Where to drink wine in Florence: a guide to the best enotecas
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably a wine lover. Which means that you can’t imagine a trip to Florence without a good dose of Italian wine. While most are convinced the Tuscan capital is filled with great wine bars, or enotecas – as we call them in Italy – you’d be surprised to know that not every enoteca you stumble upon makes the cut on our watch. But lucky for you, we’ve gone ahead and listed the best places to drink wine in Florence, so that your wine experience will only be top-quality, as it should be.
Le Volpi e l’Uva
Piazza dei Rossi, 1
levolpieluva.com
If you’ve never heard of this place, thank God you’ve stumbled upon our wine bar guide. Because any serious wine lover cannot miss this enoteca in Florence. Just a stone’s throw away from Ponte Vecchio, tucked away in a small piazza, you’ll find Le Volpi e l’Uva – a wine bar that specializes in wine from smaller regional producers all over Italy. But hold on just a minute, just because the wine labels aren’t quite as known as others, it doesn’t mean the value is lower, on the contrary. Their selection of wines from passionate winemakers is a true discovery. And to pair to their dozens of ever-changing wines by the glass (and hundreds of wines by the bottle), you’ll find the tastiest of cheeses, cured meats, crostini and more. If you want a detailed experience, you can also book a guided tasting or wine lesson, ranging from €10 to €45.
Il Santino
Via Santo Spirito, 60/r
ilsantinofi
Located in the Santo Spirito neighborhood, right next door to Il Santo Bevitore, is one of our favorite wine bars in Florence. Il Santino not only has a fabulous wine selection, both by the bottle and by the glass, it also serves delicious snacks that range from a serious selection of cured meats and cheeses, crostoni, desserts and even some mains. The wine list boasts 200 labels while by the glass you’ll always find 6 reds and 6 whites. For those who prefer beer, a selection of 15 Italian craft beers is also available. Il Santino is the perfect place for aperitivo or light dinner, and if things couldn’t get any better, it’s situated inside a former wine cellar … cozy is the word.
Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina
Piazza Pitti, 16
pittigolaecantina.com
If you’ve just finished visiting Pitti Palace and are in need of a break, head to Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina, located right across from the famed palazzo. It’s a delightful small enoteca with outdoor seating and shelves stacked with wine bottles from small high-end Italian wine producers. Here, you’ll get to dive into the world of winemaking and taste some of the best wine Italy has to offer. If you want a more in-depth experience, we recommend going for a wine tasting lunch, inclusive of a three-course seasonal menu paired with four wines of your choice (€35). Otherwise, you could always opt for one of the wine tasting formulas, priced from €10 to €25. The wine list by the glass is very extensive, while the wine selection from the bottle even features selections from the owners’ private cellar. Even though it isn’t necessary, we suggest you book in advance.
Vineria Sonora
Via degli Alfani, 39/r
vineriasonora
This enoteca is the mecca of natural wine in Florence. A former latteria and bakery, Vineria Sonora was opened in 2018 by Laura and Andrea. Their mission? To offer natural and organic wines from small producers. And we can safely say that they’ve succeeded: this enoteca counts over 200 wine labels from Italy with a special focus on natural wines from Tuscany. But wine wasn’t their only focus, as the name Vineria Sonora or “Sound Winery” suggests, they also pay special attention to music. Vineria Sonora is a place where you can taste natural wines paired with Tuscan snacks while listening to music from vinyls. It’s a true wine bar with a vinyl record theme!
Enoteca Vigna Nuova
Via dei Federighi, 3/R
enotecavignanuova.it
Opened in 2019, Enoteca Vigna Nuova is not your usual wine bar. Here, you’ll find a selection of wines that range from Italian to foreign labels, for a total of 500 labels that can all be tasted by the glass. Which means this place offers a real opportunity to taste some great wines. And to pair with your vino, you can enjoy some cured meats and cheeses, or order something a bit more hearty from the ample food menu – from tartares to grilled meats, from first courses to dessert. Run by three friends with a passion for wine, food and quality, Enoteca Vigna Nuova is a great find.
La Divina Enoteca
Via Panicale, 19r
ladivinaenoteca
A stone’s throw from the San Lorenzo market, right under the porticos, you’ll find this little gem of an enoteca. Run by Bianca Ciatti, the daughter of one of the previous owners, La Divina has been transformed by Bianca from a gastronomic shop into a wine bar. At Enoteca La Divina you’ll find wines from small producers in the Tuscan territory, as well as some labels from other Italian regions. While the food is a selection of sandwiches, bruschettas and cured meats and cheese platters that you can pick directly from the deli counter.
Enoteca Fuoriporta
Via del Monte alle Croci, 10r
enotecafuoriporta
This legendary wine bar is located in the lively San Niccolò neighbourhood. Owner Andrea Conti had the intuition over 35 years ago to take over a bar with an adjoining food shop and transform it into one of the first enotecas where you could drink high-level wine by the glass. The wine selection has a special focus on small producers and native wines, boasting a selection of 500 labels. While the kitchen offers seasonal dishes and fresh, quality cuisine. The best time to stop by is from spring to early fall when you can enjoy the lovely outdoor tables in a bohemian setting.
Procacci
Via de’ Tornabuoni, 64r
Procacci1885Firenze
Procacci has been serving Florence wine and truffles since 1885. This landmark enoteca and gastronomic shop in the heart of Firenze offers delicious Tuscan specialties and wines. Maintaining Tuscan traditions and gourmet products – especially when it comes to truffles. Procacci 1885 is known for their panini traumatic, but you can also find other delicious Florentine cuisine and an array of Italian wines here. The old-world charm makes the ambiance casual but warm, so you are tempted to enjoy their gourmet delicacies on the spot. Open from breakfast on, Procacci also does a great aperitivo – featuring an excellent selection of wines by the glass.
INSPIRATION
The best bars in Florence
Signorvino
Via dei Bardi, 46/r
FirenzeDeiBardi
Signorvino is an Italian chain of enotecas born in 2012 from the passion for wine of Sandro Veronesi, President of the Calzedonia Group. With 15 shops around Italy including Milan, Bologna and Verona, Signorvino is the perfect place to taste good food paired with wine from small and well-known producers. The Firenze shop is footsteps from Ponte Vecchio and boasts almost 1500 wine labels, all Made in Italy, divided into regions. Inside you’ll find a wine shop as well as an area dedicated to the restaurant and a terrace offering a view of Ponte Vecchio. You may stop by for lunch, snacks, aperitivo or dinner, the kitchen is open all day. We recommend booking, especially if you want to dine on the terrace.
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