You’ll never be wanting for watering holes in Florence. This summer a few Arno-side venues stand out; we’ve included some landlocked locales, too.
NORTH BANK
Florence’s North Bank continues to pull in the punters this summer. Wood Music Garden (lungarno Colombo 23-27) intrigues with its contemporary design and lively events schedule, ranging from outdoor cinema to niche DJ sets and bands playing everything from Balkan beats to Calabrian folk. Spanish bites hail from La Cova Tapas Bar: think tortillas and jamón serrano. The original lungarno del Tempio street food outpost still features La Toraia burgers and Pescepane fish bites in addition to pulled pork by Phil’s Slow Smoked American Barbecue, and tacos and hot dogs by Il Panino Tondo. Molo 5 (lungarno Colombo 27) stems the tide with food huts to feed even the fussiest of eaters: organic pizzas by Simbiosi, Florentine classics, Japanese, seafood, gelato and drinks by Florentine mainstay Rex. Further out of the city, beyond ObiHall, check out cultural club UtopiKo (via Fabrizio de Andrè). Loved by locals in the know, it’s a hangout unafraid of making a stand (you’ll find no World Cup coverage here, a choice based on political reasons) and getting you dancing into the early hours. An established hangout on lungarno del Tempio, Chiosco il Tempio serves up a live music roster and photographic show as well as drinks a plenty, while Fiorino sull’Arno (lungarno G. Pecori Giraldi) starts the summer evenings with World Cup coverage and a pizzetta before giving centrestage to emerging musical acts and tango nights.
SOUTH BANK
This summer in the Oltrarno, the cool set keeps flocking to romantic Santarosa Bistrot (lungarno Santarosa) for music, art, wellbeing and exercise, in addition to its regular function as coffee and aperitivo haunt. For nice wine and fabulous views, book a table at Golden View Open Bar (via de’ Bardi 54/56R) or Signorvino (via dei Bardi 46R), close to the Ponte Vecchio and looking out over the river. To watch the sunset, you can’t go wrong at Florence’s city beach, with RiveR Urban Beach on the sand below lungarno Serristori and the famous summer spot Easy Living up top for cocktails, culture and more.
