American men’s magazine Esquire has just revealed its list of the best new hotels in the world for 2026 – and the number one spot went to a property in Florence.
Collegio Alla Querce, Auberge Collection has been named the hotel of the year, having first opened in March 2025.
Beginning its life as a villa in the 16th century, Collegio Alla Querce served as a boarding school before being transformed into the 83-key hotel that stands here today.
Located on a hillside, the property offers incredible views over the city’s UNESCO-listed historic centre and the Tuscan countryside.
“It’s quiet out here, and you feel miles away from the hordes of summer tourists invading the city,” Michael Sebastian, Esquire’s editor-in-chief, wrote of the property.
“Yet the centre of Florence is so close. The Collegio alla Querce is one of those hotels that feel so much like home you never want to leave.”
What to expect at Collegio Alla Querce, Auberge Collection
Architectural firm Esteva i Esteva was charged with renovating the building into a contemporary hotel while preserving its original character, and there are nods to its former life in every room.
Hand-painted frescoes have been restored and there are coffered wood ceilings throughout. The hotel’s bar, found in the former headmaster’s office, draws on the school’s curriculum with cocktails that make use of chemistry to create unique concoctions.
Other restaurants in the property include La Gamella, which focuses on seasonal Italian classics, and poolside spot Café Focolare which serves up pizzas, pastas and, of course, its own take on Florence’s most famous panini.
Guests can relax at Aelia, the hotel spa, which uses Furtuna Skin products made from olives and botanicals grown in Sicily.
The best new hotels in Europe
Aside from Collegio Alla Querce, 13 of the 43 hotels on the full list were from Europe, including two each in London, Paris, Barcelona and Florence.
Those flying to the UK capital will want to check out Templeton Garden, which was praised for its quiet location in Earl’s Court, and The Newman in Fitzrovia, which “is both the ideal escape hatch from the bustle and the optimal launchpad for the seasoned insider”.
As for Paris, Experimental Marais is in the French city’s trendiest neighbourhood, while La Fondation is a must-stay for its design blending Japanese minimalism and French modernism.
In Barcelona, the former Gran Hotel La Florida – now Mett Barcelona – is “equal parts destination hotel and urban resort”, while the SLS has four pools for you to relax next to.
British hotel chain The Hoxton’s debut in Florence was a big hit, as was W Florence, with its views of the Duomo from Zefiro Rooftop.