Guidebook for Florence
Drinks & Nightlife
Il primo American Bar di Firenze, nato nel 1981. Aperto dalle 7:30 del mattino fino le 2:00 di notte. Abbondante buffet apericena.
156 locals recommend
Il Rifrullo
57 Via di S. NiccolòIl primo American Bar di Firenze, nato nel 1981. Aperto dalle 7:30 del mattino fino le 2:00 di notte. Abbondante buffet apericena.
Many years back, a gentleman Count Negroni, asked for “a little something extra” in his “Americano”. The barman, Fosco Scarselli, created the “Negroni” cocktail, now famous in the world.
27 locals recommend
Negroni Pizzeria Piccola Osteria & Cocktail Bar
17 Via dei RenaiMany years back, a gentleman Count Negroni, asked for “a little something extra” in his “Americano”. The barman, Fosco Scarselli, created the “Negroni” cocktail, now famous in the world.
Soul Kitchen
34r Via dei BenciAperitiv
La Ménagère
8 Via de' GinoriAperitif, live music
Zoe
13 Via dei RenaiAperitif
Food Scene
Italian and foreign wines by the glass ,typical Florentine dishes as well as creative light meals and snacks. Don't miss the ‘crostoni’ (grilled open faced sandwiches).
106 locals recommend
Enoteca Fuori Porta
10 Via del Monte alle CrociItalian and foreign wines by the glass ,typical Florentine dishes as well as creative light meals and snacks. Don't miss the ‘crostoni’ (grilled open faced sandwiches).
No advance reservations, no credit card for this typical trattoria.Friday is fish and Saturday sees local Florentines flock here for a brilliantly blue bistecca alla fiorentina (€35 per kilo).Peposo
182 locals recommend
Trattoria Mario
2r Via RosinaNo advance reservations, no credit card for this typical trattoria.Friday is fish and Saturday sees local Florentines flock here for a brilliantly blue bistecca alla fiorentina (€35 per kilo).Peposo
Beppa Fioraia
6 Via dell'Erta CaninaGood dinner
Ristorante Mastro Ciliegia
4r Piazza di San Pier MaggiorePizza
From Piazza S. Lorenzo to Via dell'Ariento, all around the Basilica of San Lorenzo (in the very historical center of the city) you can find what may be the most important market of the city. Just walk around searching for clothing, articles in leather, souvenirs, etc he first floor above the food market: imagine a fancy food court, combining tasting stands, shops and a cooking school. 3000 square meters with 500 seats (including a bank & fiorentina shop) and 12 different food stands open seven days a week.Everything was shiny, bright and new with all sorts of stands featuring Italy’s favorites: mozzarella di bufala, pizza from the south, a Chianti wine tasting corner, gelato & chocolate stand, veggie stand where you can get freshly squeezed juice and veggie soup puree, fresh seafood, fresh pasta, bread and my-oh-my so much more. Did I mention the beer stand? Or let’s talk street food — or what about the library?
963 locals recommend
Mercato Centrale
Via dell'ArientoFrom Piazza S. Lorenzo to Via dell'Ariento, all around the Basilica of San Lorenzo (in the very historical center of the city) you can find what may be the most important market of the city. Just walk around searching for clothing, articles in leather, souvenirs, etc he first floor above the food market: imagine a fancy food court, combining tasting stands, shops and a cooking school. 3000 square meters with 500 seats (including a bank & fiorentina shop) and 12 different food stands open seven days a week.Everything was shiny, bright and new with all sorts of stands featuring Italy’s favorites: mozzarella di bufala, pizza from the south, a Chianti wine tasting corner, gelato & chocolate stand, veggie stand where you can get freshly squeezed juice and veggie soup puree, fresh seafood, fresh pasta, bread and my-oh-my so much more. Did I mention the beer stand? Or let’s talk street food — or what about the library?
Corner Pizza
4r Via dello SteccutoPizza
Cheap sandwiches and then you can't come to Italy and don't know what is Arci Club!
Circolo Arci S. Nicolo'
2 Strada del PonteCheap sandwiches and then you can't come to Italy and don't know what is Arci Club!
Reale Firenze
50 Piazza della StazioneHamburguer - belgian beer! Life music
Located in Piazza Ghiberti and Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, the market is both indoor and outdoor. Just walk around to discover fresh fruits and vegetables, clothes, flowers, shoes and houseware stands. Then, move inside to discover a large selection of fresh meat and fish, pasta, general groceries and a wide array of farm direct cheeses. Hungry? Take a seat in their connected restaurant (innexpensive and delicious). The market it's open every weekday (except Sunday) from 7 to 14.
