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Florence, Italy
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3 hrsFlorence is world-famous for its art and architecture, but its lesser-known coffee culture is undergoing a renaissance of its own. Tradition and innovation stand uncomfortably side by side as shabby express bars and trendy artisan coffeehouses compete to win over the city’s choosy clientele. To make sure you know where to go to get the best of both worlds, Carpe Diem Tours is spilling the beans on where to find the best coffee in Florence.
From a macchiato made in heaven to the most crave-worthy cappuccino, this article guides you through the traditional bars, chic cafés, and artisan coffeehouses that brew up creations to please even the most discerning of coffee connoisseurs.
If you’re a seasoned veteran of Italian coffee, feel free to skip this part and head straight to our list. But if you're keen on the bean and this is your first time in Italy, you might want to bear some of these things in mind. For just as there’s an art to being a barista, here in Italy there’s an art to ordering from one. And should you stray from any of these commandments, you could find yourself in...
A latte confusion.
Have you ever noticed that in Italian cafés there are always people standing at the bar? Part of this is because Italians are innately sociable, but another reason—and little-known fact when it comes to Italian bars— is that you actually pay more to sit down. Quite a lot more in fact. Taking a seat to sip your coffee can cost anywhere in the region of 20-50% extra (how much depending on what there is to see outside). But hey, if you’re in a café and everyone’s standing at the bar just do as the Romans do and join them.
Don't order cappuccino after midday
It's an easy one this, but an important one nonetheless, especially if you hope to pass for a local. Consuming cappuccino after breakfast will earn you social ostracism here in Italy; and although Italy is a Catholic country, not even confession will get you out of it.
If you ask for a coffee in Italy and expect an Americano prepare to be disappointed. Coffee (or “caffè”) in an Italian bar is just that—coffee: a small but delicious drip of what we know outside Italy as an espresso.
To say that Italians are pretty particular about their coffee is an understatement. There might be as many variations of coffee as there are residents in Florence, but in the eyes of many the drip (or filter) coffee that’s so beloved back home in the UK is considered acqua sporca or “dirty water”.
So where does this leave you? You can always order a caffè lungo (equally strong; twice as long) or a cappuccino senza schiuma (pronounced “SKEW-mah”), which is a little bit like a flat white. Or, if you’re determined to get your filter coffee and you’re willing to break some balls, just ask for it while specifying that you want it al vetro or “in a glass cup” (apparently there’s a difference).
It’s now been seven years since I moved to Italy, and I’m still not sure what the procedure is for paying at a bar. Sometimes you have to tell the barista what you want and they serve it up along with the receipt so you can pay on your way out. Sometimes you pay the cashier first before presenting your barista with the receipt. As a rule of thumb, just watch what the locals do and go with the flow.
Be careful when ordering a latte coffee. The Italian word for latte is milk, and what we can “latte” is the shortened form of latte macchiato (pronounced “mah-kee-AH-toe”) which is a coffee with a generous topping of milk.
Ditta Artigianale (Via dei Neri 32/R & Via dello Sprone 5/R)
Ditta Artigianale on Via dello Sprone serves up our favourite coffee in Florence
The joint that became such a hit they had to open two, Ditta Artigianale has boldly gone where no Florentine coffee bar has gone before in offering a modern menu, complete with flat whites and daily-updated filtered coffees, and delicious, unpretentious food served in a sleek, urban setting.
The flagship, more spartanly furnished establishment is on the Via dei Neri near the Basilica of Santa Croce. But the larger (and for our money better) branch is nestled between Palazzo Pitti and Piazza della Passera, a small square that’s also home to Florence's best gelato.
Enjoying artisan gelato on a Food Tour
What this coffee house’s success boils down to is more than just the quality of its beans. Its owners have managed to tap into the market by serving delicious food and drink within a comfortable environment—something conspicuously lacking in many of Italy’s rather more rundown and shabbily furnished suburban bars.
