Bar Artemisia at Hotel Savoy: A Baroque Dream in the Heart of Florence
©The Savoy, Florence
Florence never ceases to surprise. Known worldwide for its Renaissance treasures, the city also hides places where the unexpected emerges—spaces where heritage and modern creativity coexist in striking harmony. Among these is Bar Artemisia, the intimate and enigmatic new bar at the Hotel Savoy, part of the Rocco Forte Hotels collection.
Named after Artemisia Gentileschi—the revolutionary 17th-century painter who challenged conventions with her fierce artistry—the bar embodies the same spirit of bold imagination. Here, hospitality is transformed into a living artwork: velvet and shadow, gilded details, and a sense of theatricality that turns an evening cocktail into an act of storytelling.
©The Savoy, Florence
The Location: Florence Through a Different Lens
Situated just steps from Piazza della Repubblica, Bar Artemisia feels like a secret escape within the vibrant pulse of Florence. While the city outside bursts with Renaissance light, inside the bar the atmosphere is rich and baroque: moody lighting, painterly textures, and the seductive intimacy of a boudoir.
This is not the typical “hotel bar.” Instead, it presents a space of youthful energy, layered with history and artistic depth. It’s both luxurious and welcoming, cosmopolitan yet deeply Florentine—a rare alchemy that makes it stand out in the city’s hospitality scene.
©The Savoy, Florence
Hotel Savoy: The Stage for Artemisia
The Hotel Savoy itself is a landmark of Florentine luxury, known for combining timeless elegance with contemporary flair. Its recent renovations have imbued the property with fresh dynamism, making it the perfect stage for Bar Artemisia. Together, they capture the dual soul of Florence: a city of tradition and innovation, reverence and reinvention.
Cocktails as Creative Expression
At Bar Artemisia, cocktails are not simply recipes but narratives in liquid form—ephemeral artworks that capture Florence’s sensuality and boldness. Master bartender Salvatore Calabrese, together with the kitchen artistry of Fulvio Pierangelini, has shaped a program where mixology becomes a dialogue between tradition, territory, and imagination.
Here, the Truffle Negroni transforms Florence’s iconic drink into an indulgent statement, enriched with earthy depth. The Artemisia Royal offers a Champagne sparkle touched with floral brightness, while the Chianti Punch draws on Tuscany’s vineyards to deliver a layered, wine-kissed experience. Playfulness finds its place too, in the lavender-hued Lavender Me, a cocktail that celebrates the city’s passion and color. Even the Artemisia Martini and 12 Bridges carry a sense of storytelling—one a savory interpretation with tomato and basil, the other a refreshing ode to Florence’s bridges, linking the past and present with every sip.
The beauty of Bar Artemisia’s mixology lies in its evolution: these creations appear, surprise, and may eventually give way to new interpretations. What remains constant is the spirit—rebellious, elegant, and deeply Florentine, an echo of Artemisia Gentileschi herself.
A Bar with a Rare Personality
What makes Bar Artemisia remarkable is its ability to tell a story through design, atmosphere, and taste. Every element is intentional: from the references to Artemisia Gentileschi’s fierce artistry to the boudoir-inspired interiors and the creative cocktails that weave together Tuscany’s flavors.
It is rare to find a bar that feels both so anchored in its cultural context and so unafraid to experiment. In the very center of Florence, Bar Artemisia is a dreamscape: mysterious yet inviting, youthful yet timeless, rebellious yet refined.
Bar Artemisia is more than a stop for a drink—it is an encounter with Florence’s artistic soul, refracted through the lens of luxury hospitality. By honoring Artemisia Gentileschi’s legacy, it creates a stage where history and creativity meet, offering visitors a chance to see the city in a new, unexpected light.
For those who think they already know Florence, Bar Artemisia is proof that the city still holds secrets—stories told in velvet shadows, golden light, and the clink of a glass raised to art, rebellion, and beauty.
©The Savoy, Florence
The Golden Hour at the Savoy
Bar Artemisia is one of several experiences that make Hotel Savoy a destination for a truly dynamic staycation in Florence. Inside, guests are immersed in the bar’s baroque-inspired intimacy, where creative cocktails and artistic design set a distinctive tone. Yet the Savoy experience does not stay confined within the walls of the hotel—it extends, evolves, and moves through the city.
Exclusive experiences such as the Golden Hour on the Arno illustrate this perfectly. Available only to hotel guests until mid-October, it combines a private guided tour of Cassetti’s Ponte Vecchio archives, the prestigious Florentine jeweller renowned for its vintage and contemporary creations, a sandboat aperitivo along the Arno accompanied by live violin, and a refined dinner at Ristorante Irene. Moments like these show how the hotel transforms a stay into a living narrative of Florence, connecting the luxury, artistry, and creativity found inside Bar Artemisia to the city beyond.
In this sense, the Savoy offers a staycation that is both intimate and expansive—a journey that shifts seamlessly between internal delights and curated, citywide exclusivity.
Our experience at Bar Artemisia, Hotel Savoy, was hosted.