Gourmet B&B Villa Landucci

If crowds, especially in the summer, aren’t your thing or you want one of those rustic Tuscan stays but prefer to stay close to Florence, Gourmet B&B Villa Landucci might just be the answer. 

More than a high-quality B&B, owners Debora and Matteo are passionate gourmands and Debora is even a certified sommelier. They refer to the property as a gourmet B&B with an on-site gourmet shop. That means a host of authentic Tuscan food and wine experiences are on offer and you can purchase fine wines and other food products too. 

With just 6 rooms in a refurbished villa that was historically linked to famous Florentine apothecary Luca Landucci (the street address is also tied to Landucci) the namesake is fitting given he delighted with his own mixes and potions from the mid 1400s. The Villa was built in the 1930s and still retains touches of old with some hints of shabby chic. 

It’s your perfect home away from home in Florence for a relaxing gourmet break. 

Location

Just 2km from Florence’s famous Duomo, Villa Landucci is close enough to the historical center of the city, yet far enough to have you feel a world away. Located in the Via Gioberti area of South Florence (an affluent residential neighbourhood), shops, cafes and restaurants are all a few minutes walk away. The city center can be reached in 10 minutes by car or a leisurely 20 minute walk. 

Its position also allows for easy access to the Florentine and Tuscan countryside, including many important and popular wine towns and vineyards. 

By car, the B&B Villa can be reached in approximately 25 minutes from Florence airport and about 15 minutes by taxi from the Santa Maria Novella train station. 

Style & Ambiance

Villa Landucci is an eclectic mix of style from the elegant facade on arrival to the lush green intenta garden to wine details and antique furniture. Somehow it all blends together in a warm and welcome way. If there’s one common thread here – from the owners to the staff to the property – it’s a passion for fine quality food and wine. 

Each room is dedicated to a Tuscan wine from Chianti to Vin Santo and they boast either balconies or garden access. In the warmer months, the garden is used for barbecues and outdoor dining and is a pretty place to unwind at any time of day. 

Set across two floors, at the entrance the first thing you notice is the food and wine bookshelf. A wide selection of local and international guides and titles will keep you busy and the lounge chairs in the garden are the perfect place to curl up to a book! 

The private kitchen is open to guests for cooking classes, wine tasting and food and wine pairing events. And the owners will make you feel right at home. In fact, let Debora and Matteo guide you through the streets of Florence on a food tour or on a day trip through the Chianti or lesser-known vineyards for the Tuscan holiday you won’t forget. 

Arrival & Check-in

Check-in here is handled by owners Debora or Matteo and in no time, you have your key in hand and are being led to your wine named room.  

Room

I stayed in the Chianti Classic Double. Each of the rooms is named after a Tuscan wine. Appointed in classic Italian style with dark wooden furnishings, a brass chandelier and golden antique chairs, the wine themed is carried throughout with bottles in the wall cabinet as well as on the dresser. 

A small wooden table for two adorns one corner of the room while a dark wood antique wardrobe with a full length mirror is positioned in the other. The ceilings are high and what you’d expect from Italian Villa style accommodation. My queen size bed was super comfortable and the small wooden bedside tables with Italian lace embroidered details and lamps were a quaint touch. The functioning heating radiator dates back quite a while with a trap door historically used to bake bread.  

The bathroom with its marble floor and classic antique furnishings has a shower, bidet and small selection of cosmetic amenities. 

Each of the rooms features a small flatscreen tv, heating, air conditioning and a mini bar. 

Dining

While there is no restaurant on site, Cinzia the Villa Landucci private home cook is on hand for dinners on request. These can be booked in advance or on arrival (depending on availability). Themed dinners from rustic Tuscan dining to a summer barbecue in the lush garden under the pretty canopy can be arranged on any night of the week. 

In addition to dinners, on request Villa Landucci offers a range of fun and authentic food and wine experiences including a cooking class, wine tasting, wine and food pairing and offsite foodie walks, tours, winery visits and even trekking with a picnic. 

Other dining options include the Via Gioberti area (3-5 minutes walk) or Florence centre is 10 minutes by car. 

Breakfast

Breakfast is in the main dining room of the villa and there is a large classic wooden dining table. With a focus on the healthy and organic, fruit and homemade jams make the buffet as do Tuscan charcuterie and cheese. If eggs are more your style, that’s catered for too and there is also an ample selection of sweets and freshly baked pastries.