Best Hotels in the Oltrarno, Florence

Technically on the north bank approach to the Ponte Vecchio but included here as the Ferragamo family's Lungarno flagship that best bridges the two neighbourhoods. The Borgo San Jacopo Michelin-starred restaurant is on the Oltrarno bank itself, and the hotel's position makes it the natural choice for guests who want Lungarno luxury with Oltrarno access. The private Tornabuoni Art gallery and the Ponte Vecchio views from the best rooms justify the premium.

• Michelin-starred Borgo San Jacopo
• Ponte Vecchio access
• private gallery

Seven rooms in a completely restored 15th-century Oltrarno palazzo — the finest small boutique hotel on this side of the river. Complete original fresco cycles in each room, a private garden of extraordinary quality, and owners who are present and passionate about their guests' Florence experience. The Via de' Serragli position places you at the heart of authentic Oltrarno life — artisan shops, neighbourhood cafes, and the aperitivo scene of Piazza Santo Spirito within immediate reach.

• original frescoes in every room
• private garden
• authentic Oltrarno

The younger Ferragamo Lungarno property with a rooftop terrace offering the most complete panoramic view from this part of the river. The contemporary Italian design aesthetic — white, graphic, uncluttered — provides a deliberate contrast to the heritage-saturation of the historic centre. The rooftop bar at aperitivo hour is one of Florence's great value experiences: excellent cocktails and the full Duomo-to-Piazzale panorama without the tourist markup of the Rinascente terrace.

• rooftop panorama
• contemporary Italian design
• aperitivo terrace

A former 15th-century Franciscan monastery on the Fiesole hillside above Florence — Belmond Villa San Michele is for Oltrarno visitors who want the ultimate combination of Renaissance atmosphere, Florence views, and the privacy that the city centre cannot provide. The loggia (attributed to Michelangelo by local tradition), the terraced garden with pool, and the extraordinary views of the Duomo and Arno valley create the quintessential Tuscan villa experience. 45 rooms in the original monastery buildings.

• 15th-century monastery
• Fiesole panorama
• attributed Michelangelo loggia

The Ferragamo family's original Florence hotel property — a fashion-focused boutique with rotating contemporary art exhibitions in the corridors and lobby, an excellent cocktail bar, and a Lungarno position that makes it the natural gateway between the tourist centre and the Oltrarno. The Fusion Bar is among Florence's better cocktail destinations, and the hotel's direct access to the Ponte Vecchio bridge makes the Oltrarno neighbourhood as accessible as any central hotel.

• contemporary art exhibitions
• Fusion Bar
• Ponte Vecchio steps away