To lay my cards on the table, I generally don’t advocate the arrival of chains like Starbucks in Florence (least of all in the area around the Duomo). But there's no doubt that, if they were to arrive, their comfort, convenience, and—dare we say—plug sockets would make them a roaring success, especially among remote workers, students, and freelancers.
Il Caffé del Verona: the best coffee in Florence with a view
You do have to pass through the museum’s entrance to get there, but you don’t have to buy a ticket to visit the café. I know this because it was the first thing my mother asked the receptionist when she came to visit. Which was made all the more mortifying by the fact I used to work there.
Anyhow, as you can imagine from a café situated on the rooftop of the world’s first secular institution devoted to child rearing, here the history is matched only by the view. In fact, the only café where you can get a better view of Brunelleschi’s great dome is the far more frenetic, student-busy Caffetteria delle Oblate.
Believe me when I say Il Caffè del Verone is better. Not only is it the ideal place for a caffeine injection before heading down to their remarkable museum, but it also serves up some great traditional Tuscan food. Just remember that according to the strict rules of Italian coffee culture, when it comes to coffee and food never the twain shall meet!
Old Photo of Caffe Concerto Paszkowski, Florence Caffe Concerto Paszcowski
If you’re looking for a café that oozes class, chic, and elegance, Paszkowski is the place for you. The café is to Florence’s coffee culture what the Uffizi is to Florence’s art scene—an institution. In fact, just like the Uffizi, the building has been designated a national monument, having been in constant operation as a beer hall, music venue, and café since 1903. It’s not hard to see why it was once the favourite of the Florentine intelligentsia.
Situated on the corner of Piazza della Repubblica, right in the beating heart of Florence's city centre, Paszkowski is a haven of chic wooden décor, chandeliered ceilings, daily baked pastries and—most importantly—espresso to die for. Head there early in the morning or afternoon to make sure you don’t miss out on their scrumptious pastries. Or make your way there late to be treated to one of their nocturnal piano recitals.
Le Murate Caffe Letterario, Florence.
Sipping your morning coffee within the confines of Florence’s most famous prison might not sound like the ideal way to spend your vacation. But as the happening place of the moment frequented by Florence’s young and beautiful, Le Murate really is the place to be.
It’s quite difficult to find. Despite living just five minutes away, the first time I tried to go there I typed “Le Murate” into Google Maps and was directed to an upmarket Fish & Chips shop of the same name about a 15-minute walk west (a bad workman always blames his tools - I just have a poor sense of direction). But Le Murate is well worth checking out.
Like Ditta Artigianale, it’s less the traditional Italian bar where you grab a coffee on the go or stand uncomfortably at the bar and more a place to linger, browse the Internet, and slowly sip your way through a frothy cappuccino. But not after midday—you savage.
Mo Si Caffetteria, Florenc. Good, honest coffee and delicious pastries
This Neapolitan bar might not adhere to Naples’s tradition of the caffè sospeso, in which customers sometimes pay for an extra coffee to be enjoyed by the next stranger who wanders in off the streets. But it’s widely regarded as the only place in Florence where you still get what the Neapolitans call a coffee of the three Cs, caldo, comodo, e carico (warm, comfortable, and fully charged).
Of all the coffees characterised by these three Cs, the cappuccino comes out on top. And while you’re there, why not treat yourself to one of their freshly baked pastries or brioches, especially the cornetti al cioccolato (chocolate croissants) or bombolini (cream-filled doughnuts), the taste of which will make you pack up your things and move to Italy for good.
Carpe Diem Tours specialises in fun, immersive, informative tours of Italy's artistic cities. Our team is committed to bringing you the best in Florence tours. That's why we rank in the top 1% of tour agencies in Rome & Florence!
If you'd like to taste the best of Tuscany, enjoying priority service and the personalised attention of an expert foodie guide, treat yourself to our mouthwatering award-winning Private Florence Food Tour!
