Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Best
Drinking
Welcome to one of Italy's best cafe and bar scenes. Visitors are spoiled for
choice when it comes to choosing an atmospheric venue, and equally spoiled
when it comes to the quality of the coffee, wine and food on offer.
Cafes
Florence has cafes of every type - historic, hip, bohemian, cosy, and plenty with no frills.
Most are bar/cafe hybrids, serving beer, wine and spirits as well as coffee, along with
pastries in the morning and
panini
at lunch. Those located on piazzas often have terraces
that are perfect places for whiling away an hour or so.
Locals usually drink their coffee standing at a cafe's
banco
(bar counter), where it is
three to four times cheaper than a coffee ordered at a table.
Bars
You can drink at a bar at most times of the day, but most are at their best from 5pm (aka
aperitivo
time), when many places serve complimentary snacks with drinks.
Enoteche
(wine bars) take pride in their selection of wines, and tend to concentrate on
Tuscan tipples. Most offer antipasto platters of cheese, cured meats and
crostini
(toasts
with various toppings) to eat, and some also offer light meals.
