Where to eat, drink and go out in Florence: 36 picks for study-abroad students, with student-vetted picks marked and prices in dollars.
Breakfast · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
An American-style bakery in the Oltrarno: bagels, baked goods and a proper breakfast. The taste of home that study-abroad students go looking for.
Best for: breakfast, a taste of home, bagels and baked goods, starting a day in the Oltrarno
Best time: morning
From a student who went: “The best breakfast spot in Florence — a must-go.”
Brunch · Historic Center
Student-vetted pick.
American-style brunch plates and cocktails. The hungover-morning pick.
Best for: a hangover brunch, groups the morning after a night out, American brunch food
Best time: late morning
From a student who went: “More of a hungover brunch place, but it's fire.”
Restaurant · Santa Maria Novella
Student-vetted pick.
A Tuscan trattoria near Piazza Santa Maria Novella, its walls and ceilings covered in colourful painted murals. The steak is the order. Service that makes the table feel looked after.
Best for: the steak, a big dinner out, a special night, parents visiting, a birthday
Best time: dinner
From a student who went: “Amazing. Get the steak rare or medium-rare — it's amazing. They treat you like kings and queens there.”
Restaurant · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
All-you-can-eat sushi and Asian fusion. The break from pasta, and a good-value group dinner.
Best for: a break from Italian food, groups, big appetites, a cheap-for-what-you-get dinner
Price: roughly $32 per person all-you-can-eat at dinner, roughly $19 at lunch
Best time: lunch or dinner
From a student who went: “All-you-can-eat sushi for around thirty dollars.”
Restaurant · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
Mexican food and margaritas, and properly good Mexican food for a city that has very little of it.
Best for: a break from Italian food, Mexican food, margaritas, groups
Best time: dinner
From a student who went: “Really good Mexican food, especially somewhere with so little of it, and good margaritas. Skip the gallon margarita — I had a bad experience with it.”
Restaurant · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
A small Tex-Mex grill in Santa Croce: tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas, with frozen margaritas, and open late.
Best for: Tex-Mex, late-night food after the bars, a quick casual dinner, a taste of home
Best time: dinner, or late-night food after the bars
From a student who went: “Also good.”
Dessert · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
One of Florence's oldest gelaterias, open since 1929, and famous for its affogato — gelato with a shot of espresso poured over it. Expect a queue at busy times.
Best for: the affogato, gelato, a sweet stop near Santa Croce, a classic Florence thing to do
Best time: afternoon or after dinner
Heads up: The line can run 10–30 minutes at busy times.
From a student who went: “The famous affogato place.”
Dessert · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
A long-running gelateria at the foot of the Ponte alla Carraia bridge. Take a cone out onto the river.
Best for: gelato, a walk along the Arno, an evening stroll, pairing with the Oltrarno
Best time: afternoon or evening
From a student who went: “Definitely go.”
Dessert · Historic Center
Student-vetted pick.
Artisan gelato with shops by the Duomo and just over the Ponte Vecchio, so it fits into most sightseeing days.
Best for: gelato, a stop between sights, near the Duomo or the Ponte Vecchio
Best time: afternoon or evening
From a student who went: “Definitely go.”
Cafe · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
A small café at the river end of Via Maggio, near the Ponte Santa Trinita and Palazzo Pitti. Reviews call it friendly and reasonably priced.
Best for: coffee, a quick stop, crossing into the Oltrarno, near Palazzo Pitti
Best time: morning or midday
Garden · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
The Medici family's huge terraced garden behind Palazzo Pitti: statues, fountains, grottoes and views back over the city. An outdoor museum more than a park.
Best for: a beautiful slow day, photos, views over Florence, parents visiting, a date, a break from crowds
Price: roughly $12 bought on the day, roughly $15 booked ahead
Booking: Tickets are sold by the Uffizi Galleries (uffizi.it). A combined Pitti Palace + Boboli ticket also exists.
Best time: morning or afternoon; allow two hours or more
From a student who went: “Beautiful.”
Activity · Outside Center
Student-vetted pick.
Rent mopeds or scooters and ride out of the city into the Tuscan hills: vineyards, cypress roads and small hill towns, at your own pace.
Best for: an adventurous day trip, groups of confident riders, seeing the countryside, photos
Booking: Every driver needs their US driver's licence AND an International Driving Permit, which you get from AAA before leaving the US. Rental shops may not ask for it, but the police do, and driving without one can mean a fine of roughly $460 or more. Bigger scooters (125cc and up) can need more than a car licence. Check with the rental shop before booking.
Best time: a full day, in good weather
Heads up: Helmets are required by law. Tuscan country roads are narrow and winding, with fast local traffic. Do not ride after drinking. Riders with little or no scooter experience should think twice.
