The Luxury Travel Magazine
The Luxury Travel Magazine
It’s in this spirit of reinvention that Hotel Calimala makes its mark. In the heart of the historic centre, just moments from trattorias, designer flagships and even the occasional buchette del vino (tiny wine windows carved into centuries old stone), the hotel offers more than just location. It offers contrast, elegant yet edgy, rooted yet current. Set across two restored heritage buildings, the stay is thoroughly design-led but unmistakably local, a stylish tribute to Florences enduring creativity.
The hotel is the second opening from Milu group, a boutique brand with an eye for unique real estate. Designed by architect Alex Meitlis, Calimala is split across two restored landmarks, the East, housed in the 16th century Palazzo degli Angeli, and the West, a dramatic 19th century Gothic style building redesigned with velvet furniture, Sicilian style ornaments, crystal chandeliers and 80s Italian art décor features.
Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, was once a city that turned patronage into power. Where architects, artists and intellectual thinkers redefined culture from the inside out. That same legacy runs through Calimala. Meitlis doesn’t erase the past, he frames it in the name of design. Original brick walls and century old arches are left exposed, then layered with bold artwork, custom lighting and chevron tile patterned floor. It’s a visual dialogue, old meets new.
You’ll know you’ve found Calimala the West when you see a row of deep red flags rippling above a 19th century building with Gothic arches and terracotta stone. Inside the tone sharpens, dark green / border line black and white chevron tiles, exposed light brick, and a sculptural reception desk that rises straight from the chevron patterned floor. Opposite, a marble topped open bar centres the room, framed by a mirrored wall behind shelves of liquor, a gold overhead wine rack hung with flutes, and a chandelier casting a softness across the room.
Candlelight skims the marble, low, moody and romantic. Pops of colourful Sicilian ornaments and arched panel mirrors cut through the neutrals with quiet drama. Layered and deliberately offbeat. The vibe? Bold but balanced, chic but daring all at the same time.
Just around the corner sits Calimala the East. The building is a show of quiet grandeur, refined and symmetrical with tall windows, elegant balconies and its own entrance. Its sgraffito style detailing a direct nod to the Renaissance without overdoing it. Pietra serena and Tuscan marble pay homage to the buildings architectural character. Together, the two buildings hold 103 rooms, the East with 38, and the West with 65.
The rooms lean into an Italian chic aesthetic, bold but deliberate with flashes of 1980s drama. Think mirrored wardrobes, Missoni blankets neatly folded at the foot of the bed, and mustard yellow velvet headboards. Artwork is dotted everywhere, from sculptural pieces tucked into alcoves to framed sketches. Original brick walls and arched wooden windows open straight onto the Florentine skyline, looking out onto rooftops, shutters and terracotta tones, it’s pure Italian movie settings.
Each of the 103 rooms falls into one of eight categories: superior, deluxe, twin deluxe, comfort, prestige, junior suite, premium balcony and executive suite. Bathrooms extend the graphic chevron tiling seen in the reception area, stretching from floor to ceiling, paired with brass fixtures and a walk-in shower. Amenities are consistent throughout: minibars, Nespresso machines, flat-screen TVs, bespoke desks, air con, room service, telephone service, hair dryer, bottled water and Juliette style balconies in the premium balcony rooms. One standout design detail is the arched, mirrored wardrobe. It’s not just eye catching, but also where the in-room minibar can be found tucked neatly inside.
Designer Alex Meitlis, known for layering materials and mood, lets the original structure lead, softening it with pops of colour, brass details and subtle nods to the Renaissance formality of Florence. It’s a look that sits between modern restraint and old-school opulence. Think Milanese townhouse meets Sicilian mob movie energy but pared back.
Dining at Calimala feels as considered as the design. On the ground floor of the West wing, Meze delivers a bespoke menu rooted in the flavours of the Med, the Middle East and Tuscany. Expect dishes like brown butter scallops and Spanish anchovies from the sea, steak on a skewer and beef tartare from the farm, and Qubbah from the field. The space mirrors the hotels aesthetic, exposed brick, chevron floors, soft lighting and oversized crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling.
Upstairs on the East, the flagship rooftop bar and restaurant Angel is where the hotel really flexes. The Florence hotspot spans across three levels, its part rooftop garden, part open air lounge, and part poolside escape.
With 360 panoramic views over Florence and fairy lights strung between wild tulips, the vibe is nothing short of a Tuscan fairy tale by day – sun drenched with white wrought iron garden chairs and terracotta tiles.
By night it’s more intimate and elevated, with a youthful glam crowd filtering in for aperitivo and the house DJ. The drink list is filled with classics but with a twist: negronis and seasonal cocktails served alongside small plates like patatas perfetta and fried ravioli.
As the sun sets, Angel becomes the city’s golden-hour to-go. Florence glows below, the Arnolfo’s clocktower in view, tables fill fast. The ambience is warm but polished; Mediterranean house beats in the background, glasses clinking and a light breeze. Its sunset done properly, buzzy and elegant. It’s the ideal spot to linger and be social in style.
The dinner menu leans Tuscan, tagliere for starters, olive oil sashimi and fusilli pasta with zucchini pesto for mains. Inside, the breakfast bar is a standout, surrounded by exposed brick and black veined marble counters. It’s where the hotel serves its morning spread: pastries, eggs, meats, yogurts, cereal, fruit, and potent Italian coffee. Guests have the choice to dine downstairs at Meze or upstairs at Angel for breakfast, depending on the mood. One grounded and the other sky bound.
With a total of 103 rooms spread across two buildings, Hotel Calimala covers all the essentials, and then some. There’s a fully equipped gym on the West wing, high speed Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, in room wellness services, and full-service laundry for those staying longer than a few days. Guests can expect a breakfast buffet each morning, all day casual dining, 24-hour front desk service, baggage storage, concierge, housekeeping, wake up calls, and even on-site parking (a rarity in this part of the city).
The location is unbeatable. The Duomo is a five-minute walk away, just past a run of Florence’s biggest designer flagship stores; Ferragamo, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, all moments from the hotel’s front door. It’s the kind of base that puts the entire city within easy reach, no itinerary needed.
Hotel Calimala doesn’t try to do it all, it just does what matters and does it well. It’s for travellers who like their luxury with a little edge, their design rooted in story, and a rooftop that does more than just look good in photos (though it does that too). It captures the city’s past in its own way, edgy, stylish, heritage rich and confidently its own, and all the better for it.
