Caffè Gilli

Found in Piazza Repubblica, the city’s central hub, Gilli is a Florentine classic – and like all true classics, it seems to only get better with time. The crystal chandeliers, Art Nouveau interiors, gilded bar and immaculately dressed wait staff make a trip to the oldest café in Florence an absolute must. The cocktails here are top-notch, always created in perfect proportions and served with style. Try Florence’s signature cocktail, the Negroni, here – allegedly invented in the city in 1919, no one makes a Negroni like legendary head barman and drink historian Luca Picchi – he literally wrote the book on it. So, settle in to the luxe outdoor lounge, sip slowly and enjoy one of Italy’s greatest pastimes: people-watching in the piazza. Fun fact: the iconic 1951 photo by Ruth Orkin, An American Girl in Italy, was shot in front of Gilli.