Casa Howard more or less invented the luxury Italian guesthouse in its two original Roman locations. This discreet home-away-from-home exports that winning formula to Florence, offering high standards of comfort and service at great rates. The look is colorful and vaguely eccentric; furniture is an eclectic mix of antiques and custom-made pieces combined with fine fabrics and strong tints. No two of its 13 bedrooms are alike: The spacious and dramatic Drawing Room has black walls and white cornices, while the Hidden Room is a sexy little den with deep red walls hung with erotic Japanese prints (plus a sunken bath). The Fireplace Room has two working fireplaces, an oversize black-velvet sofa, and honey-colored silk curtains. There is no communal space to speak of (unless you count the Turkish bath), so breakfast is served on a tray in one's room. The location is central, just steps from the Santa Maria Novella church.

The newest of the four Ferragamo properties in Florence (Gallery Hotel Art, Hotel Lungarno, Lungarno Suites) opened in 2003, and is, in our eyes, the most effortlessly stylish. The decor is early '60s retro with a contemporary tweak, as in the slim Venetian blinds that frame the ringside view of the Ponte Vecchio, or the pink and black armchairs that look like they've just been vacated by Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. The 43 bedrooms are more neutral, done up in shades of tan, beige, cream, and white. For the ultimate A Room With a View experience, bag one of the fifth-floor river-view rooms, such as number 503, a spacious superior double. But the real calling cards of the Continentale are its impeccable service, neither overfamiliar nor overformal, and its panoramic rooftop chill-out terrace, the Terrazza de' Consorti, where cocktails are served in summer.

You could never accuse the Four Seasons group of rushing into things. It wasn't until the most prestigious private estate in central Florence came up for sale that they made their move into the city; even then, they spent seven years restoring Renaissance-era Palazzo della Gherardesca, its surrounding 11-acre park (easily the largest within the town walls), and a 16th-century convent before opening for business in June 2008. The result merits a visit even if you're not staying: The courtyard lobby, dominated by lively 15th-century bas-reliefs; the leafy botanical garden, with its yews and sequoias; and the tiny computer room, where guests can surf the net surrounded by 18th-century frescoes, are all worthy of a museum. From the American doorman in, service is impeccable, and the hotel is good with important little details like the freshly squeezed pineapple juice at breakfast. Bonuses include Florence's only genuine hotel spa, with treatments based on products made by the Santa Maria Novella pharmacy; a huge open-air pool; and a restaurant firmly rooted in Italy's seasonal Slow Food movement. The 116 bedrooms, in a bewildering range of categories, are well appointed and come with large marble-lined bathrooms; some guests will feel that the antique decor lacks brio, however. We prefer the rooms in the main palazzo to those in the rather isolated Conventino across the park—though the latter would work perfectly for a wedding party. If central location is a key factor, you may want to look elsewhere: It's a good 20-minute walk from the hotel to the Ponte Vecchio.

When the Ferragamo family opened this confidently stylish hotel in 1999, it caused quite a stir. Not only was it Florence's first "design hotel," but it had an enviable location, just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio. While it is no longer unique (its hip competitors now include an adjacent Ferragamo property, the Continentale), the Gallery continues to hold its own. Florentine interiors wunderkind Michele Bonan took care of the decor, which combines elements of East and West, and while the style is minimalist, it avoids being cold. Colors are muted, but dark African wood and soft lighting add warmth. Rotating art and photography exhibitions liven up the inviting public rooms; we especially like the reading room with its sofas and cashmere knee rugs. The 74 bedrooms are quite sober and masculine. The Fusion Bar is a fixture on the city's aperitivo circuit; foodwise, it serves—as its name suggests—fusion dishes such as foie gras nigiri sushi topped with chutney, plus brunch on weekends. The hotel is popular with fashion and film types, but don't worry: Regular tourists are tolerated too. Online rates offer significant discounts if you hit on the right dates.