From a student who went: “A really cool day activity — rent mopeds and drive through Tuscany.”
Bar · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
A small Mexican cantina bar down a narrow stairway, known for margaritas: dozens of kinds, and huge frozen ones in flavours like mango, coconut and cherry. Loud when the blenders are going.
Best for: frozen margaritas, happy hour, a pregame, groups, before or after Mexican food
Price: $ — happy-hour cocktails roughly $5–6 (estimate)
Best time: 5:30 PM–12:00 AM
From a student who went: “Absolutely amazing — get the frozen margaritas.”
Pub · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
Florence's best-known Irish pub, open since 1995, and the place almost every study-abroad student ends up at least once. Loud, friendly and easy to meet people in; sports on the screens, and theme and karaoke nights.
Best for: meeting other students, first night out, cheap drinks, big groups, pregaming, sport on TV
Price: $ — typical drink under ~$8 (estimate). Reviews put it among the cheapest in the centre.
Best time: 9:00 PM–12:30 AM
From a student who went: “I'd recommend this to anybody going to Florence — everyone ends up here, and if you only go out once, go here.”
Pub · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
An Irish pub with a Tuscan twist, opened in 2021: Irish beer, a long whisky list and cocktails, with Tuscan cured meats and cheeses to go with them.
Best for: beer and whisky, a pub night, pairing with The Lion's Fountain, groups
Best time: 9:00 PM–12:30 AM
From a student who went: “Amazing — and right by Lion's.”
Bar · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
A café by day and a bar by night, with a big video wall that fills up for football and other big games. Aperitivo in the early evening; late on, it turns into a twenty-something bar with dance music.
Best for: watching a match, aperitivo, meeting other students, a late drink near Lion's Fountain
Best time: 9:00 PM–1:30 AM
From a student who went: “Great bar.”
Pub · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
Small, chill pub with a foosball table, Jenga and other games. Doesn't get too rowdy. Great tap list with Guinness and other good beers on draft.
Best for: small groups, beer, games, low-key nights, hanging out with friends
Price: $ — cheap drafts, typical drink under ~$8 (estimate)
Best time: 9:00 PM–1:00 AM
From a student who went: “A favorite of my friend group. Super chill staff, and a good spot to actually hang out and play games, not just drink before going out. It's across the river, so it's a bit of a walk from the Santa Croce bars.”
Club · Outside Center
Student-vetted pick.
Florence's serious electronic-music club. DJ-focused house, techno and electronic programming. Music-driven, not a study-abroad party.
Best for: house, techno, electronic music, serious clubbing
Price: $–$$ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$20 (estimate), plus a cover charge that varies by event
Best time: arrive 12:30–1:30 AM; stays open late
From a student who went: “Went for an Anotr set, and the music was the only good part — grim inside, bad atmosphere, and it is a long way out. We took Bird scooters and ended up beside a highway. Skip it unless a house artist you actually want is playing, and book a taxi both ways.”
Bar · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
Cheap, casual, energetic student bar with a strong study-abroad crowd. A place to drink and socialize before going somewhere else, not a cocktail destination.
Best for: pregaming, cheap drinks, groups, meeting other students, starting a club night
Price: $ — typical drink under ~$8 (estimate). One of the cheapest options in the center.
Best time: 9:30 PM–12:00 AM
Bar · Santa Croce
Student-vetted pick.
Large, loud, high-energy American-style bar. A classic study-abroad gathering place, known for karaoke, sports, music and a party atmosphere. Can stay active late.
Best for: large groups, karaoke, sports, meeting other students, casual partying, live events
Price: $–$ — typical drink under ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate)
Best time: 10:00 PM–1:30 AM
Pub · Historic Center
Student-vetted pick.
Casual Irish pub with beer, cocktails and sports. An easy place for a group to meet before deciding where to go.
Best for: casual drinks, beer, sports, groups, easy pregame
Price: $–$ — typical drink under ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate)
Best time: 9:00 PM–12:00 AM
Pub · Santa Maria Novella
Student-vetted pick.
Friendly, inexpensive pub with Guinness, draft beer and cocktails. More relaxed than the big student party bars.
Best for: affordable drinks, beer, relaxed pregame, meeting friends
Price: $–$ — typical drink under ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate)
Best time: 9:00 PM–12:30 AM
Pub · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
Casual alternative pub playing classic rock, alternative rock and occasional heavier music. More local and laid-back than the big study-abroad bars.
Best for: casual drinks, smaller groups, alternative music, avoiding mainstream clubs
Price: $ — typical drink under ~$8 (estimate)
Best time: 9:30 PM–1:00 AM
Cocktail bar · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
Small, creative cocktail bar with inventive drinks. Much more local and cocktail-focused than the study-abroad bars.
