Mr. & Ms. Connoisseur | #9

We are savouring an urban highlight in Frankfurt, basking in the admiration of tourists at the Tower of Florence, seeking a deeper understanding of the private villa realm, and discovering why honeymoons are so important.

Seen.

The Florentin: Fine Craftsmanship in Frankfurt

“The good things still exist”—that’s the legendary motto of a trading house that championed an alternative to the throwaway mentality. Its creator, the Manufactum brand, is thriving, and every now and then, while traveling, you’re reminded of it. The new standards thatThe Florentin Frankfurthas been setting since its opening in the fall of 2026 (we just paid it a brief visit and left filled with genuine amazement at such an unpretentious interpretation of quality) are truly remarkable.

The true distinction of this new yet timeless Frankfurt icon—where the Villa Kennedy once welcomed illustrious guests—lies in uncompromising craftsmanship. This is evident in the details. The design studiosatelier zürichandUnscripted Designhave fashioned timeless beauty using marble, travertine, oak, leather, and textile surfaces. Warm sand and earth tones, indirect lighting, and substantial fittings allow the rooms and bathrooms to shine in all their grandeur. Historic stucco and original wood panelling have been integrated into a modern design: luxury without a hint of pretension.




The most private part of The Florentin is tucked away in the historic villa—we perceived it more as an elegant city residence than as a classic hotel. Nine individually designed signature suites bear names such as “The Philosopher,” “The Artist,” or “The Jazz Musician” and combine historic architecture with custom-made furniture, art, high-quality fabrics, and their own distinct color schemes. The villa features salons, a winter garden, a ladies’ room, a wine lounge, a tasting room, and its own kitchen. Guests staying in the suites enjoy access to these spaces as well as to all of the hotel’s facilities. Meals may be served discreetly within the villa upon request—delivering the comfort and service of a grand hotel alongside the atmosphere of a private home.

The general manager of this cosmopolitan, sophisticated yet understated concept isBoris Messmer. He says that his vision for the hotel is not about self-promotion for its own sake, but rather a deliberate interplay of substance, atmosphere, and personal hospitality: “We wanted to create a place that respects historical heritage while also conveying a new, urban lifestyle—elegant, international, and close to the guest.” I am particularly proud of how swiftly we have imbued the property with its own soul: the team, design, cuisine and location blend so effortlessly that, since opening, our Urban Retreat has been perceived not merely as a new luxury hotel within the Althoff Collection, but as a vibrant part of Frankfurt.”
Congratulations. Well done!

www.theflorentin.com

Sleeping in the Museum: Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence

A “gem” for the bucket list: Only a few guests have the opportunity to check into Florence’s oldest surviving building. There are just two suites within the approximately 25-meter-high, semicircularTorre della Pagliazzaon Piazza Sant’Elisabetta—a structure nearly 1,500 years old, whose origins date back to the Byzantine era. The Tower Suite 333 welcomes us across two levels. Exposed natural stone masonry and well-preserved arrowslits serve as a reminder of the tower’s origins as a defensive structure. This circular retreat combines historical character and contemporary design in a remarkably harmonious way. The lower level features a living area, bathroom, and desk; a wrought-iron spiral staircase leads up to the bedroom. There, floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views across the piazza, over the rooftops of the old town, and all the way to the domes and towers of the cathedral. Today, the Torre della Pagliazza forms part ofthe 90-room boutique Hotel Brunelleschi, just a few steps from the cathedral and welcoming guests since the late 1980s. At that time, the tower—which had been hidden for centuries—underwent extensive restoration. During the work, archaeologists discovered a Roman caldarium, medieval ceramics, and numerous artifacts from the Byzantine and Florentine periods beneath its foundations.

“In Florence, you practically stumble upon history at every excavation,” General Manager Stefano Lodi, a native Florentine, tells us during an exclusive tour of the archaeological museum in the tower’s basement. This small museum is also accessible exclusively to hotel guests and turns a stay here into a journey through nearly one and a half millennia of the city’s history.





In addition to the spectacular Tower Suite, this hotel—part of the privately managed EM Collection—impresses us above all with its exceptional location. Just about 100 meters from the Duomo, it’s situated on the quiet Piazza Sant’Elisabetta—a spot that most visitors only discover as part of a guided city tour. There stands a structure older than the city as we know it today, whose walls still narrate the story of Florence’s eventful history. It was especially unforgettable when we stood at the window on the top floor of the tower—which served as the city prison in the Middle Ages—looking out onto the piazza as tourists waved enthusiastically at us. Naturally, the residents of the Torre Pagliazzo no longer sleep on straw mats but on a luxurious circular bed in a climate-controlled chamber. www.hotelbrunelleschi.it

Heard.

Luxury you can feel: utterly private experiences.

The latest megatrend: a private villa instead of a hotel suite. Villa providers today excel at fulfilling their guests’ special requests without encroaching upon the privacy of others. A captivating figure in this realm isIzabella Dolgos, founder of First Class Holidays, a company that rents out extraordinary villas and curates exceptional lifestyle experiences. She has just told us what truly matters to guests in the luxury segment.

“Luxury today is far more than just an exclusive product,” she says. “Luxury is, above all, a feeling.” Dolgos built her company, “First Class Holidays,” based on this understanding. What began in 2010 with 15 carefully selected villas now comprises a portfolio of more than 400 luxury villas worldwide. From the very beginning, her vision has been to elevate private villa rentals to the standards of the luxury hotel industry—with personalized consultation, the highest quality of service, and a curated selection.





For Dolgos, true luxury is not defined by marble, designer furniture, or spectacular views, but by the experience itself. What matters most, she says, is that guests feel understood, that their wishes are anticipated, and that they can enjoy absolute privacy. Luxury, she affirms, is freedom, ease, and service that operates discreetly in the background. That is why she describes the concept of firstclass holidays as a “haute couture luxury vacation”: tailor-made, personalized, and perfectly attuned to the guests’ personalities—rather than standardized luxury offerings.





While hotels impose fixed structures, a villa affords maximum flexibility, exclusivity, and privacy. Families or groups of friends enjoy ample space entirely to themselves while still basking in hotel-style amenities—such as concierge service, a private chef, yacht rentals, or bespoke experiences like guided excursions, private yoga sessions, or massages within the confines of their own residence. A luxury residence thus combines the freedom of a private home with the service of a top-tier hotel—often even more personalized, since the service is focused exclusively on a single travel group.





For Dolgos, this is precisely where the future of luxury travel lies: not in ever-greater opulence, but intailor-made experiencesthat combine individuality, privacy, and excellent service into a unique overall experience.

Read.

The Secret to Happy Marriages

Upon closer inspection, some press releases strike a humorous note—and that, of course, particularly delights your columnists. A new “Vows & Venues” survey commissioned byHyattshows that 84.6 percent of respondents who spent their honeymoon in Mauritius are still happily married.For the survey, which Hyatt commissioned on the topic of honeymoon destinations, 2,002 individuals in Germany were interviewed and asked, among other things, to state their current marital status—with response options such as “happily married,” “unhappily married,” and “divorced.” Mauritius turns out to be a lucky charm for a happy marriage. The Dominican Republic comes in second place (76 percent of respondents remain content). Saint Lucia and South Africa follow with 75 percent each. The Maldives, unsurprisingly, rank fifth, just ahead of France (72.3 percent).




By the way,according to the Hyatt survey, a quarter of respondents (25 percent) are contemplating a “Buddy Moon” —that is, a honeymoon during which close friends accompany the newlyweds for the entire trip or part of it. Whether these marriages last (even) longer—we’ll report back when asked.

Image credit: Daniel Schäfer