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Florence, ItalyNowhere does food quite like Florence and with our Private Florence Food Tour you'll go on an exclusive culinary journey with dedicated attention from a local guide who will take you to authentic eateries in the Oltrarno neighbourhood. It's here where you'll sample the best of Tuscan cuisine; savour hearty meat dishes and indulge in full bodied wines, all at your own pace.
We’ve taken care of every detail: from a curated tasting menu to reserved spots at beloved local eateries. All that’s left for you to do is relax, indulge, and experience the flavours of Florence one delicious bite at a time.
This private tour focuses on the city’s famed “cucina povera” or “poor cuisine”, a style that transforms humble, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients into bold, unforgettable dishes. Start with crispy schiacciata bread, artisan cold cuts and cheeses, and refreshing Chianti wine before heading to a cosy local trattoria to dive deeper into Florence’s culinary heritage.
Your personal foodie guide will bring the city’s food history to life, sharing stories, traditions, and insights into Florence’s most iconic dishes, before ending the tour on a sweet note at one of the city’s best-loved gelaterie.
Whether you’re a foodie, a curious traveller, or simply looking for a unique and intimate experience, this private food tour is packed with local flavour and personalised insider recommendations you won’t find in any guidebook.
Book now to reserve your private slice of Florence, availability is limited!
4.93(122).webp&w=3840&q=75)
Florence, ItalyEnjoy Traditional Drinks and Scandalous Stories in the Heart of the Renaissance City.
This isn’t your typical tour. The Tipsy Tour in Florence is the perfect blend of fascinating history, tasty drinks, and making memories with newfound friends. Explore the vibrant nightlife of the Renaissance City and sample signature Italian cocktails, wine, and shots. Along the way you’ll hear about Florence’s less savoury past with some saucy stories and dark history, all the while getting tipsy of course! This tour is all about bringing people together so if alcohol isn’t your thing, not to worry! We’ve got some alcohol-free options for travellers who want the social experience without the hangover.
Your fun-loving guide will wow you with scandals from Florence’s history. Sip away as you learn the life stories of some of Florence’s most notorious figures. The Medici are a great starting point – specifically, Catherine de Medici, believed by many to have had a penchant for poison and a dabble in the dark arts.
As we travel from bar to bar, tracing the steps of prisoners and sex workers alike, your guide will immerse you in the bloody tale of the Pazzi Conspiracy, where Lorenzo de Medici and his entourage were attacked in Florence’s cathedral during High Mass on Easter Sunday. Then you’ll find out what happened to the Pazzi family, too.
Spoiler alert – it was way worse.
During the experience, we’ll visit at least two vibrant bars and enjoy drink stops outside famous sights. Plus, we’ll order shots from a wine window on the street, like a true Florentine. You might wonder why wine from a window never became a worldwide phenomenon, and trust us – we don’t know either.
When the Tipsy Tour is over, the night out officially begins. We’ll enjoy the city long into the night, making unforgettable memories with our Tipsy besties.
Spaces fill up fast, so book your Florence Tipsy Tour today!
4.96(1077)
Florence, ItalyEvery cobble in Florence tells a story. Its 14th-century walls contain such a wealth of archaeological and artistic treasures that the city centre itself is a UNESCO site – a global centre of cultural importance. This private walking tour of Florence tells the story of Renaissance city through the monuments it leaves behind.
Accompanied by your expert, licensed guide, you’ll explore Florence’s streets and discover its attractions, being transported through its illustrious history – from its founding as a Roman colony through to its patronage by medieval Europe’s most powerful bankers and merchants (not least the infamous Medici).
Your private walking tour takes you through Florence’s world-famous sites. Gaze up at Brunelleschi’s 15th-century Duomo – the dome of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – and the Golden Doors of Paradise on its adjacent Baptistery. Learn to decipher the symbols and reliefs that adorn the Tower of Giotto beside the Duomo and learn why the Florentine’s chose them and what they said about their city.