Best for: quality cocktails, dates, small groups, drinks before or after dinner
Price: $–$$ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$20 (estimate)
Best time: 8:00 PM–11:30 PM
Area · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
One of Florence's best areas for going out without a fixed plan. Restaurants, wine bars, cocktail bars and outdoor drinking around the piazza.
Best for: aperitivo, dinner, casual dates, groups, bar hopping, spontaneous nights, more authentic Florence nightlife
Price: $–$ — typical drink under ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate)
Best time: 7:00 PM–12:30 AM
Rooftop · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
Beautiful rooftop loggia over Santo Spirito and Florence's rooftops. Elegant without feeling like a big luxury-hotel production. Excellent at sunset.
Best for: sunset drinks, dates, parents visiting, relaxed aperitivo, special occasions, starting a nicer night
Price: $–$$ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$20 (estimate)
Best time: 6:00–9:00 PM, especially around sunset
Rooftop · Historic Center
Student-vetted pick.
Trendy upscale rooftop across several terraces with views over central Florence. More stylish and social than a quiet hotel rooftop.
Best for: sunset cocktails, birthdays, dates, nicer group nights, photo-worthy views
Price: $$–$$ — typical drink ~$14 to $20+ (estimate)
Best time: 6:30–10:30 PM
Rooftop · Santa Maria Novella
Student-vetted pick.
Upscale panoramic hotel rooftop with excellent views of Florence and the Duomo. Elegant and relaxed rather than party-oriented.
Best for: romantic sunset drinks, parents visiting, special occasions, aperitivo before dinner
Price: $$ — typical drink $20+ (estimate)
Best time: sunset to about 9:30 PM
Cocktail bar · Santa Maria Novella
Student-vetted pick.
Polished modern cocktail bar overlooking one of Florence's most beautiful squares. More refined than the student bars but works well before a night out.
Best for: dates, quality cocktails, nicer pregame, small groups
Price: $–$$ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$20 (estimate)
Best time: 8:00 PM–11:30 PM
Bar · San Lorenzo
Student-vetted pick.
Very social hostel bar built around meeting people. Events can include karaoke, DJs, live music and themed international nights.
Best for: solo travelers, meeting people, casual groups, international crowd
Price: $–$ — typical drink under ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate)
Best time: 9:00 PM–12:30 AM
Live music · Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano)
Student-vetted pick.
Compact, energetic live-music venue. Bands earlier in the night can turn into a louder dancing and singalong atmosphere.
Best for: live music, spontaneous nights, smaller groups, people who don't want a traditional club
Price: $–$ — typical drink under ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate)
Best time: 10:00 PM–2:00 AM
Club · Historic Center
Student-vetted pick.
Central underground nightclub with hip-hop, R&B and mainstream club music. Long part of Florence's student and international nightlife.
Best for: dancing, student nightlife, hip-hop and R&B, big group nights
Price: $ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate), plus a cover charge that varies by event
Best time: arrive 12:00–1:00 AM; peak 1:00–3:00 AM
Club · Santa Maria Novella
Student-vetted pick.
Large, high-energy nightclub with dramatic lighting and a student-heavy international crowd. Mainstream, and the easiest club pick for students who just want to dance.
Best for: large groups, dancing, mainstream music, the classic study-abroad club night
Price: $ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$14 (estimate), plus a cover charge that varies by event
Best time: arrive 12:00–1:00 AM; peak 1:00–3:00 AM
Club · Cascine
Student-vetted pick.
Modern, polished club with themed nights, table and VIP culture, and dinner-to-dancing formats on some nights.
Best for: dressy nights, birthdays, groups, tables, reggaeton and mainstream events
Price: $–$$ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$20 (estimate), plus cover or table minimums that vary by event
Best time: midnight onward
Club · Piazzale Michelangelo
Student-vetted pick.
Outdoor nightlife venue above Florence with panoramic city views. Dressy and scenic — a summer experience, not an underground club.
Best for: summer nightlife, views, dates that turn into dancing, dressy groups, outdoor dancing
Price: $–$$ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$20 (estimate), plus a cover charge that varies by event
Best time: late evening until 2:00–3:00 AM
Club · Fortezza da Basso
Student-vetted pick.
Outdoor summer venue that moves from aperitivo and dinner into DJs and late-night dancing. The experience depends heavily on that night's event.
Best for: summer parties, themed events, international nights, outdoor nightlife, dinner that turns into dancing
Price: $–$$ — typical drink ~$8 to ~$20 (estimate)
Best time: evening onward; club energy builds toward midnight