The elegance in Florence, Italy lives on. The experience of ordering coffee in Italy is not for the easily intimidated. Even though Cafe Gilli has a relaxing scenery, going about ordering their foamy cappuccinos are a great challenge. Once my friend had described it as "You have to be fast, you have to be clear, you have to have brilliant pronunciation...." Shaking just thinking about this. In front of Cafe Gilli, a merry-go-round can be spotted in the front view of its dining section. Inside, a savvy and glitzy bar with well dressed men are seen working so gracefully. It would be a pity to visit Florence without stopping to taste the specialties of chocolate producers with an experience of over two hundred years!! Similar to France's Toulouse's Pink City, Gilli Cafe is surrounded by these refined and poise cathedral style buildings. Almost like a painting in itself. The pastries are right out of a whimsical story book with bold and pastel colors. Besides the exquisite pastry and the city's creamiest cappuccino's, it's possible to take the best aperitives, find the finest whiskies and taste preciouses wines selected by it's experienced sommeliers. Gilli has never forgotten though how it became among the first to delight Florence's palate with it's finest and very proud chocolate factory. Gilli's chocolate factory has much to offer, varying from different hot chocolates, to Sacher pies, chocolate covered fruits, praline "cremini", coffee beans and, just to mention, the irresistible Florentine "Paillet d'or". read more

See all

The most miserable service and bellow standard food served with attitude by exhausted overheated waiters There are hundreds of places with much better food for a half price DO NOT COME HERE!!! read more

We have been coming to Florence for decades and Gilli's is always a favorite spot!!! The people watching is amazing, coffee and drinks are superb, food is always delicious. Also love to buy a sweet treat or chocolate inside. The best part about Gilli's is the service! Special shoutout to Gulia, our lovely server, and the men Aledio and Tommaso. Thank you for always welcoming us! read more

Gilli - People watching with Prosecco - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

See all

Understaffed and overpriced...but worth it for the view and people-watching. Lovely displays of delicacies. Delicious pastries and small sandwiches. The outdoor covered patio in the square is the place to be. A little luxurious breakfast for all tourists. read more

Gilli - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

See all

We were so glad we found this place. The food was amazing along with the coffee and desserts ... read more

Gilli - Truffle pasta - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

See all

Very very bad experience. The waitress in charge of desserts was very rude and impolite to Asian tourists. She even bullied us because we couldn't understand Italian and didn't provide us with the desserts we originally purchased. She also pushed the desserts on the plate to us very rudely, causing the food to spill. Not recommended! Unless you want to be discriminated against! read more

Gilli - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

See all

I'm not sure if it is the glow of having a day to play in Florence with colleagues post conference, but we had a fabulous lunch mid sightseeing at Gilli. When we arrived we were immediately greeting and seated. The weather was perfect, the food fresh and delicious, the people watching entertaining and the location... just feeling so continental enjoying the square and carousel. We had the requisite bread and olive oil, I think we all had salads. My caesar was very good and the dressing arrived on the side without asking which I greatly appreciated. The dressing was delicious for dipping bread into. This is a great place to just relax mid sightseeing. Our waiter was a little aloof, but perhaps he had a very good Saturday night and was tired. It didn't matter, we had a very good time and the food and ambiance was very good. See photos. read more

See all

I wish I had four hands so I could give this place 4 thumbs down. We walked in earlier today, a hot summer afternoon in Florence for a quick bite and a few drinks. The host seemed friendly at first, and there appeared to be tables in the patio area that had yet to be cleared, but I assumed they were overwhelmed. They asked for us to seat ourselves inside, and we obliged. The AC was a bonus but then came along our server who commenced to roll his eyes at us incessantly and throw menus, silverware, and our order items on the table like a petulant child. I could see around us that others were being neglected, yet he was sugar-sweet to an American by herself. At first, we figured he must be having a rough day and we're cordial, but it did not get better. He was terrible and negligent, and quite possibly the LAST person you want on front end service. Holy ****. This dude would reinspire Dante's Inferno if he was alive today because this place is the 7th circle of hospitality hell. We spoke Italian up until it was time to leave and was just over all the aggressive attitude. We would have stayed longer to just be out of the heat but figured we'd rather melt like ice cream than be in the same room with this guy. I was with my two kids and they were taken aback at how rude the service was. And we say this after having an amazing time in Paris. We legitimately got the "Paris treatment" in Florence, and for what? Purely pointless. You are better off at literally any local fast food place than Gilli. read more

Gilli - This guy chose restaurant service. Why though? - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

See all

Very nice place to take a break and "people watch". Of course, an Aperol Spritz is pretty much required.

