Florence Bars & Cocktail Lounges

A beautiful museum-like city of the kind Italy seems to specialise in, Firenze has been a sightseer's Mecca for much of the past century. Its architectural treasures – the Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato, and the Fortezza Belvedere - are concentrated in the small, historic core of the city. Between journeys back to the Renaissance, breathe in the atmosphere over a bottle of Chianti or a strong cocktail and check out the stylish locals buzzing about on bikes in designer dresses and Armani suits. A bustling 21st century metropolis, it has managed to preserve its medieval streets and Renaissance structure and still keep its character. Forza Firenze!

Universale

• Via Pisana 77/r Florence

You might think a place where you can pretty much do anyhting sounds about as alluring as a soul-less theme park but the balance here is fantastic - well it is Florence after all so what should we expect! Housed in the shell of an old cinema just outside the city wall Universale is a great place just to drink or listen to music, chill out, watch a show or have dinner. It's modern by design and has been carefully designed so nothing overly intrudes - it's like boarding an intelligently planned urban cruise.

Capocaccia

• Lungarno Corsini 12-14 Florence
• Telephone: 055 210 751

Local hangout for the beautiful people who relax over wine at sidewalk tables during the day, and get more than a little merry when the sun goes down. On-street posing is the name of the game, various beauties in black Versace out to attract stares from men in Armani sipping Camparis and sodas nearby. Everyone wears designer shades and the whole scene looks like something out of La Dolce Vita. Judging by the popularity of the place it could be: they have venues in Monte Carlo and Geneva too.

Dolce Vita

• Piazza del Carmine, 6r
• Florence, 50125
• Telephone: 00 9 055284595

Classy bar with a large veranda and cosy inner rooms that recalls the high life of Fellini’s film. Located on the Piazza del Carmine in front of the church, there’s cocktail service all day and small exhibitions and mini-concerts in the little rooms inside. Sit back and chat over classic aperitifs while being serenaded by jazz or classical musicians - not a paparazzo in sight. But where is that Anita Ekberg?

Slowly

• Via Porta Rossa 63 Florence
• Telephone: 055 264 5354

Another see-and-be-seen Florentine hot spot – what’s with these Italians? Still, at least they’re good to look at. A trendy twenty-something crowd come to Slowly where the tardy service often matches the name, but the quality of what’s on offer is worth the wait. They do basic classic cocktails and tasty if standard aperitifs, but it’s the Tuscan-style snacks and oysters with champagne that should draw your attention. The bar itself is American style and there are two open plan sections to base yourself in the cool interior. The action often seems to spill out outside though so go Slowly and keep your options open before you take your seat.