JK Place

Florence, Italy [view map]

Style

Private perfection

Setting

Perched on the piazza

In JK Place in the heart of Florence, painted ceilings, panelled walls, antique fireplaces and extremely well-edited modern pieces sit comfortably alongside every audiovisual requirement.

Local restaurants

Cantina Barbagianni on Via Sant’Egidio (+39 55 248 0508) is in an ancient cellar; it is ideal for dinner à deux, or head there for a great value two-course lunch. Cibreo on Via de’Macci (+39 55 234 1100), possibly the the most famous trattoria in Italy, is formal and glamorous. La Congrega on Via Panicale (+39 55 264 5027) is a quaint traditional trattoria for lunch or an informal but unforgettable dinner. Michelin-starred Enoteca Pinchiorri on Via Ghibellina (+39 55 242 777) is set in a Renaissance palace, where Giorgio Pinchiorri himself helps you choose from his 150,000-bottle cellar; jacket and tie required. Olio & Convivium on Via Santo Spirito (265 8198) is a delicatessen and restaurant specialising in olive oils, native wines and local cheeses. ll Latini on Via Palchetti (+39 55 210 916) can be hit or miss – but get there on a good night (ie: not full to the gills with tourists) and it’s great fun. The kitchen decides what you’ll be eating – you just name the colour of wine you prefer, and whether you want fish or meat. Il Parione is a cosy trattoria on Via del Parione (+39 55 214 005), great for candlelit dinners. Roses on Via del Parione (+39 55 287 090) is a café during the day and a sushi bar/Japanese restaurant in the evening. Many restaurants close on Sunday or Monday; check first. Cantinetta Antinori at Palazzo Antinori near Piazza Santa Trínita (+39 55 292 234) has a noble tradition (quite literally) of serving Tuscan dishes made with fresh produce from the Antinori estates.

Local bars

Capocaccia on Lungarno Corsini is perfect for pre-dinner martinis. Pop across the road for some of the finest cocktails in town in the Fusion Bar in the Gallery Hotel Art. Café Rivoire,overlooking Michelangelo’s David in Piazza della Signoria, serves superb hot chocolate, cocktails and aperitivi and is great for watching the world go by.

Local cafes

Overlooking Michelangelo’s David in Piazza della Signoria, Caffè Rivoire is a people-watching hub. Caffè Pitti (+39 55 239 9863) becomes a restaurant at night, specialising in truffle dishes. The Roberto Cavalli-owned Giacosa (+39 55 277 6328), linked to his shop on Via della Spada, is a busy, fashiony place for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cocktails.

Nightlife

Angels is a bar/restaurant on Via del Proconsolo, with frescos adorning its domed ceiling; white muslin drapes, sexy lighting and modern furniture bring it crashing into the 21st century. Early on, tourists slurp fruity cocktails, and fiorentino hipsters appear later. If you have to dance and want no more than a good ol’ fashioned discotheque, try Yab on Via Sassetti.

Worth getting out of bed for

Viewpoints Climb the 414 steps to the top of the Campanile or up Brunelleschi's amazing Duomo itself for a 360-degree view of Florence. Drive up to Fiesole and look down across the entire town.
Arts and culture Sixty per cent of the world’s most important works of art are housed in Italy and half of these are in Florence. The cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori, aka the Duomo,was built in 1434, and its dome is a celebrated feat of engineering. The Bargello contains an unrivalled collection of Renaissance sculptures (www.sbas.firenze.it/bargello). The famous Uffizi houses Botticellis, Michelangelos and da Vincis; reserve tickets (www.uffizi.com).
Something for nothing Stroll along the Ponte Vecchio; gaze at Michelangelo’s David.
Shopping The market on Sundays around Piazza San Lorenzo is a little disappointing; try the fleamarket at Piazza dei Ciompi instead. For designer clothes, Luisa Via Roma on Via Roma is a high-fashion multi-designer boutique. Universo Sanchez on Via il Prato is a lifestyle shop with clothes, a bar and a barber. For interior design, try Flair on Lungarno Guicciardini.
And… Tea at the Villa San Michele hotel in Fiesole. A romantic day out to San Gimignano, a mediaeval town with towers, cobbled streets and very romantic views.

Diary

Florence hosts five major international fashion events yearly (www.pittimmagine.com). May–June Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, at the Teatro Comunale, is one of Europe’s oldest music fests (www.maggiofiorentino.com). 11–24 June The Festival of San Giovanni; highlights include the regatta, near Ponte Vecchio, and fireworks in Piazzale Michelangelo. 7 September Rificolona festival, when children carry lanterns in a grand procession, and there are street performances and parties.