A private residence that transcends the traditional hotel stay, This Time Tomorrow feels like a beautifully dressed secret
The background
Located just off Piazza della Libertà on the northernmost apex of the old city walls in Le Cure, This Time Tomorrow (TTT) is a stately townhouse that was painstakingly renovated in the early 2020s by founders Pierre Ferland and Thomas Odenthal as part of their concept of curated “off-menu” urban stays.
Their approach assigns guests with their very own curator – think of it as a private concierge, who reaches out ahead of your arrival with a survey to determine your tastes so they can craft your bespoke itinerary. Did I prefer a fully stocked kitchen, a bottle of Franciacorta chilling in the fridge or a quiet house with minimal intervention? Was I seeking appointments to under-the-radar galleries, hard-to-secure restaurant reservations or private guides?
My request was simple, or at least in my mind: show me a side of Florence I didn’t already know – no mean feat for a man who’s well accustomed to the city, given my biannual stays during the Pitti Uomo menswear show.
The space
TTT keeps its splendour concealed until the moment you cross the threshold and step into its cavernous interior. Offering eight magnificently furnished, fresco-ceilinged and cocciopesto-floored apartments, the property affords travellers the feeling of living in their own private palazzo – think chic contemporary fused with a whisper of old Tuscan grandeur. It is a place that makes you feel special from the moment you arrive, with the kind of discreet service usually reserved for visiting dignitaries and A-listers.
I’m escorted to my first-floor residence 1am (each space is named after a time of day), where my luxury digs are unveiled. I’ll be bedding down sumptuously – a coeval four-poster centrepiece with a ginormous crystal-encrusted chandelier attached to a frescoed ceiling should lull me to sleep imagining I’m a Medici. Decadence surrounds me whichever way I look: from a kitchen concealed within an alcove to a sumptuous lounge replete with dining table, floor-to-ceiling wall-mounted tapestry and plush sofas. Not to mention a spare room concealing a rare Salvador Dalí lithograph.
The food
Guests are warmly welcomed by a generous hamper of Tuscan farm-to-table delicacies left in their residence – cheeses, hams, sausages and egg pasta, alongside bottles of Brunello di Montalcino and French champagne. While there are no dining options in-house, TTT has forged relationships with several local cafés (Caffè Lietta, Caffè Libertà and Pasticceria Blasio) as well as bars and trattorias such as Ristorante Alfredo for you to have breakfast and dinner at.
But the real calling card is unlocking incredible experiences, such as Chianti Uncorked, an immersive Sangiovese journey with winemaker Francesca Elli; truffle hunting in Tuscany with Gianluca Somigli; and private dining experiences at Ristorante Frescobaldi and Dario Cecchini’s Officina della Bistecca in Panzano.
The service
What sets TTT apart is the service, which unfolds with the discretion and polish of a grand private home rather than a hotel, intuitive yet never intrusive. From thoughtfully arranged arrivals to bespoke recommendations that unlock the quieter corners of Florence, every detail is handled with consummate ease, leaving you secure in the knowledge that Neri and his colleague Federica are only ever a WhatsApp message away.
The bill
Attic residences start at €391 a night; smaller ground floor/garden residences (Mezzogiorno, Mezzanotte) from €468; two-bedroom residences from €550; larger suites (1am, 1pm) from €622; while three-bedroom Crepuscolo starts at €510 a night.
The verdict
Guests consistently heap praise on This Time Tomorrow for its intimacy, design and exceptional hospitality. Many describe feeling less like visitors and more like house guests, citing thoughtful details, stylishly curated interiors and a serene atmosphere. For the discerning traveller seeking both privacy and authenticity in Florence, this 19th-century residential palazzo, adapted for the 21st-century visitor, delivers memorably with an abundance of understated luxury and charm. It’s hands down my favourite place to stay in La Città del Giglio.
3 Viale Don Giovanni Minzoni, 50129 Florence; thistimetomorrow.io