With a stunning setting right on the south bank of the Arno just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio, the 73-room Lungarno (another Ferragamo-owned property) is the first choice for travelers who prefer smaller hotels but don't want to sacrifice top-class personal service and supercentral location. Book early to secure one of the rooms with a terrace overlooking the river; the fifth- and sixth-floor suites are quite spacious and have big decks, while standards are much smaller. The ground-floor breakfast room and beautifully appointed lounge/bar—complete with white-jacketed servers and an impressive array of coffee table books—are right on the water. The Borgo San Jacopo Ristorante has a tiny terrace on the river and serves modish food, such as brodetto (a bouillabaisse-like fish stew with mussels, clams, squid, and sea bass), in a calm and elegant setting. On the other side of the Arno, you'll find its sister hotels Gallery Hotel Art, Continentale, and Lungarno Suites.

Rescued from decay in the late '90s by Sir Rocco Forte, the Savoy is a stylish, upbeat hotel and one of the city's most popular, attracting both a business and leisure clientele plus a fair share of celebs. Olga Polizzi, Rocco's designing sister, has created a characteristically stylish and calm ambience using notes of dark wood, splashes of loud pattern and color, and some striking modern art against neutral beige and cream. None of the 102 rooms are huge, but they are comfortable and well-equipped; most of them have walk-in closets. The best overlook the bustling Piazza della Repubblica from the upper floors; two of the suites have Turkish baths. Kids are well looked after here, too, with special touches like junior-size bathrobes and dedicated toiletries. The informal L'Incontro Bar & Restaurant, with tables out in the busy piazza, serves modern Tuscan food (pasta with artichokes and scorpion fish), and is great for people-watching.

Occupying the top three floors of a venerable old mansion on the edge of Florence's most famous square, this upmarket guesthouse has ten cozy rooms, most with at least a side view of the comings and goings below. The hosts give guests a genuinely warm welcome, and many leave as friends. The place is tastefully furnished in a fairly traditional, unfussy style, with antiques, elegant fabrics, canopied beds, a couple of four-posters, wood floors, and bright oriental rugs. Rooms are named after artists; if you want a full-on view of the piazza, book either Leonardo or Michelangelo. Breakfast is served at an enormous oval communal table or in your room. Prefer to cook for yourself? A couple of self-catering apartments are available on the top floor.

Since opening in 2003, J.K. Place has quickly become one of the city's most sought-after hotels, especially by a young, hip fashionable crowd. Occupying a tall, elegant town house with only 20 rooms, it has the dimensions and atmosphere of a discreetly luxurious private residence. Huge mirrors, drawings, and engravings hang on the walls, and fine antiques rub shoulders with lacquered Oriental pieces and '50s lamps. Flickering candles give everything a warm glow. Bedrooms—ranging from cozy little dens to three spacious master rooms—are built around a small internal courtyard hung with Moroccan lamps. At the top are the panoramic penthouse and a roof terrace/bar. It's seriously stylish here but not stuffy, thanks largely to the young staff, which strikes a perfect balance between immaculate service and friendliness. Since 2004, the adjacent J.K. Lounge has become an essential stop on the Florentine aperitivo circuit. Upstairs, it's styled in the same antique-chic idiom as the hotel, but the basement—where DJs spin cuts as evening turns to night—is a glowing pink chill-out vault. Dress accordingly.

These 44 super-stylish, fully-serviced apartments are ideal for anyone looking for the comfort and service of an upscale hotel but also craving a bit of independence. The suites are located on the north bank of the Arno just west of the Ponte Vecchio, so views from the huge picture windows of those facing the river are fabulous; those on the top floors have terraces. The style is modern and clean, but colors are warm. Each apartment has a well-equipped kitchen where you can indulge your Tuscan cooking fantasies, and staff will even do the shopping for you. If you're feeling lazy, you can order meals to be brought in from the Fusion Bar at the adjacent Gallery Hotel.

Situated in the lively Oltrarno district, this grand palazzo was home to the owner's family until he decided to convert it into an upmarket hotel. All the characteristics of its noble origins are still in place, and you will find grand salons filled with fine family antiques and pictures, elaborate frescoes, original boxed ceilings, old terra-cotta floors, and glittering chandeliers. There's plenty of communal space: a plant-filled courtyard, a billiard room, various sitting rooms, and a fabulous rooftop terrace with views over the city and beyond. The only drawback (though for some this may be a plus) is that this "all-suite palace" has the air of a residence rather than a hotel—its echoing chambers sometimes feel eerily empty, however reception (and room service) are present 24/7. The 13 suites are enormous and each has a separate sitting room. The most charming room, however, is also the smallest; a romantic little boudoir with floor-to-ceiling frescoes and a small private garden.

