis, but the peaceful setting is the trade-off.
Staying a bit out of the way gives endless chances to get to know Florence much better, wandering west of Oltrarno towards the centre, always with the river to guide you.
You’ll want to either love walking as much as we do, or taxis, since everything will be a bit far.
The closest bridge to Riva Lofts is Ponte alla Vittoria, a 15 minute walk, which will take you to the other side of the river right around the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre.
It’ll be another 25-30 minutes to the Duomo.
If you’d rather stay around Riva Lofts, there are a handful of restaurants and cafés, all along or nearby the train line.
It’s about half an hour to the more central parts of Oltrarno, but there are more than enough interesting bars, restaurants and shops to keep you occupied there.
And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?
Some things guests liked:
“Riva lofts is a lovely oasis after the crowds of Florence… it is a great walk (or tram) by the Arno into the city centre. Excellent breakfast & dinner at the hotel as well as local options. The shared areas make it feel more like you are staying at a lovely home rather than a hotel. The staff were helpful & warm….”
“Wonderful hotel, the staff were exceptional and could not do enough to make our stay here such a memorable experience. The breakfasts were absolutely delicious! The garden here is beautiful. Would highly recommend this hotel. We will definitely return. Thank you all so much….”
Some things guests didn’t like:
”Some places are a bit noisy but the staff did everything to solve this problem….”
”The stairs in the junior suite and apartment are risky for elderly. Even though we are in good shape, we found the smooth white stairs without railings not good for older people….”
Riva Lofts Florence
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