text Martina Olivieri
Christmas and New Year in the best hotels and restaurants in Florence
Where to spend the holidays amidst beautiful locations and excellent cuisine
From dinner on Christmas Eve to brunch on Epiphany, Florence’s restaurants bring boundless flavour to the festive season with a calendar of culinary delights to accompany every moment of this time of year.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
At Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, the seasonal magic happens at Palazzo della Gherardesca and Palazzo del Nero, united by the culinary prowess of chef Paolo Lavezzini.
Il Palagio e Atrium Bar
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 200 (excluding wine)
25 December - Christmas brunch, € 185 (bottomless Champagne and selected wines)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 490 (excluding wine) and Midnight Party in the Salone del Conventino
1 January - New Year’s Day lunch, € 150 (selected wines)
Onde
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 165 (excluding wine)
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 165
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 390 (includes a bottle of Champagne per couple) and Midnight Party in the Salone del Conventino with DJ set. Guests can also choose to attend the Midnight Party only,
€ 135 € (1 drink included)
Four Seasons Hotel FirenzeCollegio alla Querce
Collegio alla Querce takes on an elegant winter guise in which the magic of Christmas dialogues with art, conviviality and genuine flavours at La Gamella restaurant.
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 180 (not including drinks)
25 December - Christmas brunch, € 250
31 December - Golden Gala Dinner, four courses with musical entertainment, fireworks display and after-party with DJ set and open bar, € 500 (includes a glass of Champagne in the Conservatory)
1 January - New Year’s Day lunch, € 250
Collegio alla QuercePalazzo Portinari Salviati
In a place where tradition is home-made, chef Vito Mollica welcomes guests, friends and family to share the festive mood of warmth, merriment and delicious food.
Atto di Vito Mollica
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 210 (not including drinks)
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 210 (not including drinks)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 430 (wine pairing € 270)
Salotto Portinari Bistrot
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 135 (not including drinks)
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 135 (not including drinks)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, with live music and DJ set after midnight, € 300 (includes a flute of Laurent-Perrier NV Brut Champagne)
Salotto Portinari SalviatiEnoteca Pinchiorri
All the exclusivity of three Michelin stars and a cellar to make your head spin. Over Christmas they open for the Grand New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 590 (not including drinks).
Enoteca PinchiorriThe St. Regis Florence
From opening Champagne with a sabre to the most exquisite of Christmas banquets, the Winter Garden Restaurant at The St. Regis Florence celebrates the season with elegance and glamour.
25 December - Christmas lunch with live music, € 270 (includes selected wines)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner with musical entertainment by the Adika Pongo band and DJ set after midnight, € 590 (not including wine and drinks)
The St. Regis FlorenceThe Excelsior Florence
A place of glamour and history, The Excelsior Florence invites you to spend the day savouring superb modern Tuscan food with spectacular views of the Arno and the city roofscape.
Cosimo Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
25 December - Christmas à la carte lunch with festive specials
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner with DJ set and live electronic violin performance, € 590 (excluding wine)
Donatello Bar
31 December - New Year’s Eve dinner with à la carte menu and musical accompaniment on piano and voice
New Year's Eve at CosimoW Florence
Over Christmas, W Florence serves up Italian tradition with a creative twist: every dish tells a story, in a lively contemporary setting.
Tratto
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 150 (includes wine)
25 December - Christmas brunch, € 90 (includes wine)
31 December - New Year’s Eve dinner and after party with DJ set and open bar, € 300 (includes wine). Guests can also choose to attend the after party only from 22:30, € 100 (includes open bar)
Akira Back Florence
31 December - New Year’s Eve dinner and after party with open bar, € 350 (includes wine)
W Tratto, W FlorenceBorgo San Jacopo
Chef Claudio Mengoni brings together flavours, colours and shapes to create unforgettable dishes.
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 290 (wine pairing € 170, includes a flute of Henriot Cuvée Hemera 2013 Brut Champagne)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 370 (wine pairing € 230, includes a flute of La Grande Année 2015 Bollinger Champagne)
Picteau Bistrot & Bar
A charming lounge overlooking the Arno, where Christmas is as warm and welcoming as home.
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 100 (wine pairing € 45, 3 glasses)
Caffè dell'Oro
A contemporary Italian coffee shop with a 50s atmosphere and romantic views of Ponte Vecchio. Chef Luca Armellino heads the kitchen.
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 140 (wine pairing € 65, includes a flute of Alma Assemblage Bellavista Brut Franciacorta)
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 140 (wine pairing € 65, includes a flute of Alma Assemblage Bellavista Brut Franciacorta)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 280 (wine pairing € 95, includes a flute of Laurent Perrier Champagne)
La Terrazza
On the top floor of the medieval Consorti tower, Hotel Continentale’s rooftop bar provides unforgettable evenings.
