The best bars and nightlife in Florence

As the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence has a timeless beauty that echoes through the cobbled streets, providing a panoramic backdrop for its burgeoning nightlife.

From wine bars serving the best that Italy's vineyards have to offer and bizarre cocktails crafted by mixologists, to nightclubs heaving with superb sound spun by international DJs, below our expert shares her guide to the best of Florence nightlife.

For further Florence inspiration, here we also have guides dedicated to the city's best hotels, restaurants, shopping and attractions, plus how to spend a weekend in Florence.

Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and San Marco

La Terrazza Rooftop Bar

Come summer, the rooftop bar at the stylish Hotel Continentale is one of the most desirable spots for aperitivi and late-night drinks in central Florence. Expect a sophisticated crowd lounging on low, white sofas with soft lighting and cool, classy background sounds. The views of the glowing Arno and the skyline beyond are ravishing, particularly at sunset. The cocktail menu includes the classics of course, but also signature mixes such as the ‘Landscape Swizzle’ (Bacardi spiced rum mix and passion fruit). Accompanying nibbles only run to nuts, olives and crisps, but that hardly matters given the backdrop.

Contact: laterrazzaungarnocollection.com
Prices: ££
Reservations: walk-ins only

Santa Croce and the East

Locale

For excellent cocktails and a truly classy setting, head to elegant Il Locale, housed on the ground floor of 13th-century, re-vamped Palazzo Concini. It comes with a soaring, sky-lit ceiling, a vertical garden with plants that scale the walls as you walk in, a long zinc bar and moody lighting. The craft cocktails are among the best in Florence and the long list offers both the classics and more creative numbers such a Negroni made with mezcal. This place also houses a good – if expensive – restaurant, showcasing the best of local cuisine. So why not make a night of it?

Contact: localefirenze.it
Price: £££

Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo and the west

SE.STO on Arno

Cocktails at the glassed-in rooftop bar of the Westin Excelsior hotel come with the best views in Florence; the 360-degree wraparound eyeful takes in the whole sweep of the city skyline to the hills beyond. In cool weather, mixes such as the signature 'Il Saggio' (gin and peach bitters) are served at low, 1970s-inspired seating indoors, but the place comes into its own in summer when tables are laid out along the multiple terraces. And if the accompanying nibbles aren’t enough to keep hunger at bay, you can move into the restaurant for dinner with the same views.

Contact: sestoonarno.com
Price: £££

Procacci

Don’t miss a glass of fizz at this historic bar/deli on the prestigious Via Tornabuoni. In spite of a recent makeover, it still retains echos of old Florence with its marble and mahogany interior. Perch at one of a handful of tables inside or bag a spot on the pleasant new pavement terrace, to sip a glass of chianti and nibble on the trademark panini tartufati – these are little rolls filled with creamy truffle paste, made to a secret recipe. In truffle season, you can buy the precious fresh tubers to be consumed grated over a plate of steaming, buttery taglierini.

Contact: procacci1885.it
Price: £-££

Oltarno

Le Volpi e L’Uva

Florence’s most interesting wine bar is hidden away in a little Oltrarno piazzetta within easy barrel-rolling distance of the Ponte Vecchio. Perch at the bar or bag a coveted table on the terrace for an exceptional choice of (mostly) Italian wines by the bottle or by the glass: they specialise in winkling out smaller, off-the-radar producers from all over the country, and the prices are reasonable. The short menu of gourmet nibbles includes toasted crostoni bubbling with melted cheese and truffle-spiked sausage, and a selection of delectable charcuterie and top-notch cheeses.

