Five wine bars in Florence you should visit
I love the Italian region of Tuscany for many reasons. I love the people there, I love the food, I love the countryside and I love its leaning tower. I also love the wine, and there aren’t many things more pleasurable than enjoying a nice glass of Chianti in a wine bar in Florence.
With this in mind, I’ve singled out five such wine bars for this post. Read on for suggestions of where to sip on a glass of smooth red (or white if you’re that way inclined) in the capital of Tuscany.
1. Casa del Vino, Via Ariento, 16/r
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I mentioned I love the food in Tuscany didn’t I? This is why I love wine bars in Florence so much – it’s not just about the wine; it’s about the food too. In this small and refreshingly unassuming wine shop not far from Florence’s main train station you can indulge in all sorts of antipasti. It’s a good spot for lunch also as they’ve a good selection of sandwiches.
2. Enoteca Bevo Vino, Via San Niccolo 59r
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Situated on the southern side of the River Arno, this is the perfect place to pop in for a glass of vino after catching a sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo – the best place to catch a sunset in the city. It’s a quirkier place than the aforementioned bar, but what sticks out in my mind here (apart from the wine) is the pizza. Even if you don’t have the appetite for one but would still like something to accompany your wine then you’ll enjoy the complimentary ‘apperitivi’ served with your glass.
3. Le Volpi e l’Uva, Piazza de’ Rossi 1
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This wine bar is perfect for popping into once you’ve had the obligatory photo in front of Florence’s best-known bridge to cross the River Arno – the Ponte Vecchio. Staff here are friendly and are happy to tell you all about the local delicacies as they prepare them in front of you. These include ‘crostone al pomodoro’ (melted Asiago cheese and fresh chopped tomatoes) and ‘peperoncino piccante’ (spicy peppers stuffed with anchovies and capers).
4. Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina, Piazza Pitti 16
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If you’re the inquisitive type and you want to know more about wines in the region, then pencil this bar into your Florence itinerary. I didn’t ask too many questions the evening I was here, but others around me did. Staff were more than happy to answer queries about food and wine and most people left more knowledgeable than when they first entered. Tell them what you want and they’ll suggest a wine that matches your taste, making it an educational visit too.
5. Sei Divino, Borgo Ognissanti, 42/r
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I always considered ‘aperitivo’ time to be a Milanese thing. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, it’s an Italian tradition where you get lots of food for free…essentially. Once you buy a drink, a table full of all types of food is yours for the taking. In Florence’s Sei Divino, for just €7 you can eat as much of the aperitivos on offer with a glass of your wine of choice.
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If you’re planning on visiting Florence to go on a mini-wine bar crawl (it was over a few days!) like I did, to enjoy some of the best people watching in the world or any other reasons, check out our homestays in Florence or our host Marco's homestay in the heart of the Chianti Region.
Written by Colm Hanratty
Colm first got the travel bug when he went to Australia in 1999 on a working holiday visa. Since then he hasn’t looked back.
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