Which is best, Four Seasons Firenze Vs. St. Regis Florence? While the choice between these two hotel brands varies between individual hotels, Four Seasons hotels are generally more service-oriented and more luxurious.
St. Regis hotels are part of the Marriott brand and, although wonderful, are less consistent in quality than Four Seasons hotels, which are reliably excellent. That said, there are exceptional properties in both portfolios. We recently stayed at St. Regis Florence, pictured above, and this hotel was jaw-droppingly ornate and authentic.
1. Four Seasons Vs. St. Regis Florence: Style
Four Seasons offers a variety of styles across their hotels according to the destination and the property itself. For example, Four Seasons Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat is a historic property, so it takes’s style accents from its classic and historic french architecture.
Four Seasons Firenze is deeply historical and is tucked away in the city’s biggest private garden, a tranquil haven of statues, fountains, and centuries-old trees. To immerse yourself in history, you must book a suite where frescoes line the walls amid original architectural features.
On the other hand, St. Regis offers an equally diverse style. We recently stayed at St. Regis Florence, pictured above, and this hotel was charm and elegance personified. The typical Florentine architecture that you’ll fall head over heels with the minute you arrive in the city is at its very best in this chocolate-box of a building.
Inside think opulent furnishing, frescoed ceilings, and crystal chandeliers, and you have the St. Regis Florence. Interestingly, the hotel doesn’t feel overly fussy or dated. Everything you need to be modern and fresh is bang up to date. The feeling is of space and elegance rather than being ram-packed with antiques!
2. Location
The location of the St. Regis Florence quite literally couldn’t be better. The hotel is centrally located at the very heart of the historic city and lies on the River Arno itself. It is situated on the beautiful square, Piazza Ognissanti, which is a peaceful space that lies just steps from the buzz of the city. It felt like we had to walk just minutes to get everywhere we wanted to go, yet this wasn’t a busy area at all. Perfect location.
Four Seasons is a longer walk from the city center so St. Regis has the best location of these two hotels.
3. Size
Although this is not always the case, generally, St. Regis hotels tend to be similar in size to Four Seasons hotels, and their sizes vary enormously.
4. Grounds
The Four Seasons in Florence offers glorious grounds. The St. Regis has no grounds at all other than a terrace.
5. Beach, Pool & Spa
There are no beaches in Florence, but there is a stunning pool in the grounds of Four Seasons Florence. The Four Seasons also offers a locally inspired spa where you can spend afternoons in pure indulgence, just steps away from the cultural heart of Florence. There’s no pool a St. Regis Florence and the spa is small so Four Seasons is best for pool and spa.
6. Rooms
Both hotels offer luxurious rooms. As a general rule, I find the rooms at the Four Seasons to be more consistent in the quality of decor and larger in size, but again, this is very property-specific. In Florence, the rooms at the Four Seasons tend to be larger and have the edge, although the Four Seasons don’t offer river views and many rooms at St.Regis do.
The rooms at St. Regis are also very good and boast either 15th-century Florentine, Medici, or Renaissance-themed décor. All the standard in-room amenities that you would expect are present; the mini-bar is well-stocked, the robes are super fluffy, and the bed is up there with one of the comfiest we’ve slept on.
The rooms are surprisingly spacious for a central European-city hotel. Even the marble bathroom is large and had all the mod cons. Ours had a shower over the bath. A river view is a must here (about half of the rooms enjoy one), so definitely request one; gazing upon the landmark Ponte Vecchio bridge as the sun sets over the city is the perfect prelude to an evening sampling Tuscany’s delicious cuisines and wines.
7. Food
Both Four Seasons and St. Regis brands offer excellent and not-so-excellent restaurants. However, it is hard to beat the incredible Michelin-starred Italian restaurant at Four Seasons in Florence.
8. Family Facilities
Both brands are family-friendly, but Four Seasons has a particularly amazing kids program with gifts and special touches in the rooms. I would say Four Seasons is the best child-friendly hotel brand in the world.
In Florence, the pool and gardens are a big advantage for children so Four Seasons is best for kids.
8. Nickel & Diming
There is no nickel and diming for extras at Four Seasons hotels, and there are never any resort fees. Some St. Regis hotels charge resort fees.
10. Conclusion
Both of these hotels are magnificent hotels. Four Seasons is best for room size, pool, grounds, and restaurant, but St. Regis has the best location and river views.
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