Ville Sull' Arno
Shuttles will pick up and drop off guests at Ville Sull' Arno on the day of the wedding.
Set on the banks of the Arno, an elegant five-star resort awaits you, an urban oasis just a short distance from Florence’s historic centre.
In the 19th century, as a historic country residence of the Florentine high nobility, our villa became the cenaculum of the Macchiaioli and a place of heated intellectual and cultural debate.
The Westin Excelsior, Firenze
A perfect mix of style and design: 171 guest rooms & suites each beautifully decorated in period style, offering a taste of Florentine tradition. The Westin Excelsior magnificent and one of a kind Suites unveiling the most spectacular and breathtaking views over the Arno River and the winding Medieval streets as far as the gently rolling hills that surround the town.
25Hours Hotel
25Hours Hotel: Situated in the Santa Maria Novella district in the heart of Florence. The design of the hotel, conceived by interior designer Paola Navone and her team, is eclectically inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy and is full of allusions to this work: scenes from heaven and hell are playfully alternated and guide you through the virtues and vices of Dante's world. San Paolino restaurant is the lively center of the historic palazzo. A lush courtyard garden, a traditional Negroni bar and an Alimentari for groceries, snacks or an aperitivo complete the culinary offering. Inhouse Cinema Paradiso film lounge shows curated movies on regular base.
www.25hours-hotels.com/en/hotels/florence/piazza-san-paolino
St. Regis Firenze
Standing on the banks of the Arno River with views across to the Ponte Vecchio and the picturesque hills of Tuscany, The St. Regis Florence is the epitome of elegance and refined hospitality, and the preferred stop of tastemakers and luxury hotel travelers since the 18th century. Impeccably placed in the city’s historical center, our 5-star hotel offers an unrivalled immersion into the cradle of the Renaissance. Lavishly appointed accommodations at The St. Regis Florence feature decidedly modern amenities and services, all elevated by the St. Regis hallmark butler service, offering visitors a myriad of storied Florentine aesthetics. Local flavors infuse a gourmet Tuscan cuisine in the hotel’s restaurants and bars, and a selection of elegant venues lend distinction to weddings, social celebrations and business events. When it is time to wind down, the Iridium Spa Suites in partnership with My Blend by Clarins, present unique, bespoke treatments and in-depth therapies.
Tuscan Cuisine
Il Guscio : One of our favorite restaurants in Florence. Flavorful seafood and pasta options like the octopus ragu or the paccheri with nduja. Their menu changes so they even have traditional Florentine dishes like la trippa, il lampredotto, il cervello fritto, la ribollita, la pappa al pomodoro, le paste “co i’sugo finto”, l’inzimino, le braciole rifatte, l’arista, il lesso rifatto, il baccalà, la bistecca alla fiorentina. You can write them on whatsapp if you check out their website below.
https://www.ristorante-ilguscio.it/menu
13 Gobbi : If there is a new player on Fiorentina, there is a high chance that they spend their first dinner in Florence here. Their famous dish is the cheesy rigatoni.
Osteria Cinghiale Bianco : Wild Boar GALORE. Wild boar cold cuts. Pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Wild boar steaks. Oink Oink! They have a lot of fantastic non-wild boar dishes as well like the chitarra with tomato and formaggio or the onion flan with cheese bechamel and fresh truffle. TREAT YOSELF!! Make a reservation.
cinghialebianco.com
Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori : Another favorite spot that serves traditional Tuscan food. Very tiny so you should make a reservation. In the Covid summer months, they opened an outdoor seating area in Piazza Signoria. Menu is handwritten and changes frequently to reflect what is in season.
Alla Vecchia Bettola : Famous for their penne alla bettola. A bit out of the center.
Trattoria Dell Orto : No fuss, traditional Tuscan food. Wide variety and a good bang for your buck (or euro or whatever).
http://www.trattoriadellorto.com/
Bistecca Fiorentina Restaurants
Perseus : Just outside the historic center of Florence, a stone's throw from Piazza della Libertà and Piazza Savonarola, the Perseus Restaurant lives in comfortable rooms with a family atmosphere, divided into 5 rooms. Furnished in typical Tuscan style, with rustic-style objects on the walls , opens to customers with a large window display dedicated to meat and the 'mythical' steak, the heart of everything, a typically Tuscan cuisine that rigorously interprets the old recipes of the past.
