Expert Edition: Florence with the Owner of the Italian Hotel Brand, J.K. Place
One of Europe's leading hoteliers takes us to his favorite places in his hometown of Florence
“I loved hosting people, and giving them the most beautiful experience of Florence,” says Ori Kafri, renowned hotelier and owner of the legendary Italian hotel brand, J.K. Place. This inspired him to open his first hotel in his hometown of Florence in 2003.
Today, J.K. Place Hotels is a world-famous brand with timeless boutique hotels in Capri (one of Italy’s most iconic hotels), Rome, and their most recent addition in Paris. The name J.K. pays homage to Ori’s father (Jonathan Kafri), combined with ‘Place’, as in, ‘the place to be’.
As one of the world’s leading hoteliers, born, raised, and residing in Florence, he is the ultimate tastemaker for the city. Below, Ori Karfi takes us to his favorite places in Florence.
The Perfect Day in Florence
“The best place to experience an authentic Italian breakfast of espresso and pastry is Pasticceria Giorgio. It’s about a 10-minute drive from the city center, so you’re unlikely to see that many tourists. Order the Millefoglie, an Italian cream cake (I like the version with chocolate chips inside).
“After breakfast, explore the city’s treasures like the Uffizi Gallery, Boboli Gardens, and Palazzo Pitti with a tour guide as it will completely change your perspective of the city. Florence is like an open-air museum, there is so much history and art.
“For lunch, you must go to Cammillo, a historic restaurant with an open kitchen. It’s been run by the same owner for over 50 years. They use the freshest ingredients from the market and what’s in season.
“For example, in the spring, they serve pasta with local peas that are astonishingly sweet and dessert-like. In September, you’ll find figs on the menu, and in November truffles. I also love that the menus are hand-written — it’s a nice touch.
“Walk off lunch straight to Florence’s best gelato shop, Vivoli. They’ve been around for more than 40 years, and all of the gelato shops try to imitate them with no success. My favorite flavor is Buontalenti containing eggs, milk, and cream. On a historical note, it was the first gelato flavor created in the Medici era.
“Italy is famous for aperitivo, and I think the best place to enjoy a classic negroni (also born in Florence) is at the Hotel Lungarno’s La Terrazza Rooftop Bar.
“For dinner, head to Trattoria 13 Gobbi, a traditional Italian trattoria (trattoria means ‘everyday food’). Order here the rigatoni, it’s exceptional with tomato sauce and mozzarella; the florentine steak; and the cheesecake, it’s simply the best cheesecake in the world. “Two other restaurants that I adore are Buca Lapi and Trattoria Sostanza — they’re both local favorites. Note that Sostanza only accepts cash, but their omelet with artichokes and chicken breast drenched in butter is worth every single penny.”
Bring Home Florentine Treasures
“Officina Profumo di Santa Maria Novella, considered the oldest pharmacy in the world, is near the Santa Maria Novella train station and church. Today, it’s famous worldwide for its bespoke perfumes, candles, and skincare products made using traditional methods dating back hundreds of years. The store in Florence is the headquarters — and it’s exquisite, it looks like a perfume museum.
“Loretta Caponi is where you’ll find hand-made embroidered linen made by local artisans in Florence. I also recommend visiting Lorenzo Villoresi, where you’ll find artisan perfumes, or create your own custom perfume. Lorenzo is widely recognized as the leading perfumer in Italy having received many awards in France, which is renowned for its perfume industry and is home to some of the world’s best perfumeries.”
Where to Sleep
“I think the ideal time to visit Florence is 3 nights. Many people like to combine a trip to Florence and Tuscany. In terms of hotels, my top picks are the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze (they have the most beautiful garden in the center of town); Hotel Lungarno (owned by the Ferragamo family); and Helvetia & Bristol Firenze.
Florence is very centrally located, you can take an hour-and-a-half train to Rome, or a two-hour train to Venice.”
Favorite View of The City
“Florence is a breathtaking city — to enjoy the best view, go to the small boutique Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo’s pool. This was one of the main towers used in the old days to protect Florence.”
RESTAURANTS
CAFES, BARS & GELATERIA
HOTELS
BOUTIQUES
HERE is a Google Map with all of the locations.
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