It’s important to have all the critical information at your fingertips, which means you need to know where the best aperitivo is in Florence. Because summer is around the corner, and an Aperol Spritz somehow just tastes better when you’re actually in Italy. These are the best places in Florence for drinks. And by that, we mean spots where locals catch their after-work aperitifs along with the more stylish visitors, like yourself.
The Atrium Bar at The Four Seasons Florence
The Speciality: A well-rounded and premium selection of wines and top-end cocktails
Location: S. Annunziata
This area of Florence is perfect for getting out of the central hustle of Centro Storico. You’ll find several gardens nearby, including one on-premise at the Four Seasons.
Atmosphere:
The Atrium is one of the best places in Florence for drinks. The atmosphere is regal and polished: you’ll feel like Italian royalty and won’t want to leave. To ensure your spot at the bar, a reservation is required.
What to Order: Vintage Negroni
The Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail, and one of The Atrium’s signature drinks. The delicate combination of sweet and bitter will leave you with the taste of Old Italia on your lips.
Casa Del Vino
The Specialty: More wine shop than bar, this jewel box of a place specializes in wine.
Location: San Lorenzo
Casa del Vino is a short walk from the San Lorenzo Piazza. Here you’ll find lots of leather shops and on good weather days, street performers often play live music. It is a short distance from the popular Mercato Centrale, a must-see while in Florence.
Atmosphere:
This is one of the best places in Florence for drinks if you want to feel like a local. It is standing room only, and you’ll find it easy to join the vivacious conversation that seems to be always emanating from this tiny wine bar.
What to Order:
Wine. La Casa del Vino has an incredible wine selection, and its bar-keeps will be happy to help you find something from the Italian countryside that fits your preferences. Or, go classic and order the Tuscan staple: the ever-popular (and delicious) Chianti Classico.
Manifattura
The Specialty: Cocktails with an authentic local crowd.
Location: Santa Maria Novella
There is much to do in Santa Maria Novella, and Manifattura is right in the middle of it. Situated on the bright Piazza di San Pancrazio, it is about midway between the two historic sites of the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and Palazzo Strozzi. Manifattura is also a close walk to some of the best high-end shopping in Florence.
Atmosphere:
Entering Manifattura, it feels like a secret speakeasy. It is dimly lit, well-decorated with a vintage vibe, and underground music plays at the perfect volume, creating a fun atmosphere without overshadowing conversation with your company. They only serve Italian-made liquors, which is how they’ve become one the best places in Florence for drinks.
What to Order:
There is no one right answer here, but the knowledgeable servers and bartenders are eager to help you find the perfect drink to suit your tastes. We tried the Miele, the Italian version of a Hot Toddy. The various spices and citrus juices blended together perfectly to create a sensuous and delicate steaming cocktail. Drinks come with classic aperitivo snacks, including olives, roasted chickpeas, and taralli (popular Italian crackers).
Rex Cafe
The Specialty: Edgy cocktails with edgy bartenders, catering to an edgy crowd.
Location: Sant. Ambrogio
Sant. Ambrogio is always filled with people. During the day, it is home to the Sant. Ambrogio Market, a popular stop for locals and visitors alike. It has an assortment of locally sourced fresh and prepared foods, as well as discounted designer clothes. At night, this area becomes a gathering place for food and drink to be shared by people from all over the world.
Atmosphere:
Rex is filled with gem-toned vintage furnishings, colorful lighting, and an air of eccentricity. On weeknights, it is a laid-back bar for post-dinner drinks and opens later than most of the places on this list. On weekend nights Rex often hosts events: the music gets louder and space is cleared for a dance floor.
What to Order:
Rex specializes in floral and herbal infused drinks, so we recommend that you order something which makes use of these ingredients, such as laurel vermouth or pepper rum. They also are happy to whip up a classic cocktail and make a well-balanced Moscow Mule that goes down easy.
Locale
The Specialty: Refined, craft cocktails and excellent food.
Location: Santa Croce
Santa Croce is perhaps the most popular area in Florence to go out at night, which is why it’s no surprise it hosts some of the best places for drinks in Florence. Nearby you’ll find lots of restaurants, vintage shops, and bars.
Atmosphere:
Locale‘s bar area is trendy and chic. Low lighting, a glass-paneled ceiling reflecting the impressively organized and sized bar, and vines hanging from the walls create an effortlessly cool atmosphere. Watching the bartenders craft cocktails at Locale is observing an art: these guys don’t mess around.
What to Order:
Locale’s drink menu changes with the time of year to reflect Italy’s dedication to utilizing in-season ingredients. We tried the Fava Basso from their spring menu, a crisp and clean mezcal drink with pecorino milk wash to accentuate the flavors. It was so impressive we’ve decided to call Locale one of the best places in Florence for drinks. Drinks are served with aperitivo snacks: olives, crisp sweet potato chips, and seasoned almonds.
Mad – Souls & Spirits
The Specialty: Creative and unusual drinks to pique your interest and your taste buds.
Location: Santo Spirito
Santo Spirito is the Brooklyn of Florence: trendy, cool, and upbeat. Here you’ll find lots of young people and locals, cafes, and an assortment of artisan and antique shops selling wares you’ll truly only find in Italy.
Atmosphere:
Mad- Souls & Spirits is sort of like if dive bars were actually really nice. They have a large area for indoor seating and a small outdoor patio. They serve their drinks with the best aperitivo snacks we’ve tried in Florence: chips and salsa, olives, and salted peanuts.
What to Order:
For those who have a sense of adventure and are looking for the best places for drinks in Florence, the creative menu at Mad – Souls and Spirits will be greatly appreciated. The bartenders craft their cocktails with unusual ingredients, a lot of which are spicy and not for the faint of heart. Their most popular cocktail is the Losco Mule, which is a fun and punchy twist on the classic.