La Reggia Deglia Etruschi : Outside of the center, located on one of the most panoramic terraces of Fiesole, La Reggia degli Etruschi (once a monastery and later a tearoom) is today one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city with a breathtaking view over Florence and its monuments. Fantastic wine selection.
www.lareggiadeglietruschi.com/
Trattoria Dall Oste : With 4 locations in the center, it is one of the easiest and accessible of the options for Bistecca Fiorentina. You can make a reservation on their website. Pici al Ragù Dall'Oste was very flavorful with no shortage of sauce.
Buca Lapi : Buca Lapi is the oldest restaurant in Florence, although it seems that a handful of them claim to be. It was founded in 1880 in the Palazzo Antinori cellars and still shows evidence of more than a century of history, thanks to a very careful restoration.
Pizza E Panini
Il Pizzaiuolo: Just a few steps away from the S. Ambrogio local market, you will find one of the city's most historical pizzerias, Il Pizzaiuolo. Established more than 20 years ago, il pizzaiuolo offers a very casual and comfortable environment.
'A Puteca: We've never been here but Filippo Mallo and Marta said that it's their favorite so go try it because they are putting their neck out on the line for this place. The picture of the pizza in the icon is from A Puteca.
https://www.aputecafirenze.com/
All'Antico Vinaio: The most famous sandwich in Florence. We've seen a longer line of people waiting for this sandwich than waiting to see The David. Their location in San Marco is usually less packed. You can really get creative with your ingredients. Pecorino cream, Parmigiano cream, Sbriciolona salami, etc. Whatever you choose, it's served on fresh warm schiacciata (Tuscan bread that is crispy, salty and oily).
Fine Dining
Enoteca Pinchiorri: Florence's only three star michelin restaurant. 290 euros a person. The chefs are Annie Féolde, Italo Bassi and Riccardo Monco. Also home to one of the most famous wine cellars in the world, with over 140,000 bottles and 4.000 labels by the most prestigious wineries, in addition to the rarest and most expensive wines you can ask for.
https://www.enotecapinchiorri.it/
Santa Elisabetta: Two star michelin restaurant located in the Byzantine Pagliazza Tower with chef Rocco De Santis at the helm. The menu of Restaurant Santa Elisabetta respects nature and the seasons.
An à la carte menu (only for lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) and tasting experiences with wine matching are available.
For lunch:
3-course “Carte Blanche”.
For lunch and dinner:
5-course “Tracce di innovazioni” (Traces of innovations),
7-course “In-Contaminazioni” (In-Contaminations),
9-course “Chef Experience”.
https://www.ristorantesantaelisabetta.it/en/
Konnubio: Michelin Guide and Alessandro Ete approved. It is described as the union of flavors, textures, art, attention to detail and search for taste. We've never been but if the menu were a song, we'd say it would be dubstep and it has our attention!
For more restaurants on the michelin guide, please see the website below:
https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/toscana/firenze/restaurants
Desserts
Pasticceria Dolci e Dolcezze: Best Pasticceria in town. Grab a Cornetto aka croissant filled with cream or seasonal fruit jam of the highest quality. Actually grab a cake while you're there too. Also grab those little biscotti in the plastic bags. Grab whatever you can get your hands on.
Edoardo Il Gelato Biologico: A favorite of ours. Pistachio. Check. Cinnamon. Check. Gianduja. Check. Fresh waffle cones. CHECK!! Near the Duomo. Check. Hike up the Duomo and treat yourself to a gelato afterward. Or before. Just make sure you treat yourself here.
We have also tried Gelateria dei Neri, Vivoli, Grom, La Carraia, Venchi, Sbrino, and Cantina del Gelato.
Bars with A View
Angel Roofbar and Dining: Located on the top floor at Hotel Calimala, Angel Rooftop Bar has 360-degree views of Florence. It hosts a restaurant, two indoor and outdoor bars, a plunge pool, and an incredible floral garden patio fashioned by Vieri Torrigiani of the Torrigiani Family. You can book a table on their website or go right when they open.
https://www.hotelcalimala.com/angel-roofbar-dining
Se·sto on Arno: Located on the top floor at the Excelsior Hotel, Se·sto on Arno is an iconic venue overlooking the city with a unique setting in the heart of Florence. Their aperitivo runs for 35 euros or 20 euros for a spritz. Make a reservation on their website below.
La Terrazza Bar: A cocktail bar at the top floor of the medieval Consorti tower of the fashionable Hotel Continentale. Views of the Arno, Brunelleschi’s Dome, San Miniato, Palazzo Vecchio and Forte Belvedere. Make a reservation below.
https://www.lungarnocollection.com/la-terrazza-rooftop-bar/
Molo & Habana 500: You will find plenty of outdoor bars and casual eateries along the Arno River in the summer. Molo is walking distance from Ville Sull' Arno so you will find us there a night or 2.