When we first walked in, we were worried because of the reviews we read. But the service was good. The atmosphere was nice. We ordered coffee, chips and drinks. All were good. read more

Gilli - Prosecco and chips - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

This cafe was a highlight of our Florence experience. The ambience is old-world unique, food/drinks were amazing, they were able to accomodate gluten free breakfast for me (and even served gluten free bread) and the shakerato coffee was to die for. We hung out for an hour plus and never felt hurried or rushed. We are planning to go back to florence and the very first thing we'll do is go here as our starting/resting point. read more

The service and ambience are amazing - highly recommend. We were in Florence for three days and came here each night. Everyone is very attentive and friendly. read more

Came here two days in a row and already planning on going back for a third. Our server the first day was super kind and we had Carmelo the second day. Both servers were extremely kind and as attentive as possible. It is obvious they are understaffed so don't expect to be in and out within an hour. Slightly touristy, but the outdoor seating area is a cool and great place to have breakfast or lunch. We originally came because we saw it was the oldest cafe in Florence and wanted to give it a try. Overall it's good food in a great location and our servers were nothing but kind to us! Will be back read more

One of the oldest restaurants in the heart of Firenze is a must. Have a bite to eat or drink & take in the views of the Piazza della Repubblica. Enjoy the sound of the street musicians, watch people excited riding the carousel right in front. Enjoy everything that is Firenze. Every drink was delicious & the presentation made us want to keep exploring the menu options. Inside the treats will make your mouth water. The jelly fruits were my favorite & I picked some up prior to returning to NYC. They travelled beautifully & allowed me to bring back a small bit of Firenze back home. A quick walk from the Ponte Vecchio, Galleria Uffizi, the Doumo de Firenze & in the middle of all the shopping. Step into Firenze when stepping into Gilli. read more

Gilli - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

See all

Do not expect good or even above average service here. We ordered dessert inside at the counter and were told to give a piece of a paper to the waiter if we wanted to sit outside, and that the waiter would bring our pastries out to us. We did as we were told, but it took over 45 minutes for a waiter to even take the piece of paper from us. I asked two other waiters to take the paper, but they told me to wait for our designated waiter. When he finally arrived, he was rude and inattentive. I ordered the tiramisu, which was good but overpriced at 5 euros for the small slice that they gave me. The only redeeming factor of Gilli was the misting fans they have, which are nice on a hot day. I was able to sit at the cafe for 2 hours without anyone kicking me out, although that was partly because the service was so bad. read more

Gilli - Tiramisu on the patio- heads up they charged 2 euros extra to eat on the patio compared to just eating inside the cafe. - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

Typical Italian service - a bit hit and miss. But marvellous pastries, in an establishment steeped in history. The bar which serves coffee, great vermouths, cocktails and nibbles is manned by exquisitely presented baristas/barmen that evoke true Italian style. As the oldest 'café in Florence it is worth a visit! read more

Gilli - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

While visiting Florence, we sat down on the patio in the evening for some cocktails. Staff was busy and service was a bit slow, but drinks were good. The front of the patio faces some garbage cans, which blow the smell in your direction with the wind. Also a lot of bugs in the evening - avoid if you're prone to mosquito bites like me. read more

Gilli - Mojito and Ceasar - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

Food is well prepared, but expensive for what you receive. Stopped in for a "quick snack". An hour and a half later, I'm still waiting to pay my check. read more

Was overall pleased with my experience at Gilli. It is a little bit touristy but not as bad as others. The food was good so no complaints there. The staff was spread a little thin and were covering too many tables so the service was slower. Worth checking out for a coffee or small bite to eat. read more

Gilli - Negroni list - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

Gilli, opened by the Gilli family in 1733, is one of the oldest coffee bars in Florence. Located in the Piazza della Repubblica, it is a great café to stop in for a quick drink or for a sit-down meal. They also have a large assortment of Italian candies, which we picked up some to try. How to order: You pay at the cashier and then bring your receipt to the coffee counter to order. We started and began our day in Florence at Gilli - coffee to go in the morning and a sit-down coffee at the end of the day. The coffee at Gilli is really good - some of the best that we had in Italy. The service at the bar is really quick and efficient. Sit down service is on par with every other Italian restaurant we've been to - sporadic. I think this is just the norm here so we learned to just accept it. Prices are largely jacked up if you sit down, so be aware of that fact - it's fairly common all over Italy. Definitely try out their gummy candy - while it does get a bit too sweet for my tastes, they are very well made and taste amazing. They also make really cute gifts if you want to bring back some candy from Firenze! read more

