We spent two nights at Hotel Lungarno and enjoyed two nightcaps and two breakfasts at Picteau…read moreduring our stay. I didn't even know the name of the place until I looked it up. I guess it's a well regarded restaurant in its own right, but it was also just a good, useful hotel lobby lounge.
The space was attractive, like the rest of the hotel, with a clean, pleasing contemporary look. White walls, blue and white upholstery, brown leather. Wide windows overlooking the Arno. It was nice as both a bar in the evening and a casual breakfast spot in the morning, very relaxing with great service.
Cocktails were excellent, creative and well made. On the light side, I liked both the Basil and the Conte di Picche. The Basil was a cool, herbal drink with Portofino dry gin, Persichetto liqueur, basil-infused Martini Ambrato, rhubarb Nardini, Fernet Branca, and lime cordial. The Conte di Picche mixed Winestillery Old Tom gin with a Nardini bitter blend and raspberry wine. On the stronger side, the Smoked Boulevardier was a boozy, balanced cocktail made with Michter's Kentucky bourbon, Campari, Carpano Antica, and Toro Ratafia. The Cocoa combined Michter's bourbon with Michter's rye, Roger amaro, Pedro Ximenez San Emilio, and cocoa beans. Smooth and tasty.
Breakfast was included with our stay, and we took advantage of both the buffet and the basic a la carte menu. The buffet was small but with all the essentials and more than a few extras. Good soft scrambled eggs and sausage, little poppy seed rolls piled with smoked salmon and basil. I'm not much of a pastry person, but I couldn't resist a fluffy cream-filled maritozzo, which went beautifully with the house cappuccino, thick with milk foam. The kitchen menu was short and simple: oatmeal, various preparations of eggs, and omelets with a choice of fillings. I got one with sausage, spinach, and mushroom, and it was quite satisfying.
I liked Picteau enough that I'd recommend it to anyone traveling through Florence, whether or not they're staying at Hotel Lungarno. I especially liked it, though, as a guest. Just a lovely spot to roll in for breakfast or an easy drink.