Florence’s Hotel Calimala has revealed its latest project to come to completion: Calimala The West, an expansion of the hotel that includes the opening of a brand-new wing across the street from the original property. Hotel Calimala has been redefined to illustrate an additional 65 rooms through the acquisition of a 19th-century Gothic-style building originally built by Italian architect Pietro Maria Bardi, in Florence’s Centro Storico neighbourhood.
Located just a stone’s throw away from the original Hotel Calimala, now known as “Calimala The East”, the hotel’s latest addition offers guests an unparalleled hospitality experience in the beating heart of the idyllic Italian city, combining historic charm with modern design. Marking an extraordinary chapter in the hotel’s legacy, with an oasis of grandeur that will leave an indelible imprint on Florence’s hospitality scene, Calimala The West spans five floors with 65 brand-new, beautifully designed rooms, and a sophisticated ground-floor restaurant designed by acclaimed architect Alex Meitlis (of Ottolenghi’s London restaurants). Calimala The West places guests in the hub of the city’s most significant sites, shopping boutiques, restaurants, theatres and parks.
Each room at Calimala The West has been carefully redesigned to maintain the iconic interior decor employed in the original hotel. Incorporating velvet, brass and marble, with geometric motifs and tri-coloured terrazzo flooring paying homage to Florence’s rich artistic heritage, Meitlis has seamlessly blended a contemporary feel with the building’s timeless beauty. Complete with custom-made furnishings, Calimala The West offers eight room categories including: Comfort, Deluxe, Twin Deluxe, Superior, Prestige, Junior Suite and Executive Suite, all beautifully bathed in natural light, with heightened ceilings, distressed stone walls and impressive views of the historic city. The walls of the hotel’s rooms and common areas have been dressed with unique pieces of contemporary artworks selected by the hotel’s in-house curator, Carmel Ilan.
When it comes to wining and dining, the hotel expansion includes the addition of a stylish restaurant on the ground floor, Meze. Currently open for Mediterranean-Italian inspired continental breakfast spreads and aperitivo, the restaurant is now offering its a la carte menu with local stapes and international dishes that can be enjoyed both at the glamorous center bar, or in the design-savvy indoor dining space. Meze will also expand to offer outdoor dining on the buzzing Via dei Lamberti in Spring 2024.
Calimala The West is located on Via dei Lamberti in Florence, parallel to the original hotel, on a street steeped in history that dates back to the 13th century. The charming, cobblestone street was named after the Lamberti, influential nobles and Ghibellines who owned houses and towers in the area, and underwent an impressive redevelopment project as part of the ancient Florentine center’s redevelopment.
Guests of Calimala The West will be granted access to the original Calimala The East, which sits on Via Calimala 2, occupying an entire block between Via dei Lamberti and Via Porta Rossa in the spectacular Palazzo degli Angeli. Home to ANGEL Roofbar & Dining, the hotel’s experiential rooftop destination occupying the fifth, sixth & seventh floors of the building, this destination dining venue features a rooftop patio, floral garden and breathtaking views of the city’s iconic landmarks.