See all

**NICE PLACE FOR COFFEE AND PASTRIES NEAR THE DUOMO** AMBIANCE ========= Belle Époque cafe preserved in Florence. Italian upscale cafe with golds and greens. A bit snobberish, but that's fine with me. They have an inefficient ordering system. Keep in mind that you pay FIRST before getting your coffee (in two separate lines). This confused a lot of people who would get in line for coffee, only to be told that they had to get their paid receipt from the cashier first on the other side. COFFEE ======= ESPRESSO = 1,50 They use illy beans so it's solid. Smooth and flavorful. RATING: 4/5 PASTRY ======= CHOCOLATE-FILLED CROISSANT = 1,50 Flaky, but not too buttery. The oozing chocolate was aces. RATING: 5/5 PRO TIP ======== Better service and cheaper prices if you eat and drink at the counter. OVERALL ======== Although touristy, it was still my favorite cafe with the better pastries in Florence. Will definitely return. RECOMMEND. read more

See all

Café Gili is a coffee shop in a nice part of Florence, centrally located, not far from the Doumo and many of the nice shopping areas near the river. It has a charming atmosphere and has two and a half centuries of history. It is eloquently decorated with frescoed ceilings, arches, and a bar. Around the bar, they have a variety of pastries, chocolates, and other sweet treats you are sure to love! There is plenty of seating outside, inside, and a tea room next to the main sitting area. We went there for coffees. We enjoyed them along with the free WiFi. As some of the other reviews have noted, just understand you will pay a more here because of the great history of the venue. If the prices were a bit cheaper, I would have given it 5 stars. read more

See all

Giulia was our hero. Gillis is such a special place. Sure it's touristy but the food is great, the people watching is epic and they never rush you out so it's a great place to relax and recharge. But back to Giulia. We encountered her several times over a month long visit and she was incredibly kind, helpful, professional and friendly. Thanks so much to her and the rest of the lovely staff! read more

The pastry was pretty good, we had a pastry and teas. The tea was overpriced, as was the food, and the service was horrible. I had to ask our waiter three times to come over to get the check, not to mention the place is pretentious and servers are cold. read more

Don't waste your time here. The place looked nice from the outside and we were looking for an afternoon snack so we walked in. First thing we noticed was that the waiters took forever to come to our table. After 15 minutes of waiting they finally came to take our order. They took another 20 minutes to bring us two coffees and two sweets. Our coffee came wrong, instead of bringing a cappuccino they brought a cafe del padre (coffee with whipped cream and chili) which was far from what we ordered. They charged us for the coffee and the new macchiato that we got instead. The place is super expensive too. Don't waste your time. read more

It was okay'ish and overpriced, we ordered pancakes with scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese. The bacon was overcooked to the point that it became tough. At the end, the bill was over $30 per person. read more

Our guide brought us here for a coffee amidst a long day of sightseeing. It was a great stop. Nice people, sharp looking bar set up, and the desserts looked pretty great, too, although I didn't have one. My espresso was perfect and came out quickly. The guide was a local and she clearly comes here all time while working. I can see why! I would not hesitate to make another stop. read more

I'm giving a 1 star review because my the food here is great! However, not good enough for what I tolerated today. I ordered a club sandwich, which I have previously purchased in the past for 12 euros. Today I went back and ordered the same thing. I was charged $25 for a club sandwich. I asked the server, "is this for one sandwich" to which she replied yes. I checked my credit card statement and saw that my sandwich was half the price the previous time I ordered it. On top of everything I didn't finish my sandwich so I asked for the rest to go. I had 2 triangles of sandwich uneaten, they only gave me one in my take away box. I dont recommend this restaurant it's a TOURIST TRAP. read more

Though we only care here for desserts and coffees this was the perfect place to wind down a long day of sightseeing! We were able to sit in two very comfortable chairs overlooking the square and people watch while enjoying some delicious coffee drinks. As someone with a nut allergy it is often times difficult for me to find desserts I can enjoy. Our waiter went above and beyond to accommodate this and walk me through the shop to make sure I would find a dessert I could enjoy. Would absolutely return here and recommend to those coming to Firenze! read more

Gilli - View of the piazza from our comfortable seats! - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

If you're touring Florence around the Duomo and shopping areas, Gilli is a nice place to stop for a treat & drinks and just people watch in the Piazza della Repubblica. We didn't have any trouble getting a table but the service was a little slow, it was very busy even in the mid day with all the tourists. The drinks and sweets are delicious, and so beautiful you wish you could take them all home with you. read more

See all

A perfect spot to grab a delicious cappuccino and pastry before starting your day in Florence.

Food was good. Service was horrific. It shouldn't take 40 minutes to get a bill and leave after you finish eating mid-afternoon.

