Aida Mollenkamp—our aperitivo-loving Editor-In-Chief and one-time Florence expat—invites us along as she heads out on One Perfect Day in Florence, Italy.
I know Paris is the place for lovers, but, when it comes to romance and a city, I’ve always preferred Florence. From the ancient frescos to cobblestoned streets and the parks with phenomenal panoramas, it has my vote. It's a small city so it's easy to feel at home and most people visit the centro storico or historic city center. The right time of year—Fall and Spring are my favorites—means fewer tourists, so that you can almost feel like you live there, even if you only have One Perfect Day.
8:00 AM: Breakfast at Rivoire
Rivoire is such a Florentine institution that I imagine the characters of Room With A View would’ve snacked there. Its decor and pastries rival the best cafes on Paris’s Rive Gauche and its location on Piazza della Signoria means you have jaw-dropping views of Palazzo Vecchio and the open-air Loggia dei Lanzi sculpture gallery.
Only problem? The location means it becomes tourist central once the day gets going, so head there in the morning. Grab a light colazione (breakfast)—say a cappuccino, orange juice, and a cornetto (an Italian croissant)—by standing at the counter. You'll pay a fraction of the price you would if you were to sit down and you can make nice with the old-school locals and debate politics and last night’s soccer match. If you want to enjoy the palazzo any other time of day, head instead to the Gucci Museum Caffe for a healthy, light lunch or a glass of wine.
Head up to Piazzale Michelangelo before the crowds set in, because, like Rivoire, it can easily get overrun. Yes, you can take a cab or Uber, but I prefer to go by foot so I can peek the city as it wakes. To get there, cross Ponte Vecchio then take the (slightly hidden) Costa San Giorgio, which gives you a chance to escape the crowds. The steep (but brief) walk rewards you peeks into two of the city’s most famous landmarks—Boboli Gardens and Forte di Belvedere—and some pretty gorgeous views.
From there, head up Via di Belvedere toward the Giardino della Rose then take the short staircase to the Piazzale Michelangelo. The view back toward Ponte Vecchio is a classic photo op, but head to the relatively unknown church of San Miniato al Monte for an even more stunning view.
Oh, and if just sounds like waaay too much for you to do this early in the morning, head instead to Giotto's Bell Tower and climb the steps as soon as they open for an incredible view of the city and the Duomo.
After that walk you're going to at least need another coffee, if not a mid-morning snack, so head to Ditta Artiginale. This local roaster has chic cafes with everything from classic cappuccinos and cornetti to avo toast and flat whites and has become so popular that there are now two locations.
People will tell you to check out Mercato Centrale because it’s the best known market, but recently it's become more of a slick food court than a true local market. That's why Mercato Sant’Ambrogio is forever and always my favorite. It’s a little quieter, calmer, and has gems like the premade pastas and pestos that are so good, you'll wish you could ship them home.
12:00 PM: Light Lunch at Cantinetta Dei Verrazzano
Tucked in the middle of the centro storico this bustling bakery and cantina is one of my all-time favorite places in Florence. Yes, it’s owned by the Verrazzano winery and only serves their own wines, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring or unoriginal. The white wines are stellar but I go for the dizzying array of little focaccie, crostini and trammezzini. If you're looking to get your hands on sips of some exceptional wines, and you have a bigger budget, head to Cantinetta Antinori. There you can get small bites served with some of the most adored Antinori wines around from Tignanello to Solaia.
This local grocery store is just behind the Duomo but it’s easy to miss since it’s tucked down a quiet side street. There are plenty of mainstream stores to get your everyday groceries that are far more affordable, but Pegna has specialty products and ingredients you can only find in Italy including some of my favorite local candies and my all-time favorite biscotti by Antonio Mattei.
It’s kinda hard to find a corner of Florence that doesn’t have awesome art, but I’m a sculpture nerd so I love the lesser known sculpture museum, Il Bargello. When the weather is nice, I just hang out in the courtyard and pretend for a moment that I’m a distant relative of the nobleman who originally lived there.
Honestly, it’s not fair to have to choose just one area to shop in Florence. I love so many different things — the classic stationary stores, the hand-woven scarfs, the gourmet food stores, and the endless shoe stores. But what I really dream of is having a shopping spree at the fabulously-curated A Piedi Nudi nel Parco and Luisa Via Roma followed by sometime seeing the latest at Gerard Loft and Patrizia Pepe. Yes, Florence may be a city of classics but these stores prove that the fashion here can be decidedly cutting edge.
In case you didn’t eat enough at lunch, you can swing by ‘Ino for one of their amazing sandwiches. It’s hard what to say for certain makes a perfect sandwich - the condiment, the ingredients, the bread - but what is for certain is that ‘Ino has cracked the code. If you want a more old-school panino shop, you can't really beat I Due Fratellini, a place where you'll find locals and tourists alike lined up for wines by the glass and sandwiches like tuna and salsa verde or goat cheese and sundried tomatoes.
It’s been a whirlwind of a day so we deserve a little spa session, right? Sure, you can go to a Four Seasons in almost any major city, but the Four Seasons here is a very special place. It’s a little oasis on the edge of the historic city center with a garden and pool all its own.
Aperitivo (aka happy hour) is so dialed in it might as well be a sport in Italy. Many places, like Golden View, have spreads so extensive you could happily skip dinner but I try to hold out and just have a cocktail (or two) while I watch sunset over the nearby Ponte Vecchio. If you want more of a view, heat to Se-sto bar at the the top of the Westin Excelsior where there's a panorama of the city and you can watch the sunset.
For dinner, head across the river to Il Santo Bevitore. This is not one of those super classic Florentine restaurants serving bistecca and crostini al fegato but it still does an awesome job paying homage to those flavors. I’ve adored this place since the day it opened almost 8 years ago and love that it only gets better every time I go. If you can't get in there, nearby Trattoria Quattro Leone, is an old-school Tuscan restaurant that serves classic local dishes (chicken liver crostini and bistecca Fiorentina) and stands the test of time.
Since we’re already on the other side of the river in Oltrarno, I’d end the night by heading to Piazza Santo Spirito for a drink. During the warmer weather, everyone is sitting everywhere from the church steps to the square’s fountain, but I prefer to grab one of the piazza-side seats at the at Volume Bar grab a classic drink like a Negroni and toast the day. If you're seeking to get a taste of the Italian craft beer scene, head to nearby Archea Brewery.
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