Sip a Negroni in One of Florence's Best Bars

Set in a quiet piazza just steps from the Uffizi, Fusion is that rare gem of gems – a hotel cocktail bar so good it draws a regular crowd of city residents. Attached to the chic Gallery Hotel Art, here you can sip unique, precisely prepared cocktails in a relaxed outdoor lounge. Renowned for specialty creations, this is the place to go if you’re an adventurous cocktail enthusiast. Here, you’ll find legendary drinks culled from the halls of international cocktail history done right as well as inspired new exotic creations like the Latin-influenced, tequila-based Bebida de la Huerta (icy-cool with a spicy chilli kick) and the chamomile-infused pisco, El Florero de Nazca, (delightfully fizzy and topped with a flower for perfect Florentine frivolity.)

The open, airy greenhouse vibe and the colourful bouquets of the pop-up florist makes this bistro bar a perennial favourite in the busy San Lorenzo neighbourhood. Here, you’ll find city residents, students and visitors clustered at small tables on the covered indoor/outdoor patio, chatting and slowly sipping a Spritz at aperitivo hour. If you get hungry, their snack menu is filled with light bites such as salads, sandwiches and tacos. Elegant and vibrant, it’s a great spot for snacks throughout the day and drinks into the late evening. Upstairs buzzes with tables full of stylish Florentines, while downstairs you can often catch a live jazz band or DJ set.

A few steps from Santo Spirito in the hidden, picturesque Piazza della Passera, Bulli serves elegant cocktails in crystal goblets – and the star of the show is the Spritz. Seven different creative and colourful varieties include classics such as the Campari or Aperol Spritz and more unusual concoctions with names such as the Mirto and the Hugo. The vibe is casual, sociable and relaxed. Instead of the standard cocktail bowl of potato chips or peanuts sometimes found at Italian aperitivo, you can choose from an array of tasty tapas-style mini crostini topped with everything from artisan cheeses with veggies to spicy salami. Take an evening stroll afterward into nearby Santo Spirito to explore.

Locale is the spot for those seeking an intoxicating combination of palatial Renaissance luxury and artfully crafted New York City-style cocktails. Choose from their artisanal cocktail menu and clink glasses beneath the vaulted arches of this lush, ivy-covered glass-topped atrium bar. Set in the restored 1500s palazzo of Bartolomeo Concini, influential advisor to Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Locale lets you play modern-day noble for a night. The opulent setting and creative cocktails here draw in connoisseurs, while the friendly service keeps them coming back. This is the kind of place where dry ice drinks smoulder like mini volcanoes; when in the company of the ghost of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, drink as lavishly as a Medici.

This legendary secret speakeasy makes every Florentine’s best of the best list. It’s the platonic ideal of a speakeasy; hidden behind an unmarked door, it’s filled with the glamour of the prohibition era, all secrecy and low lighting, red velvet decor and utterly superb cocktails. Finding your way into the candlelit world of Rasputin may not be easy (although it is certainly doable – you just need to call ahead to book and get “directions”), but it’s the key to its charm. In a fashion-focused city filled with vintage shops, it’s also fun to dress the part. If you’re a cocktail purist and prefer to skip the fruity stuff, this is the place to savour a perfectly crafted martini or Manhattan or try elegant, inspired house signatures like the Delicious Little Devil or Il Conte Bianco.

One of the best things about Florence, hands down, is the spectacular historic skyline – and there’s no better way to enjoy it than on a rooftop terrace with a cocktail in hand. If you’re lucky enough to have a balcony in your hotel room or rented apartment – take full advantage. A small handful of classy hotels here offer even non-guests the chance to enjoy their panoramic terrace bars, though reservations are often required. To watch sunsets transforming into starry night skies, visit Divina Terrazza (literally translating to the divine terrace) at the Grand Hotel Cavour. The rooftop bar here is open to visitors year-round in the evenings and offers excellent cocktails and breathtaking views of the Duomo.