5 stars just for the beautiful ambiance and perfect location to chill while touring. As per the food, what do you expect? Haha read more

Gilli - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

There's a lot of hype surrounding this place. There's also a lot of beautifully done jellies around this place. Did I buy any overpriced jellies? Of course I did. We were told to come to this place by our AirBnb host and had to try out the jellies. What's so special about these jellies? They're in the shape of fruits and have a lot of fruit flavor without being overly sweet. Example? Strawberry, orange, watermelon, etc. These things are quite pricey, though. Each jelly probably comes out to around 1 to 1.5 euro. Definitely worth a stop if you're interested in trying something unique out. One of the downsides is when you want to use the restroom, there is someone hawking over you wondering if you're going to tip them for a euro. Why, why, and why? read more

Sad that poor service can ruin a restaurant regardless of the food. We ordered food at the counter , received a ticket and were told to sit down , and then the wait began. Wait staff stood around and never took our order even after one seated us. Eventually we walked out. Everywhere else in Florence we received the best service. read more

The space is beautiful. I sat on the couches facing the carousel and had an amazing time. We drank tea and had a few small desserts. Atmosphere - DURING THE WINTER - We went in the dead of winter and sat on the covered patio and I will say if you are looking for a prime spot to people watch and feel like you're outside but still be warm under a heat lamp with hot tea in your hand, this is the place for you. The vibe is sophisticated if a bit pretentious. Service - not too good. Our server told us everything he did was a "favor" (it seemed) in order to get a larger tip (maybe it's because I'm an American so they know it's a possibility I will tip larger). We requested more water or another drink and he would forget multiple times. The air of some of the servers (some not all) seemed a little pretentious. Inside - The store and coffee counter inside is absolutely beautiful, like a dream. you must visit! Price - SOOOO over priced! we only got tea, coffee, desserts (great!)....but I did sit near the dinner guests and there was a funny moment when a posh girls extremely expensive steak came out and it was just a bit bigger than a scallop (in other words crazy small!)...she looked up from her dish stunned....our eyes met...we broke into laughter. It was a funny moment but yah basically... maybe not the spot for a steak. read more

We had spent a wonderful afternoon at the Cafe' Gilli in 2004 and were excited about today's return visit. We were promptly seated and given menus. We immediately asked for a bottle of water and the wine list. The latter came quickly but it took 15 minutes for the water to arrive. We ordered the wine at that time and then waited for 40 minutes for a server to arrive with the wrong bottle of wine-but accepted it so as to not suffer further delay. It was a white wine served at room temperature and, unable to get the attention of any member of the wait staff who proved to be adept at avoiding eye or other contact with diners, plunged the same into the bucket of ice waiting for the ice to do what should have been done before the bottle was brought to the table. The table of 5 which was seated just before us finished their meal, left and another family was seated and served their meal within mere minutes of the arrival of our salads more than 50 minutes after placing our order. We had ordered Caesar salads which came with lettuce that was brown at the edges and Italian bread that was dry and tasteless. The server apologized for the long delay and left as quickly as she could before we could actually taste the salads. The salads were fine, not remarkable for good or ill if you could get past the condition of the lettuce. The staff is truly expert at making you feel invisible but finally sent someone over to ask if everything was okay. I let her know in two languages that it was anything but okay and that I expected the restaurant to do something to make our mistreatment right. A different server, also adept and avoiding eye contact came by and cleared our dishes. A huddle of servers and the cowardly manager was taking place nearby and the youngest appearing member of the wait staff was sent over with two glasses of limoncello and 4 chocolates as a peace offering. She clearly did not like the role of sacrificial lamb and none of our experience had anything to do with her. I thanked her for the gesture and assured her that none of the unhappiness was her fault. A look of relief washed over her face and she headed off. We expected to pay a premium price for our meal given the location of the restaurant, but I found it telling that the statute at the end of the bar was a replica of Giambologna's Rape of the Sabines. Sabines/Customers? I don't see the difference as there was no acknowledgement in the bill of the poor service and treatment. This may have been an isolated incident....but you should ask yourself if you are willing to take the chance. read more

Don't come expecting good service, incredibly slow. Touristy and overpriced is expected but :30 min to get coffee...

Great outdoor seating with traditional and classical food choices. Excellent service and presentation of plates.

We came here for pastries and cappuccinos three mornings in a row! A beautiful space and the history is something the venue proudly displays. We found the service to be exemplary, but we were becoming regulars with the rest of the typical Italians, standing at the bar (we only sat down once for a late morning full brunch, which was also lovely). The servers were all very quick and highly responsive. Highly recommend you stop here! read more

Gilli - Beautiful displays - Cafes Near Me - Florence, FI

See all