I love autumn in Florence: the morning mist, the crisp air, the smell of roasted chestnuts and wearing a fleecy cashmere scarf. Moreover after a long summer break, you can admire the Florentines again in their beloved city. Also truly exciting is a new season of Sunday Brunches @ J.K.Place.

J.K.Place is a stylish boutique hotel located in a former private townhouse overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella. It has been furnished with a mix of antique and modern pieces, vintage lamps from the 1950’s, fireplaces, cashmere throws and a wonderful artsy book collection. The comfy rooms are painted in hues of cream and grey with contrasting accents of black.

Make yourself feel at home in one of the plush armchairs, and order your welcome cocktail [I like a ‘Bellini’; mix of fresh peach with prosecco wine]. Nothing feels rushed at J.K.Place, but it is hard not to be immediately tempted by the inviting buffet: home-made pastries, a selection of muesli and fresh fruits, organic mixed salad, a variety of hams and cheeses and savory zucchini pie. Chef Tamara doubles as ‘la mamma’ for most of the J.K.Place staff; I am suspecting that her outstanding baking skills might have something to do with this [after you tasted her melt-in-your-mouth brownies, you might get temped to stuff your pockets!].

Apart from the buffet, you can order a main course from the J.K.Kitchen menu: a burger with home made fries, cream of carrots, tagliatelle with Cinta Senese ragù, just to name a few. We order pancakes and eggs Benedict ‘Florentine style’. After, our host Matteo asks us if we’ve had enough to eat and offers us some refreshing ‘limoncello’ [italian lemon liqueur] .

J.K.Brunches, crackling wood in the fireplace, Norah Jones playing, a Sunday ‘passegiata’ after a wonderful meal … I love autumn in Florence!

J.K.Brunch, every Sunday between 12:30pm- 3:00pm. Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 7. 50123 Florence. [reservation suggested: +39 055 2645181]

J.K.Place in Travel + Leisure