AMAZING singer - music started at 10:30 on Saturday and we were a bit concerned at first because…read morethe place was a bit empty, but after the music started the place filled up and after 3 songs people started signing along and making recs! So so fun :)

Italian below Such a beautiful place! It was a dressing shop…read moreand now it's a really good place to listen music and drink almost everything you want. Absolutely go for it!!! Da quando ha aperto al posto di un negozio di vestiti non sono mai riuscito a entrarci. Ieri è stata la volta buona e credo di essere stato super fortunato. Suonavano gli "Strangefaces", una cover band della madonna con gli ACDC loro punto di forza. La gran musica pompata a dovere ha sicuramente contribuito al mio voto comunque positivo. Bell'arredamento "legnoso" e minimal q.b., barman (barwoman?) brava e veloce, disposizione dello spazio intelligente con un'area lontano sufficientemente dalla musica per chi vuole anche parlare senza sgolarsi. Il palco in vetrina poi credo sia la vera chicca. Della serie "volete sapere come suonano e cosa suonano? ENTRATE!"

I was looking for a place where my daughter could work on grad school applications like she does…read moreback in NY and this place was on ALL the lists that I found online. The first time I popped by, I knew this would be "her" place. With both cozy indoor seating and a welcoming outdoor courtyard, there are plenty of tables for all. The cappuccini are delicious and affordable so there are many students here. We love the staff, too, who are patient while we try to get better at speaking in Italian. There is a stage for evening music events and there is also a food/alcohol menu. We hope to take advantage of both soon!

I should have written this in Sept. 2014 when I was there but a pal asked me for a couple places to…read morego for food so this is my one contribution for Firenza. This location is great for many reasons. They are open when most of the other restaurants are on siesta. They generally have free entertainment on the stage at night. They have a happy hour with a complementary tapas type of snacks to accompany your drink. Did I mention the cool courtyard atmosphere? So this place attracts the urban student or young professional. The food is very adequate and I would rate that 3.5 but the other amenities bring it to 4 for me. I ate here at least 10 times in the three weeks I was in Firenza. I hope this review helps.

The ambiance inside Ristorante Gilò was a tasteful fusion of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and…read morecontemporary Asian influences--classy, yet welcoming. The service was seamless and attentive; and our servers were the epitome of professionalism. They graciously walked our group through the menu and explained the preparation of the dishes. For a first course we shared the Burrata, it was simplicity perfected, with the richness of the cheese balanced by a very delicate and earthy shaved truffle. As a main course I ordered the Sausage and Asparagus Risotto, a harmony of robust and fresh flavors. The sausage meatballs were a surprising burst of flavor, and the risotto was the perfect texture. The dish was artistic and meticulously plated. The grand finale, a Panna Cotta with Fruit, was a visual sonnet. The striking splash of sauce brought an unexpected energy and drama to the dish, making it as thrilling to the eye as it was to the taste. The dessert was a fitting end to a meal that was nothing short of a masterpiece. Every dish at Ristorante Gilò was finished with an artist's touch--vivid, photo-worthy, and packed with flavors that danced delicately on the palate. This restaurant is a must-visit!

This was the most impressive restaurant I tried over the course of my admittedly short stay in…read moreFlorence. Everything was delicious, but the gnocchi was life-changing. It was so simple yet so delicious. Another standout was the tiramisu. I was worried it wouldn't be very good, as experimentally presented dishes are often disappointing, but this was by far the best tiramisu I have ever had. The only minor disappointment was their bread. It was very dry and lacking in flavor, but I think that may have just been the style they were after. The questionable bread did impact my perception of the bruschetta, but the quality of their produce made up for this deficit. Overall, the dishes served here are very well thought out and executed. It's a gourmet experience. Further, the service was top-notch. They had a coat check which I always appreciate. Additionally, everyone I interacted with was incredibly friendly, personable, and caring. The ambiance only added to my exquisite experience here. It was very classy, elevated, and upscale. This would be a great place for a date or intimate dinner meeting. If you're in Florence, I highly recommend checking Gilò out.

Terrible. We stood outside for over an hour and made multiple attempts . We joined the WhatsApp…read moregroup to get the hints etc, the owner still would not let us in. The theme is fine for the first 10 minutes but shitty that We went all that way there just to have the guy leave us outside. Get over yourself. You're a bar and have terrible respect for customers

Hidden gem in Florence! We first visited this speakeasy in 2018 and always return when we visit…read more Bartender is super welcoming and accommodating to drink preferences. Definitely a cool vibe and worth experiencing the tea cup cocktails!

Cool little spot that I like to visit when in Florence. They always have good craft beer albeit a…read moresmall selection.

I don't often kill my brain cells but i will gladly destroy my neurons in this place. Again…read more Alessandro, the owner, is a a true beer savant (and a DJ! We loved the music). The way he pours the beer into the glass, clears the foam off, and dips the glass so its all nice and perfect for you. Such a pro. You can even taste a sample of the different craft brews if you are indecisive or your palate is feeling a little picky (aren't we all sometimes). Their selection of artisan beers is not overwhelming, there is a little bit of everything, and Ale will tell you what is good for you if you tell him what you like. They have my precious Cider! Don't judge me. There is no sign outside, easy to miss but worth looking for. It's not a huge place but it's very open inside. There is a small patio with a couple tables outside. I'm finally growing up and sometimes i wanna hang out and actually have a conversation and hear each other without having to yell out loud, ha! This is the place. The atmosphere is great, lots of locals and very friendly place! Plus happy hour from 7pm-9:30pm, errday. AND a kabob and pizza place next door open til late if you get the munchies. Srlsy.

