Review: Experiencing Italian luxury at This Time Tomorrow, Florence

Florence is a city where time moves slowly. The epitome of leisure and luxury, this Tuscan city is a melting pot of culture, art, fashion and food. It is also the birthplace of the Renaissance and has been home to artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Botticelli, as well as writers and politicians like Dante Alighieri and the Medici. As one can imagine, there is a lot to do in this city. And that is where This Time Tomorrow comes in.

This Time Tomorrow is a bespoke private residential service that curates off-menu city stays, complete with bespoke experiences tailored just for you. I was introduced to This Time Tomorrow in Florence, where their curator Eric Veroliemeulen expertly planned out our entire itinerary, and also welcomed us into our new home for the night. 

Before you’ve even arrived in Florence, Eric and the team at This Time Tomorrow not only ensure you have everything you need ahead of your stay, but also help you figure out all the different things you’d want to do in the Renaissance city based on your tastes and needs. You fill out a questionnaire, and based on your responses, Eric finds for you the best restaurants, tourist attractions, museums, exhibitions, sunset points, cafes, bars, gyms and anything else you’d want to explore. This took all the planning pressure off us, and we could completely relax and enjoy our stay without having to worry about any logistics.

Our Florentine residence was in a restored baroque Abitazione in the heart of the city. It comprises eight art-filled residences, each a retreat of ample space and privacy in a truly residential neighbourhood of local butchers, cafes, and hidden curiosities — with the city centre just a short ride or walk away.

As soon as you walk through the doors and ride up the elevator to your room, it is like you are transported to a different world. All the noise cuts away, leaving you in a serene luxury apartment that perfectly complements the city you’re staying in. Our residence, called the 1PM, was a two-bedroom apartment with frescos ranging from subtle stone to flamboyant lilac, and a large kitchen space for the most carefully curated dining experiences should you wish to stay in. The kitchen came stocked — with compliments from the team at This Time Tomorrow — with everything you could possibly need for a hearty Italian dinner in Florence: delicious pasta, a range of sauces, the residence’s in-house bottle of champagne, some biscuits and other tasty treats.

The apartment itself is lined with paintings everywhere you look, and the music playing from the Marshall speakers in the living room serves as the perfect soundtrack to the art all around you. The bedrooms are spacious, beautifully decorated and make you feel like you’re in your own version of Letters to Juliet. There is also a gorgeous Romeo balcony from where you can observe all the hustle and bustle of Florence.

The curators at This Time Tomorrow are people who have lived in these cities for decades. The places they recommend are often off the beaten path hidden gems that you would only know if you were a local. They call it ‘off menu’ exploring — a way to show you the city they love in the way they love it.So, as per one of the suggestions in our itinerary, we went to check out the Florence vintage market at Palazzo Corsini. Here, we found everything from high-quality vintage clothing to accessories and home decor. We also visited a gorgeous local Italian cafe called Caffè Libertà, which was just a short walk from our residence.

We ended the night by indulging in the bottle of champagne that Eric kindly left for us in the welcome package. After a beautiful day spent exploring the vibrant Florence, drinking champagne and watching films using the Marshall speakers was the perfect way to end a wonderful stay in the city.

This Time Tomorrow is truly a serene escape in the heart of Florence. Whether you’re there with a partner or with your family and friends, the residence retreat is the perfect place to stay. Whether you’re after a culinary adventure, a museum crawl, hidden Florentine gems or just a luxurious sojourn in the city, the curators at Time Time Tomorrow have you covered.

The only question remains: this time tomorrow, where will you be?

Read more travel stories with Tempus