There have been several articles in the media lately listing wine bars to visit in Florence, including in La Repubblica and Wine Enthusiast. This is interesting because it shows how the wine bar scene has grown a lot in the last few years.
Up until about 10 years ago, there were a few good wine bars in town with a fairly traditional selection, even if some offered a more extensive assortment. Today, that has all changed. Florence is starting to get known for a fun set of wine bars to try out. Basically, you could have an evening of wine bar hopping.
I will give you my POV on 7 wine bars in Florence here. Hopefully, it can help you better understand which wine bar is for you, also based on which kind of wine vibes you prefer.
The list is not in any order of preference; it is randomly ordered. It is more about my reasons for liking a wine bar.
Pitti Gola e Cantina
I’ve been going to Pitti Gola e Cantina at Piazza Pitti 16 for a long time before I took sommelier courses and began writing about wine. It is such a cosy place, right opposite the magnificent Palazzo Pitti, bustling with people. When you step into the wine bar with its understated yet welcoming dark green décor, you immediately feel at home.
Pitti Gola e Cantina was founded, or rather taken over from the previous owner, in 2008 by Edoardo, Manuele, Zeno, and Shannon (Edoardo’s wife), and it has been thriving since then. I know Edoardo and Manuele best, and Shannon a little bit. She is not often at the wine bar. I can always count on Manuele and Edoardo to understand exactly what wine I feel like having at that moment.
When I have a small group of wine enthusiasts who want to do a tasting with me, I often take them to Pitti Gola e Cantina because they have an excellent selection of Tuscan wines, reasonable prices, and allow me to do my thing while still providing support when needed.
I even took my brothers there for my 50th birthday. We had lunch at an outdoor table with a spectacular view of Piazza Pitti. It was a sunny day, and we all had a great time.
La Divina Enoteca
It was here, via Panicale 19/r, that my wine journey started, well, not drinking or liking wine, but studying and beginning to write about wine.
The course I saw an ad for years ago, together with my friend Giovanna, which I discussed in a newsletter last year, was held at Divina Enoteca. Bianca and Livio, the owners, were the “managers” of the Fisar course, so to speak. Divina Enoteca became the place where we went not only for the course but also to taste wines together, ask questions, enjoy an aperitivo, and more.
Today, Bianca and Livio are very close friends of mine.
Divina Enoteca remains my go-to spot for a glass of wine and a chat alone (chatting with Livio if I’m on my own LOL), with friends for lunch or an aperitivo, or to purchase a bottle. It exudes a laid-back and cosy charm. Their focus is on small artisanal producers, mainly from Italy, but they also offer an interesting selection of French wines, many from independent vintners, as well as some from other countries.
The cheese and salumi boards, the panini, and crostoni (especially the one with ‘nduja) are a must to try.
In the photo below is our inner Fisar friends circle. It is a small group of friends; we all got to know each other through Fisar, and we meet up, chat, gossip, drink wine, do trips together, and more. Laura, Giovanna, Andrea, Bianca, Livio, and moi. Giovanna is only joining sometimes. Nadia is missing in the photo, having moved to Singapore.
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