Contact: levolpieluva.com
Price: £-££

Ditta Artigianale

Award-winning barista Francesco Sanapo is roasting and brewing some of the best speciality coffee in town at this 1970s-feel, pared-down hot spot in the Oltrarno. But in the evening, the breakfast/brunch/lunch scene morphs into a buzzy aperitivo venue offering 80-odd types of gin along with excellent craft cocktails and a menu of tapas-style snacks. Still peckish? Stay on for dinner – pasta with pesto, Chianina beef tartare or a shrimp burger with chickpea pancakes. The original bar, all Brooklyn-style white tile and stressed wood, is in Via dei Neri near Santa Croce and there is a new branch (opened in July 2021) which has a gorgeous internal cloister in Via Carducci in the Sant’Ambrogio neighbourhood. 

Contact: dittaartigianale.it
Prices: Drinks £, meals £-££

Mad Souls & Spirits

Cocktail Kings, Julian Biondi and Neri Fantechi, are the mixologists at this diminutive, no-frills drinking den that has achieved cult status since opening a couple of years ago. Against a background of deep aqua green and bare brick walls, scrubbed wooden tables and an up-beat soundtrack, their creative, keenly-priced libations have whacky names such as Losco Mule (vodka and ginger beer), Donald is a Trump (bourbon and carrot jam) and Swedish Mealballs (aquavit, orgeat, fresh herbs and 'love'). Come early if you want to chat, and don’t even think of ordering an aperol spritz.

Contact: madsoulsandspirits.com
Price: £

Volume

One of the Oltrarno’s most popular aperitivo spots is also one of its most enduring and this former wood turner’s workshop pulls in the punters year-round. Inside, its vintage, shabby-chic décor, selection of books, magazines and board games invites you to hunker down for cool-weather cappuccinos, homemade cakes and lunchtime buckwheat pancakes. When aperitivo time strikes, things begin to liven up as a mix of hip young Florentines and clued-in foreigners spill onto the small terrace. Classic cocktails with in-house variations come with good nibbles from 6.30pm; look out for live music and DJ sessions at weekends.

Contact: volume.fi.it
Price: £

Beyond the city walls

Tenax

Warehouse-style Tenax is Florence’s most edgy nightclub in spite of its 37 years and somewhat distant location by Peretola airport. With a superb sound system and varied selections of quality music, it is a great night out. The venue hosts emerging artists and musicians with regular live music gigs featuring the likes of Spandau Ballet, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Shaggy and Ben Harper. The resident DJs and high-profile guests spin mainly techno and house sounds which thump through the crowds of gyrating Florentines – look out for the Saturday night electronic 'Nobody’s Perfect' party.

Contact: tenax.org
Prices: Fri £ (including drink); Sat £-£££ (excluding drink) depending on who the DJ is
Getting in: VIP tables are €35-€50 per head including a drink depending on who is playing. Transport: use Disco Taxi (00 39 055 4242/4390) at €20 each way, minimum three people.

Flò

On a hillside near Piazzale Michelangelo and laid out over several terraces under trees hung with fairy lights, the setting is fabulous with the views over the city even more so. A sophisticated, local and international crowd piles in for music, drinks, food and dancing; come early in time for the excellent aperitivo with the buffet if you don’t want a long wait in line. There are lounging areas and a generous dance floor. The music isn’t exactly cutting edge, but the atmosphere is what makes the place. Just remember to wear your glad rags.

Contact: flofirenze.com
Prices: ££
Getting in: Dress code is 'summer chic' with free entrance. VIP tables available to book at€18 (£16) per head

Santa Rosa Bistrot

A relaxed, popular venue for summer drinks, food and music, this delightful bar and restaurant nestles in a leafy garden near the Arno just outside Porta Frediano. The style is more shabby than chic (in the best possible way) with wooden crates as sofas, deck chairs and vintage furniture. Open for breakfast and lunch, it comes into its own on warm summer evenings. Sip on classic mojitos or a Santa Rosa punch, the house special (black tea, vermouth and whiskey) enjoying the laid-back jazzy, Latin or bluesy tunes. Some stay for dinner where fish and seafood is a speciality.  

Contact: santarosabistrot.com
Price: Cocktails £; dinner £-££ 
Getting in: Reservations recommended for the restaurant. Walk-ins only for the bar