405 locals recommend
Sant'Ambrogio Market
Piazza Lorenzo GhibertiLocated in Piazza Ghiberti and Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, the market is both indoor and outdoor. Just walk around to discover fresh fruits and vegetables, clothes, flowers, shoes and houseware stands. Then, move inside to discover a large selection of fresh meat and fish, pasta, general groceries and a wide array of farm direct cheeses. Hungry? Take a seat in their connected restaurant (innexpensive and delicious). The market it's open every weekday (except Sunday) from 7 to 14.
Osteria dei Centopoveri
41R Via del PorcellanaVery good lunch for 15 euro.
This pizzeria only has three options on the menu, the pizza is delicious
59 locals recommend
Caffè Italiano
11R Via Isola delle StincheThis pizzeria only has three options on the menu, the pizza is delicious
Brac
18 Via dei VagellaiVegetarian
Il Vegetariano
30 r Via delle RuoteVery good and abundant dishs
A little hard to find because its located in a small passage way but well worth the effort.I don't need to say much more than this: these are the best paninis.
19 locals recommend
Antico Noè
6 Volta di S. PieroA little hard to find because its located in a small passage way but well worth the effort.I don't need to say much more than this: these are the best paninis.
Arts & Culture
It is a little museum where the jewels are displayed in evocative windows.All Alessandro Dari designs and creations are accompanied by a wave of musical notes that disappear in the arched ceiling.
Via di San Niccolò, 115
It is a little museum where the jewels are displayed in evocative windows.All Alessandro Dari designs and creations are accompanied by a wave of musical notes that disappear in the arched ceiling.
Auditorium Flog
24b Via Michele MercatiLive Music- check in facebook
Sightseeing
The garden belonged to the Mozzi family from the 13th century (the oldest parts are closest to the palazzo below) and in the 18th century the Baroque staircase and statues were added when the estate extended up the hill to the walls of the city. The villa, garden and other palaces in the area were acquired by the antiquarian Stefano Bardini in the early 20th century who also enlarged the villa at the top, called Belvedere where he lived with his family (the Bardini Museum is in the piazza below near the Arno in a separate palazzo). The beautiful terraces and top "belvedere" offer extraordinary views of Florence, while the villa today hosts both a permanent collection of works by Pietro Annigoni and temporary exhibits year round. There is a cafe for refreshments but you can also enjoy a discreet picnic along the benches spread out over the garden while enjoying the view.
Free admission: all visitors every first Sunday of each month.The park is perfect for families with kids too, if the parents are willing to push a stroller up the hill to get here as many of the paths within the garden are accessible. There are many steps because the garden is terraced, but there are many sections that lie at the top which can be visited more easily.
339 locals recommend
Bardini Garden
1 Costa S. GiorgioThe garden belonged to the Mozzi family from the 13th century (the oldest parts are closest to the palazzo below) and in the 18th century the Baroque staircase and statues were added when the estate extended up the hill to the walls of the city. The villa, garden and other palaces in the area were acquired by the antiquarian Stefano Bardini in the early 20th century who also enlarged the villa at the top, called Belvedere where he lived with his family (the Bardini Museum is in the piazza below near the Arno in a separate palazzo). The beautiful terraces and top "belvedere" offer extraordinary views of Florence, while the villa today hosts both a permanent collection of works by Pietro Annigoni and temporary exhibits year round. There is a cafe for refreshments but you can also enjoy a discreet picnic along the benches spread out over the garden while enjoying the view.
Free admission: all visitors every first Sunday of each month.The park is perfect for families with kids too, if the parents are willing to push a stroller up the hill to get here as many of the paths within the garden are accessible. There are many steps because the garden is terraced, but there are many sections that lie at the top which can be visited more easily.
Bardini Museum, which was originally constituted by a church and a convent of 1200; it was bought in 1880 by Stefano Bardini, one of the most prominent figures in the Florence of that time, a painter, a restorer and antiquarian who through the years put together an incredible collection of artworks.
