Florence, ItalySanta Maria Novella
The Social Hub Florence Lavagnini
Co-living railway palazzo
Santa Maria Novella Florence, Italy
Opened
2018
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Heritage SocialOutside the door
The house
The Social HubCo-living railway palazzo
The nineteenth-century railway headquarters operates as a hybrid campus, mixing hotel travelers with student residents across shared desks and lounges.
What it’s good at
Notable
Memphis-inspired neon accents and courtyard murals set against preserved nineteenth-century palazzo frescoes.
Notable
The 1864 Palazzo del Sonno retains original marble staircases and railway administrative halls.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Fortezza da Basso and its public gardens sit directly opposite, and Santa Maria Novella station is ten minutes away on foot.
The rooms
Typographic slogans hang above the beds, and custom modular desks make the compact rooms easy to work from.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The sixth-floor pool sits beneath a timber pergola, looking straight out toward the dome of the Florence Cathedral.
The gym
Cardio machines face expansive windows overlooking Florence, and the space hosts weekly sessions in yoga and capoeira.
Rooftop Sky Bar
Stools line the green-tiled counter under hanging greenery, and floor-to-ceiling glass looks out over the Duomo.
At the table
Downstairs, Osteria Lavagnini serves Tuscan fare across a dining room with bold crimson walls and outdoor courtyard tables.
How it began
Locals long nicknamed the 1864 railway headquarters the Sleepy Palace, referencing the rail workers who once lodged here.
Florence
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.