Villa Florentine
Lyon, France
Vieux Lyon
Vibe
Quiet cloister gardens and shaded sun decks offer a peaceful Italianate sanctuary hovering above the bustling streets below.
“Hilltop cloister retreat”
Restored seventeenth-century convent overlooking Vieux Lyon, preserving original ecclesiastical architecture and Renaissance terracotta tones.
Attentive Relais and Chateaux service, evening turndown, and spacious Italianate suites looking across the city rooftops.
Heated panoramic pool perched above Lyon, alongside heated marble deckchairs, dual saunas, and a traditional hammam.
On Fourviere hill overlooking the terracotta rooftops of Vieux Lyon, a walk down the steps to Saint-Jean.
“Rooms and suites are split across both a 17th-century and a 15th-century building and sport a minimalist, monastic style inspired by the hotel’s ecclesiastical origins.”
Rooms
Interiors channel monastic simplicity across historic wings, pairing clean lines and rich wood paneling with panoramic views of the city below.
Wellness
The Apoticari Spa features dual saunas and a traditional hammam, beside a heated outdoor pool lined with warm marble deckchairs.
Backstory
Founded as a seventeenth-century convent, the property opened as a luxury hotel in 1993 before undergoing a comprehensive 2026 transformation.
Eat & drink
La Table de la Villa Florentine serves refined gastronomy under a glass roof, alongside a casual bistronomic counter and speakeasy bar.
The neighborhood
Set high on Fourvière Hill, the property sits above Vieux Lyon, with stone stairways leading directly down to Saint-Jean.
The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.