Caffe Le Giubbe Rosse in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica is the 1897 cafe that hosted Marinetti and the Futurists in the 1910s, with a daily literary salon program intact since reopening in 2024.
Must order: Espresso at the marble counter, panforte di Siena, an aperitivo Americano.
Tip: Open daily 08:00 to midnight. Look for the Futurist plaques in the back salon.
Address: Piazza della Repubblica 13r, 50123 Firenze, Florence
Scudieri in Florence sits directly across from the Duomo's Baptistery, a 1939 cafe-pasticceria with a terrace looking onto the cathedral and a daily-rotating pastry case in the back.
Signature drink: Espresso facing the Duomo
Order: Espresso, schiacciata alla fiorentina with chocolate cream, the cantuccini.
Tip: Open daily 07:30 to midnight. Terrace pricing reflects the Duomo view; counter is half.
Cantinetta da Verrazzano in Florence's Via dei Tavolini is the bakery-and-wine-bar of the Castello da Verrazzano estate, with a wood-fired oven baking schiacciata and focaccia, served with estate Chianti.
Signature drink: Bakery espresso and Verrazzano Chianti
Order: Schiacciata stuffed with prosciutto, the daily focaccia and a Verrazzano Chianti Classico.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Wine-by-the-glass list goes deep into Tuscan estates; ask for the Sassello.
Caffe Gilli in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica is the city's oldest cafe, opened in 1733, with the same marble counter and the original Belle Epoque painted ceiling intact.
Signature drink: Espresso at the marble counter
Order: Espresso at the counter (€1.50) and a cantuccino dipped in Vin Santo.
Tip: Counter pricing is half of table service. Open daily 07:30 to midnight; the terrace seats 60.
Scudieri in Florence sits directly across from the Duomo's Baptistery, a 1939 cafe-pasticceria with a terrace looking onto the cathedral and a daily-rotating pastry case in the back.
Signature drink: Espresso facing the Duomo
Order: Espresso, schiacciata alla fiorentina with chocolate cream, the cantuccini.
Tip: Open daily 07:30 to midnight. Terrace pricing reflects the Duomo view; counter is half.
Procacci in Florence's Via Tornabuoni shopping street is the 1885 truffle bar, with the white-tile counter, the panino tartufato and a Prosecco glass for €5, owned today by Marchesi Antinori.
Signature drink: Truffle panino and Prosecco
Order: The truffle panino (€7), a glass of Antinori Prosecco and a tagliere of Tuscan salumi.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Counter only; standing-room two-deep at 18:00 aperitivo.
Cantinetta da Verrazzano in Florence's Via dei Tavolini is the bakery-and-wine-bar of the Castello da Verrazzano estate, with a wood-fired oven baking schiacciata and focaccia, served with estate Chianti.
Signature drink: Bakery espresso and Verrazzano Chianti
Order: Schiacciata stuffed with prosciutto, the daily focaccia and a Verrazzano Chianti Classico.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Wine-by-the-glass list goes deep into Tuscan estates; ask for the Sassello.
Ditta Artigianale Oltrarno in Florence's San Frediano quarter is the Sprone-corner sister room of Sanapo's flagship, with the same single-origin filter coffee, cocktail program and a small breakfast carte.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter coffee
Order: Filter coffee of the day, the avocado-on-sourdough breakfast, a Negroni at aperitivo.
Tip: Open daily 08:00 to midnight. The Oltrarno room runs the cocktail program later than Via dei Neri.
Santarosa Bistrot in Florence's San Frediano sits inside the Arno-side park on Lungarno di Santa Rosa, an all-day cafe with a garden terrace, breakfast, lunch and aperitivo until 23:30.
Signature drink: Cappuccino in the garden
Order: Cappuccino in the garden, the daily focaccia plate, an aperitivo spritz at sunset.
Tip: Open daily 08:00 to 23:30. The park-side garden seats 80; closed when it rains.
Caffe Gilli in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica is the city's oldest cafe, opened in 1733, with the same marble counter and the original Belle Epoque painted ceiling intact.
Signature drink: Espresso at the marble counter
Order: Espresso at the counter (€1.50) and a cantuccino dipped in Vin Santo.
Tip: Counter pricing is half of table service. Open daily 07:30 to midnight; the terrace seats 60.
