Curious Appetite

Where to Drink in Florence

Back in Florence, Best Bars and Conde Nast Traveler Clips!

Photo Courtesy of Manifattura Tabbacchi one of Florence’s best bars on Conde Nast Traveler

It’s funny how time works, you could be stuck in certain moments watching them slip through your fingers faster than you can appreciate them, albeit wishing with all your might for them to never leave your grasp. Then you return to certain realities, and time seems to move slower than molasses.

Luckily since I’ve been back in Florence, I’ve hit the ground running. There’s been some welcomed distractions including new accolade recognizing my tours and more of my published review/writing. Before I get to that, I wanted to share some mushy gushy- then straight on to business I promise! Continue Reading

A Curated Guide to Restaurants & Food in Florence, Italy

Pici con le briciole

If you’re getting overwhelmed by all the listicles on my blog, bookmark and study this page dedicated to where to eat in Florence- including street food, coffee shops, gelato joints and links to other guides within the blog or for publications I have contributed to such as Eater, Vogue and The Guardian. Follow my instagram page for more food in Florence advice, too.

(please note this page was first published in 2017 and is regularly reviewed & updated, last review was February 2023. If there is something missing, please contact me)

These are my personal picks for the worthiest restaurants in Florence respected by locals, tastemakers and run by passionate chefs/cooks/staff dedicated to serving and showcasing consistently delicious, quality food in Florence. Continue Reading

Finding Craft Cocktails in Florence

credit: Silvio Palladino Photography

Craft cocktails is such a buzzword these days that I almost resent using it- and loads of bars are throwing it around like confetti at a wedding and quality drinking has become another one of those pretentious trends…or maybe fancy drinks have always been pretentious? But after being in Bologna for the last few weeks, my appreciation has grown for the craft cocktail scene in Florence. By no means better than Milan or Rome, or even Turin, but it’s a collaborative community with good people who do their homework.

If you don’t like reading and just want a list, hit up my guide for Eater: The best places for cocktails in Florence 

Continue Reading

New Opening: Locale on Via delle Seggiole (Florence, Italy)

smokey. mezcal. negroni. And I usually yuck at tequila- not at Locale on Via delle Seggiole.

A recent fixation of mine has been with craft cocktails, for many reasons. Mostly for an article I was doing research for, but also because I love them. It goes without saying that there is an art of being a barman. In addition to the product, but also the sort of social interaction and place involved with the ritual. If we look at old sitcoms, such as Cheers and even the Simpsons, the bar or the pub was a place where you could let it all hang out. Your barman is your confidant, your hooch peddler and the one who will banter with you when you have no one else to- and never judge you no matter how much whiskey and lager you sling back. Continue Reading

Lo Sverso in San Lorenzo- new craft bar in Florence

Rum and Lime on the left, Negroni on the right and an awesome barman lurking in the back

Ah! Yes! The craft bar scene is finally making a decent presence in Florence! Since I moved in 2012, I have noticed craft brew pubs pop up and that made my Seattle soul glimmer with hope. Hope in that this over-termed “Renaissance Pearl” is getting with the times. In Seattle, I was constantly charmed by craft cocktail spots like Canon Seattle and Knee High Stocking Co. and that love affair with bitter imbibements came to a screeching halt when I arrived in Florence. I missed my bitter old man drinks for my tortured gluttonous soul. Little by little, I discovered bitter bars but only to be heartbroken when one of my favorites (THE Bitterbar, where I actually practiced performing a wedding at) closed their doors to a likewise closed city of Chianti sluggers. Florentines have their habitual ways and it has been my observation that they are not very warm to anything beyond the ordinary. Unless they are the artsy, hipster type. Even then, these kids got lots to learn about living “avant-guarde.” Pardon the extremely opinionated banter, I warned you of my bitter old man ways. Continue Reading

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