EVERYWHERE: Views on views wherever you go. Grab a bottle of wine walk up and sit on the steps at Piazzale Michelangelo and watch the sunset. Go to Santo Spirito, Piazza della Reppublica, or Santa Croce at midnight and you'll find no shortage of crowds grabbing drinks and taking them to go to sit on a bench or a fountain.
Bars and Lounges
Locale Firenze: This is where imagination runs wild. Classics are respected, yet delivered with avant-garde flair. They use science to manipulate ingredients on the molecular level. We once toured their "lab" and saw how they removed the yellow coloring from limoncello. SCIENCE! Drinks run around 20 euros. They also have a restaurant.
Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina: This one is for our Amy WINE-O's! Located across from the Palazzo Pitti, this spot offers bottles even aging back to the 50's. Hey, it's okay..that's not old though... You're definitely not old!!
http://pittigolaecantina.com/it/
La Ménagère: It offers some carefully crafted cocktails inspired by the surrounding colors and scents. And signature tapas of unusual tastes and ingredients accompany each drink. Tip: There is a pool table downstairs. It is also popular for brunch.
Surprise Surprise. Good Coffee Everywhere.
Note: This is a picture of a "to go" coffee cup but we can't do that FYI. If Sandro (Matteo's Dad) see's any of us with a takeout cup of coffee then he's basically going to detain us at the nearest Subway so we HAVE to drink our coffee at an actual CAFE. No paper cups. We don't make the rules.
Ditta Artigianale: Founded in 2013 (one of the only spots to serve american style cookies at the time) by Francesco Sanapo, world-renowned barista and coffee taster champion, and by Patrick Hoffer. It now has 3 locations throughout the city. This rec will satisfy both the espresso and non espresso drinkers. Yes, that's you, FILTERED COFFEE DRINKERS. Menu below.
www.menudittaartigianale.com/caffetteria-sprone.html
Caffe Concerto Paszkowski: Declared a "National Monument" in 1991, Paszkowski has preserved all its charm and style over time. Not only a great coffee spot, but come here for a drink at night and listen to live music fill Piazza Repubblica. You can also pop over next door to Caffè Gilli as an alternative.
Le Murate Caffè Letterario: It's building was once a monastery, then converted to a prison, and now finally, is an apartment complex with a coffee shop below.
This cafe is perfect if you want to catch up with a friend over a cappuccino as you sit outside in the uncovered terrace area.
Shopping
The Mall Luxury Outlets: Located 30 minutes outside of Florence. Plenty of parking if you are renting a car. There is also a bus that leaves from the center of Florence everyday, multiple times a day. The Mall Store Directory is below.
Mercato San Lorenzo: Florence's big outdoor market fills the streets around San Lorenzo with stalls selling leather goods, t-shirts, and other souvenirs.
Rinascente: The largest department store in the center of Florence. Tip: Public restrooms are on the top floor. There is also a staircase on the top floor that leads to an outdoor terrace with views of Piazza Repubblica. Great for a snack, coffee, and/or drink.
Via Tornabuoni: Upscale shopping district featuring all the top names in Italian fashion, from Gucci to Ferragamo.
Luisa Via Roma: offers a selection of luxury fashion for Men, Women and Kids.
Aquaflor: LOL. Candles, perfumes, room sprays. We love the Frescura room spray and diffuser. The soap trio makes for a great gift to bring home to that special someone.
Museums
The Uffizi: Matteo's favorite place in the world and one of the most important Italian museums and the most visited, it is also one of the largest and best known in the world and holds a collection of priceless works, particularly from the period of the Italian Renaissance.
https://www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi
Accademia Gallery: Where is Michelangelo's David? Right here! Not only that but The Accademia exhibits the largest number of Michelangelo's sculptures in the world. Get your tickets below.
www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/en/
Palazzo del Bargello: The Museo Nazionale (the first national museum in a unified Italy) brings together many important Renaissance sculptures and masterpieces of the minor arts from varying periods, including masterpieces by Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Verrocchio, Michelangelo and Cellini.
Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens: Purchased in 1550, the Palace was chosen by Cosimo I de’ Medici and his wife Eleanor of Toledo as the new Grand Ducal residence, and it soon became the new symbol of the Medici’s power over Tuscany. Today the Palace is divided into five museums: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes and the Museum of Russian Icons (with the Palatine Chapel) on the ground floor, the Palatine Gallery and the Imperial and Royal Apartments on the first floor, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion on the second floor. Directly behind Pitti Palace are the marvellous Boboli Gardens.