Inaugurated in spring 2005, this 24-room hotel offers luxurious accommodation and contemporary style in the shell of a grand, 18th-century palazzo close to the Duomo. The first-floor public rooms are particularly impressive, especially the vast Music Room, which has lofty frescoed ceilings, elegantly decorated stucco panels, and an original wood floor. The two mammoth Royal Suites on the first-floor piano nobile are decorated in sober classical style, but the double rooms and regular suites on the upper floors are modern in design, with clean, sober lines lightened by quirky design details, such as walls decorated with boiserie panels. There is a decent restaurant in the hotel that's justly proud of its "Fiorentina" steak, but you may prefer to eat at Enoteca Pinchiorri, one of Italy's most celebrated restaurants, which is housed on the ground floor of the same building.

Residence Hilda offers 12 stylish, self-catering accommodations at reasonable rates. Situated just north of the Duomo, well-located for both sightseeing and shopping, the pristine modern apartments are done out in shades of white with blond wood floors and spare but well-chosen furnishings (Philippe Starck chairs, for example). The smaller apartments are adequate for two, but the larger ones are quite spacious. All, however, have kitchens, and groceries can be ordered in.

The latest addition to the city's roster of unique hotels is this 11-suite jewel, situated in a 16th-century palazzo just around the corner from the shopping street of Via Tornabuoni. The place belongs to Gilberto Sandretto, one of Italy's leading collectors of contemporary art, and among the Baroque stuccowork, baldacchino beds, and trompe l'oeil frescoes are works by Nan Goldin, Roni Horn, Andy Goldsworthy, and other international artists. The individually decorated suites, however, stress the antique rather than the modern, with splashes of strong color and opulent touches such as the green silk headboard in the Bengala Suite or the hidden whirlpool bath in the Moro Suite. This is one of Florence's most exclusive hotels, and the punishing prices (starting at more than $1,000, for the deliciously theatrical Alcove Suite) reflect its cachet.

A relaxed urban refuge, Riva Lofts is the personal project of globe-trotting Florentine architect Claudio Nardi. This former factory on the southern bank of the Arno was Nardi's private studio until he decided to turn it into one of Italy's most original design hotels, in 2006. Run by his daughter Alice, the guesthouse describes itself as a "home for modern travelers"; Nardi likes to leave the walls and ceilings bare, focusing the eye on details like antique leather armchairs or canopy beds veiled by floor-to-ceiling white lace. The eight suites vary greatly in size; we prefer the larger upstairs studios, especially 7 and 9 (the smaller, ground-floor rooms that give on to the entrance courtyard can seem a little dark and claustrophobic). Free bicycles compensate for Riva's distance from the centro storico ( at least half an hour away on foot). Although a public thoroughfare comes between the guesthouse and its river frontage, the on-site garden is a lovely, tree-shaded spot for reading or sunbathing—while, perhaps, sipping a beer from the honesty bar. You can even enjoy a dip in the "metaphysical" swimming pool—so named, we assume, because it is bigger on striking modernist geometry than on size.

The Excelsior vies with the Grand Hotel, its neighbor across the square, for the title of Grande Dame of the Florentine accommodation scene. Rivalry has been reduced to a minimum now that both are Starwood properties, but there are still differences in character, and for our money the Excelsior has the edge in terms of old-world charm. Though certain features (such as Heavenly Beds and the Westin Workout gym) are common to the brand, the Excelsior asserts its own sense of style in the opulent antique decor of the public areas and the staff's impeccable green livery. Renovated in 1997, the 171 guest rooms are warmly elegant, and most are pretty spacious by Italian standards. Big spenders can splash out on the presidential suite, with its huge terrace overlooking the Arno. The hotel is a little out of the way (a couple of bridges east of the Ponte Vecchio), but there are plenty of decent places to eat in the vicinity. The hotel's restaurant Orun, with its light Tuscan cuisine, offers a good alternative when you've been tramping around museums all day. Note that breakfast is not generally included in the room rate, and can be pricey.