Florence: Smart Splurges

Borgo San Jacopo Book one of the four tables on the tiny riverside terrace of this exclusive restaurant inside the Hotel Lungarno: the stunning views of the Ponte Vecchio will make this the meal of a lifetime. The yacht-club décor heralds a seafood menu featuring lobster, scampi, sea bass, turbot, mussels, and fresh tuna. As a consequence, the wine list is strong on white wines. Oltrarno; Borgo San Jacopo 14; 011-39-055-27-261; www.lungarnohotels.com
restaurant | expensive | seafood | view

Cantinetta Antinori The perfect place to round up a shopping spree on via Tornabuoni. Antinori is the equivalent of Armani in the wine world, and a relaxed lunch in the classy Cantinetta on the ground floor of their own noble palace is a must in your Florentine portfolio, even though it may turn pricey depending on your choice of food and wine. Santa Trinita; Piazza degli Antinori 3; 011-39-055-292-234; www.antinori.it
restaurant | expensive | italian | wine

Colle Bereto Set in a prime position overlooking the pedestrian square before Palazzo Strozzi, Colle Bereto is a popular hangout from early evening till late night, especially Thursday through Saturday during the summer months. You'll need to book a table to mix with the designer-clad crowd in the upstairs VIP privé. Santa Trinita; Piazza Strozzi 5r; 011-39-055-283-156; www.collebereto.com
nightlife | wine bar

Enoteca Pinchiorri This is one widely regarded as one of Italy's epicurean temples, and the prices are in the same stellar league. You can order à la carte, but the seasonal set menus are better value and will let you taste a wider variety of dishes. With 80,000 different wines, Giorgio Pinchiorri's wine cellar is considered one of the world's greatest. This is one of the few restaurants in Florence where dress code is strictly enforced. Santa Croce/Sant'Ambrogio; Via Ghibellina 87; 011-39-055-242-757; www.enotecapinchiorri.com
restaurant | expensive | italian | editor pick

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze It took seven years to convert the Renaissance-era Palazzo della Gherardesca, its 12-acre private park, and a nearby 16th-century convent into Florence's newest five-star hotel, but the results confirm that it was worth the effort. Guests of the hotel's 117 rooms (including 45 suites) are treated plush amenities, all within steps of the city's major landmarks. San Marco; Borgo Pinti 99; 011-39-055-26-261; www.fourseasons.com/florence
luxury | hotel | expensive | spa

Grand Hotel Baglioni Dating from 1903, this traditional Tuscan hotel was once home to Carrega Bertolini princes. Corridors lined with historic Florentine photos from the Alinari museum's collection provide a taste of Old World Florence. Santa Maria Novella; Piazza Unità Italiana 6; 011-39-055-23-580; www.hotelbaglioni.it
luxury | hotel | expensive | editor pick

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella The present business dates from 1612, but the friars of nearby Santa Maria Novella had been running an apothecary shop since 1221. Most of the perfumes and body care products still produced and sold here were developed in the 1500s for Caterina de' Medici. Santa Maria Novella; Via della Scala 16; 011-39-055-216-276; www.smnovella.it
expensive | shopping | perfume

Pineider Francesco Pineider opened his first shop in Florence in 1774, and for more than two centuries the brand has been synonymous with hand-made paper, custom printing, engraved stationery, fine desk accessories, and luxury leather briefcases – a mix of style and quality that outlasts fleeting fashion trends. The Duomo/Piazza della Signoria; Piazza della Signoria 13r; 011-39-055-281-747; www.pineider.com
expensive | shopping

Ponte Vecchio Florence's oldest, most iconic bridge vies with the Duomo for favorite city landmark. The tiny shops lining the Ponte Vecchio were once home to the city butchers and fishmongers, who use to dump the rotting leftovers into the river. Because of the smell, in 1593 Ferdinando I de' Medici decreed that they should be replaced with goldsmiths, which remain to this day. The Duomo/Piazza della Signoria/Oltrarno; between Via Por Santa Maria and Via Guicciardini
family | culture | expensive | shopping

Vasari Corridor Built in 1565 by Vasari to link Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti for the convenience (and safety) of the Medici, this private passageway offers unusual views over the city and is lined with illustrious self portraits. It can only be visited by joining a scheduled guided tour: well worth it if you can afford around $145 for the privilege. The Duomo/Piazza della Signoria; Entrance through the Uffizi Gallery; 011-39-055-238-8651; en.firenze.waf.it
architecture | things to do | history | art