After years of restoring the Bardini Museum is back to its original decorations and splendour. The original blue color of some of its rooms was imitated by many museums all around Europe.
Everyone can now admire in their original place statues, paintings, decorated leather, old carpets, valuable objects, among them the Carità of Tino di Camaino, the Porcellino of Tacca and the Diavolino of Giambologna. The stunning Room of the Madonne leaves the visitor breathless with its Madonna delle Mele attributed to Donatello.
47 locals recommend
Museo Stefano Bardini
37 Via dei RenaiBardini Museum, which was originally constituted by a church and a convent of 1200; it was bought in 1880 by Stefano Bardini, one of the most prominent figures in the Florence of that time, a painter, a restorer and antiquarian who through the years put together an incredible collection of artworks.
After years of restoring the Bardini Museum is back to its original decorations and splendour. The original blue color of some of its rooms was imitated by many museums all around Europe.
Everyone can now admire in their original place statues, paintings, decorated leather, old carpets, valuable objects, among them the Carità of Tino di Camaino, the Porcellino of Tacca and the Diavolino of Giambologna. The stunning Room of the Madonne leaves the visitor breathless with its Madonna delle Mele attributed to Donatello.
Pitti Palace
1 Piazza de' PittiMuseum
Le Cascine is not a garden, it is a huge park but as it is a huge area in Florence, we could not leave it out. Le Cascine is the green lung for the city of Florence, and even if it just outside of the historical center, you might find your way here if you stay longer than a few days. If you want to immerse yourself in local life, head to Le Cascine on a Tuesday morning where you'll find Florence's largest weekly open-air market.
Le Cascine is also the site for many large-scale events, from flower expos to street market festivals to local political gatherings to medieval fairs. It has a large playground for kids of all ages, large tree-lined avenues perfect for cycling, huge open meadows lined with trees where you (and the kids) can run around, picnic on the grass or just lie around.
644 locals recommend
Parco delle Cascine
Piazzale delle CascineLe Cascine is not a garden, it is a huge park but as it is a huge area in Florence, we could not leave it out. Le Cascine is the green lung for the city of Florence, and even if it just outside of the historical center, you might find your way here if you stay longer than a few days. If you want to immerse yourself in local life, head to Le Cascine on a Tuesday morning where you'll find Florence's largest weekly open-air market.
Le Cascine is also the site for many large-scale events, from flower expos to street market festivals to local political gatherings to medieval fairs. It has a large playground for kids of all ages, large tree-lined avenues perfect for cycling, huge open meadows lined with trees where you (and the kids) can run around, picnic on the grass or just lie around.
Essentials
Pegna is a bit hard to find, but once through the understated entrance you enter an Aladdin's Cave of the best produce from Italy and Europe, all beautifully presented. I'd searched all over Milan and Florence and found my Porcini Stock cubes here (and yes, they are great for Mushroom Risotto!). All the produce is well presented without crowded. Great deli (even fresh truffles) and meat and cheese sections. If you have any interest in food you will enjoy a peaceful stroll around here.
73 locals recommend
Pegna
26R Via dello StudioPegna is a bit hard to find, but once through the understated entrance you enter an Aladdin's Cave of the best produce from Italy and Europe, all beautifully presented. I'd searched all over Milan and Florence and found my Porcini Stock cubes here (and yes, they are great for Mushroom Risotto!). All the produce is well presented without crowded. Great deli (even fresh truffles) and meat and cheese sections. If you have any interest in food you will enjoy a peaceful stroll around here.
Shopping
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world.
Founded by Dominican friars shortly after 1221, the year of their arrivaI in Florence, the pharmacy used medicinal herbs grown in the monastic gardens to make medications, balms and pomades for the monks' infirmary.
246 locals recommend
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
16 Via della ScalaOfficina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world.
Founded by Dominican friars shortly after 1221, the year of their arrivaI in Florence, the pharmacy used medicinal herbs grown in the monastic gardens to make medications, balms and pomades for the monks' infirmary.
Everything Else
Gelateria dei Neri
9 Via dei NeriOne of the best ice cream in Florence
Vivoli
7r Via Isola delle StincheOther good ice cream in Florence
Gelateria De 'Medici
3/5r Via dello StatutoBest Ice Cream in Florence
Gelateria De 'Medici
3/5r Via dello StatutoBest Ice Cream in Florence