Maybe not the best venue in Florence, but the staff is pretty friendly and it's nice to sit and…read morelisten to some live music, even if it isn't that great.

Awesome bartender who gave a great reco for an IPA beer and mixed up a delicious vodka soda for me…read morewith a squeeze of lemon. Not just a slice of lemon, but half a lemon placed in a citrus press. Nice detail. Music was ok. 2 guitarists taking turns playing bass. No one came to jam.

The interior itself may be a bit understated in comparison to La Scala and La Fenice, but it's…read morereally not fair to compare... absolutely five stars due to the amazing Tuscan Symphony Orchestra and the outstanding Daniele Rustioni, who was a pleasure to watch. He's clearly incredibly passionate about the music, and is something of a performance in and of himself. Tickets here are definitely affordable, and will enhance the overall Firenze experience for any tourist. Sure, you appreciate the fantastic art that is in the city's museums, but here you're experiencing it live, first hand - it's something you'll always remember, and a wonderful way to end a day in Italy. Enjoy!

Opera isn't for everyone. It feels like one of those interests developed out of thin air past the…read moreage of 50. The length (Wagner can exceed 5 hours) and the fact that it's in a language not your own can be off-putting. Italy, however, is the birthplace of opera. If you're going to take it in, why not in its place of origin? "Opera at St Mark's" has fence-sitters covered. The price (25euro) is reasonable, the length (under 2 hours) is manageable and, though the songs are in Italian, the somewhat silly between song narrative from the piano player/emcee is in English. The show I saw was not an opera, but rather famous "Italian Opera Love Songs" performed by 3 opera singers solo or in tandem with the others. The show moves quickly and, in such an intimate venue, each seat in the house is akin to having front row seats in an actual opera venue. I discovered "Opera at St Mark's" while walking a block from my lodging. The flyers in the front described it as "#1 on TripAdvisor since 2011", a claim my 23-year old son questioned. I don't want to say we're disbelievers but... we are. The discussion we held around this claim inspired so much laughter that we didn't dare check TripAdvisor to fact check. The great thing about "Opera at St Mark's" is the street cred you get from having attended. You can enjoy what I'd call a "taste of opera" while returning home reporting that you "saw opera in Italy". The show's stars are talented opera performers who donate their time to this venture which raises funds for some philanthropic cause. Prosecco can be purchased and enjoyed during intermission though the introduction to that Prosecco makes it sound as if it's being provided gratis. "Opera at St Mark's" is a great excuse to go to the Oltrarno district (literally, the other side of the Arno). It's an easy walk from the Ponte Vecchio and tickets can be purchased at the door. Though there were about 50 people (many students) in attendance the night I was there, there was still much available seating. You can attend an opera in Italy, visit opera museums, or the homes of famous opera composers. This is an easy, fun way to check that "Italian Opera" box off your list. It's casual and tailored to English-speaking audiences, features talented performers, and leaves you plenty of time pre or post show for drinks and dinner in the neighborhood. It might also be "#1 on TripAdvisor".

I came across this gem when I was searching for night-time activities in Florence, Italy…read more Other places have given this opera performance extremely high praise and I thought "once in a lifetime" I have to at least try Italian Opera, despite being a total newbie, and basically knowing nothing of the subject, except for occasionally overhearing the Pavarotti & 4-tenors songs my late father used to love. Reservations were done over email and the organizer was very prompt in answering all my questions. This is a very small scale opera which only has a cast of less than 10, takes place in a small Anglican church, and whose proceeds go to charity to help African kids. Dress is casual. What is surprising is the high quality of the production - apparently they use local professionals who volunteer for these performances. The venue, being a church, has pretty good acoustics, and the place is small, cozy, and the performance is right in-your-face (in a good way). It is all geared towards english-speakers, so you do not need any knowledge of italian. After every quarter, the organizer Franz, will come to the stage and explain in plain english what just happened and give a vague idea of that will be happening in the next act. There are also paper english guides which give a brief synopsis of the story. The rainy weekday performance drew a crowd of about fifteen, although there were a number of no-shows too. Even then, a full crowd couldn't have numbered over 35. For such a small, almost personal performance, the low price was definitely worth it. I think if you are looking for something more unique and you want to learn about the local culture this is definitely a nice easy way to do so, and without all the stresses of figuring everything out in a foreign language. I highly recommend!

My wife is a cocktail and wine person. I'd much rather have a beer any day of the week. So when we…read morewent to Florence, I checked out all the notable beer places on google and Alibi was the first one we went to (it's closest to the train station.) Well, they really set my expectations high for the rest of my list. Between us, we had about six different types of beer, each more delicious than the last. And we ordered food as well - her burrito was fine, if unexciting, but my cheeseburger with an egg on it was honestly the best burger I've had in a long time. The Italian cheese on it was phenomenal. We had to go back before we left cause it was just so good. The bartenders were friendly and helpful, and the bar itself was kinda cool and industrial, but you're going here for the beer and the food. You won't be disappointed.

I ordered a hamburger for my husband and a salad he loved it. It was a pick up order and I sat at…read morethe bar and had a drink while waiting for it. Staff was very nice even though they did not speak English very well but they were able to understand what I wanted.