After a restful stay at Villa Bordoni, I visited JK Place in Florence.  The hotel sits in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, right in the heart of Florence. The location, the atmosphere, the décor all come together to make you feel as though you are staying in a chic urban apartment, rather than a hotel.   It’s like staying at the Greenwich hotel, charming, home-like, only with unmistakably Italian flair and a view of Florence!  Everything was cool, understated, and elegant, but somehow familiar and intimate at the same time.  For example, there is no restaurant dining area at JK Place in Florence.  Instead, guests eat in the lounge or in smaller spaces scattered throughout the hotel.  I loved to sit in the library and have lunch, and a lot of guests love the beautiful outdoor patio for a meal. Wherever you decide to sit, make sure to eat something here – the food is to die for.  While I was there, the owner’s son stopped by while I was enjoying lunch.  Even if you don’t run into a member of the Kafri family, everyone at JK makes you feel welcome and at home.  The GM Claudio could not have been more wonderful.  That chic-hominess is really the vision of JK Place.  JK just opened a brand new Place in Rome, and they have a fantastic spot in Capri as well.

After JK Place, I visited Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy in Florence.  Like all of Rocco Forte’s hotels, this is a great place when you want to be right in the middle of the action.  The Savoy stands in the Piazza de la Republica, which is a perfect spot to walk to art galleries, shopping, the Duomo and lots of the city’s other attractions, or just to sit in the outdoor café and people watch as Florentine life goes past. 

Although I did not have an appointment, I took a chance and dropped by the newly renovated Villa Cora in Florence.  I was hoping simply to introduce myself, but I was treated to a fabulous tour of the property – I even had a chance to try out the beds!  Villa Cora is a real gem -- absolutely gorgeous and removed enough from the city that it feels like a country villa, but near enough that you can get into downtown Florence quite easily.  In terms of location, it is truly the best of both worlds.  Plus, the property is a real stunner, and the staff is warm and outgoing.  I look forward to a stay at Villa Cora in the near future.