31 December - New Year’s Eve Toast with a bottle of Champagne, accompanied by caviar and traditional sweets, € 190 per couple
Hotel Savoy
Florence is aglow with sparkling light, and the Irene restaurant at Hotel Savoy invites you to experience the magic of the season with style, creative dishes and spectacular desserts, courtesy of chef Fulvio Pierangelini.
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 95 (not including drinks)
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 150 (not including drinks)
31 December - New Year’s Eve dinner, € 380 (wine paring € 150)
1 January - New Year’s Day Brunch, € 120 (not including drinks)
The Hoxton Florence
Christmas at Alassio at The Hoxton Florence is a convivial contemporary experience, with sophisticated food and flavours that speak of tradition.
24 December - Christmas Eve dinner, € 80 (wine pairing € 35)
25 December - Christmas dinner, à la carte, with special festive dishes
31 December - New Year’s Eve party
The Hoxton FlorenceSaporium
Saporium Firenze celebrates the festive season with a culinary experience inspired by the farm-to-table philosophy of Borgo Santo Pietro. An invitation to embrace the magic of the holidays through the pleasure of the table.
December 25 – Christmas Lunch, €195 (beverages excluded), available from December 23 to 27
December 31 – New Year’s Eve Dinner, €635
Cibrèo Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
At the Helvetia & Bristol, excellence extends to the table and its all-Italian specialities. The perfect place to celebrate Christmas in warmth and good company.
31 December - Grand New Year’s Eve gala dinner with DJ set, € 215 (excluding wine). A vegetarian menu is also available
Cibrèo Ristorante
If you’re unwilling to sacrifice tradition but looking for a place with old-fashioned charm.
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 200 (excluding wine)
CIBRÈO RISTORANTE & COCKTAIL BARCibreino
For anyone wanting to feel at home on the last day of the year, there’s no better place than the much-loved Cibreino.
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 120 (excluding wine)
Ciblèo
A world of original flavours that fuse East and West in a gourmet style that crosses borders.
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 160 (excluding wine)
Teatro del Sale
A theatre where you can listen to music of all genres and enjoy fabulous food, offering plenty of magical Christmas events for adults and children alike.
24 December – Christmas Eve dinner with Gospel concert,€ 100 (excluding wine)
Gucci Osteria
culinary adventure that lives in the moment and is expertly led by the chefs’ flair; the perfect place to spend a sophisticated, international Christmas.
31 December – New Year’s Eve dinner with seven-course menu, € 400 (includes wine)
Locale
The ideal place to enjoy a memorable experience with friends or family, with local food tradition creatively reinterpreted by chef Simone Caponnetto, and innovative cocktails.
31 December – New Year’s Eve dinner and show followed by DJ set, € 500 (including wines and paired cocktails). For the after party alone, € 150 (includes a bottle of Champagne per couple)
Villa Cora
An aristocratic Tuscan home in the hills a stone’s throw from the city centre, surrounded by ancient park.
25 December - Christmas brunch, € 155 (includes a bottle of Champagne per couple)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 290 in Sala Specchi or € 260 in Sala Moresca
Harry's Bar The Garden
At the luxurious Sina Villa Medici, all the tradition and innovation of Harry’s Bar, the perfect place to make the most of the festive season.
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 120 (not including drinks)
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 250 (not including drinks)
Harry's Bar The GardenDaisy’s Restaurant
Daisy’s Restaurant, the beating heart of the House of Nine Members Club, is preparing to celebrate Christmas.
25 December - Christmas lunch, €80 (not including drinks)
31 December - New Year’s Eve Dinner Party, with music from Arachel Dolphie & The Daisy’s Cuban Band, and DJ set, € 320 (not including drinks)
The Place Firenze
On Piazza Santa Maria Novella, The Kitchen & The Bar at The Place Firenze is where tradition meets creativity and superb local products.
24 December - Christmas dinner, € 130
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 80
Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi
Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi, in its Milton by Iside De Cesare, welcomes Christmas with a simple yet wonderful idea: make guests feel at home.
24 December - Christmas dinner, € 120
25 December - Christmas lunch, € 100
31 December - New Year’s Eve gala dinner, € 220 (3 glasses of wine € 30)
Tivoli Palazzo GaddiIl Gusto di Xinge
With its warm colour scheme and contemporary details, this restaurant creates the perfect mood to celebrate the season with Eastern charm and modern touches.
31 December - Grand New Year’s Eve gala dinner, with a six-course menu and live orchestra, € 150 (includes drinks)
