Antica Dimora Johlea

Hotel review

One of the best-value guesthouses in the city, Antica Dimora Johlea may be a 15-minute walk from the Duomo but it has a genuinely warm and friendly, Florentine welcome. On the third floor of a 19th-century residenza - and accessed by a miniscule lift - you step into a large reception hall, nicely cluttered with books and artwork, off which the six rooms lead. Lovely original features of tiled floors and shuttered windows mix with vintage wardrobes and bright-patterned, Indian bedcovers. Most beds are four-posters with colourful silk drapes while walls are hung with botanical prints or etchings of old Florence. Breakfast - a neat selection of meats, cheeses, fruits and croissants - is served on the fourth floor in a small room that opens into the comfy and colourful sitting room. Throughout the day you can help yourself to cakes and hot drinks. But the real treat of this place is the roof terrace and its stunning views of the city’s landmarks; equally striking at night when they’re floodlit. Even if it’s chilly, wrap up warm and take your breakfast coffee up here, while at night it’s the perfect spot to enjoy an aperitivo before setting out for supper. The staff will recommend plenty of eating places within a five- to 10-minute walk. There’s a genuinely homely atmosphere at Antica Dimora Johlea; it feels like you’re living in the ‘real’ Florence as opposed to a touristy city.

Helen Pickles Review published: 26/02/2024