Stroll past Piazza della Repubblica, Italy’s most important square in the mid 1800s when Florence was the country’s capital, and admire the statues that line the niches of the nearby Church of Orsanmichele. Florence’s most picturesque piazza lies just a short stroll away: Piazza della Signoria, in the background of which loom the medieval fortress of Palazzo Vecchio and the Renaissance offices converted into the world’s most famous gallery: the Uffizi.
Head through the vaulted arches of the Uffizi and you arrive at Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous bridge, which dates back in its current form to the days of the Medici. Absorb its rich history, and some of its seldom shared secrets, as your expert guide shares their expertise and answers all your questions.
4.97(16)
Florence, ItalyEnjoy Traditional Drinks and Scandalous Stories in the Heart of the Renaissance City.
This isn’t your typical tour. The Tipsy Tour in Florence is the perfect blend of fascinating history, tasty drinks, and making memories with newfound friends. Explore the vibrant nightlife of the Renaissance City and sample signature Italian cocktails, wine, and shots. Along the way you’ll hear about Florence’s less savoury past with some saucy stories and dark history, all the while getting tipsy of course! This tour is all about bringing people together so if alcohol isn’t your thing, not to worry! We’ve got some alcohol-free options for travellers who want the social experience without the hangover.
Your fun-loving guide will wow you with scandals from Florence’s history. Sip away as you learn the life stories of some of Florence’s most notorious figures. The Medici are a great starting point – specifically, Catherine de Medici, believed by many to have had a penchant for poison and a dabble in the dark arts.
As we travel from bar to bar, tracing the steps of prisoners and sex workers alike, your guide will immerse you in the bloody tale of the Pazzi Conspiracy, where Lorenzo de Medici and his entourage were attacked in Florence’s cathedral during High Mass on Easter Sunday. Then you’ll find out what happened to the Pazzi family, too.
Spoiler alert – it was way worse.
During the experience, we’ll visit at least two vibrant bars and enjoy drink stops outside famous sights. Plus, we’ll order shots from a wine window on the street, like a true Florentine. You might wonder why wine from a window never became a worldwide phenomenon, and trust us – we don’t know either.
When the Tipsy Tour is over, the night out officially begins. We’ll enjoy the city long into the night, making unforgettable memories with our Tipsy besties.
Spaces fill up fast, so book your Florence Tipsy Tour today!
4.96(432)
Florence, ItalyMost people are familiar with the Uffizi’s international reputation as a gallery. Its halls house masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, and Caravaggio. But the Uffizi didn’t start life as a gallery. Deriving its name from the Middle Italian for ‘the Offices’, this 16th-century complex constitutes the most beautiful and architecturally innovative administrative office complex ever designed. And while going into the office isn’t something you typically associate with being on holiday, here you must make an exception.
The Uffizi was designed by the architect and biographer Giorgio Vasari, under the patronage of Cosimo I. After Cosimo died, his heirs lost interest in politics. His eldest son, Francesco I, brought his private collection of artworks and made the Uffizi his private museum. The collection they accumulated over the coming centuries is what you see today.
And our private tour of the Uffizi brings you face to face with its highlights.
4.94(211)
Florence, ItalyFlorence’s Accademia Gallery houses one of Europe’s richest collections of art and sculpture. Hone in on its highlights on a tailored tour and come face to face with the world’s most famous sculpture: Michelangelo’s David.
This private Accademia tour is perfect for art enthusiasts looking to broaden their knowledge and fill in the gaps. It covers the evolution of western art from the Giotto’s gilt gold of the Florentine Gothic to Botticelli and Lippi’s humanist masterpieces the High Renaissance.
See for yourself why the statue of David is considered one of the most life-like sculptures ever carved and learn the historical context that saw the Florentines adopt the biblical David as the symbol of their city.
Learn about the artists behind the work, their history and the techniques they used. Gain insider knowledge of lesser-known works like Michelangelo’s Prisoners or Slaves, and enjoy free time at the end of the tour to wander through the museum at your own pace.
4.94(93)