Avoiding tourist trap cafés in Florence can be a daunting task, but after spending four months in Florence I was able to find some great spots for the imperative daily cappuccino stops. Some of these cafés excel in specialty coffee while others are more focused on the food. Use this post as a guide to finding the best cafés in every Florence neighborhood.
Wild Buns Bakery
Best Florence Café for: Authentic Scandinavian pastries, lunch, and specialty coffee
While wandering through the quiet streets of the Oltrarno neighborhood, you may stumble upon a line of people spilling out onto the street. Do yourself a favor and jump in that line because it will likely lead you through the door of Wild Buns Bakery where you can find some incredible Scandinavian baked goods, lunch, and specialty coffee. Their authentic Kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon bun) is an obvious star, but the Swedish semlor, cardamom bun, and chocolate hazelnut bun are also sure to satisfy any pastry craving. No Fika is complete without a coffee, and Wild Buns knows how to make a killer cappuccino. Hungry for something more substantial? Their chicken Caesar wrap with house made sourdough croutons is perfectly executed on every level. After your first taste of Wild Buns Bakery, you’ll understand its wild popularity.
Address: Via Di Camaldoli 1/C Firenze 50124 Italy
Website: https://www.wildbunsbakery.com
S.Forno Panifico
Best Florence Café for: Freshly baked Italian classics and the best quiche of your life
After going to S.Forno to sample traditional schiacciata during a class I was taking on the Florentine culinary scene, my friends and I declared that we needed to come back to try some of their other items. After trying most of the items S.Forno has to offer I can confidently say that it’s not only my favorite bakery in Florence but one of the best bakeries I’ve ever been to. Their traditional Tuscan schiacciata is a must try but all of their breads are perfection. They have some other great pastries and Italian classics, including biscotti and taralli which make for great edible souvenirs. The rotating food menu consists of delectable sandwiches, soups, salads, and schiacciata pizzas prepared with the freshest ingredients, but the real showstopper is the quiche. My friends and I stopped by to grab breakfast on our way to the Santo Spirito market one Sunday and all ordered the quiche without asking what was in it because our Italian was weak to say the least. We were skeptical because it was given to us cold, and we were too scared to ask for it to be warmed up. We reluctantly took our first bites of the giant slices while standing in the street, using our hands and eating it “pizza style” since we didn’t have any utensils, and our lives were immediately changed. From that Sunday forward we tried to go get quiche whenever we could, and we never felt the need to ask for it to be heated up. We also never once bothered asking what was in the quiche, we just ordered it and devoured, and I highly recommend that you do the same. One thing to note is that they don’t have any espresso-based drinks, they only do drip coffee so if that’s not your thing maybe swing by one of the other great cafés for your coffee. Do yourself a favor and stop by S.Forno to pick up some traditional treats to sample, and don’t forget to come hungry for some quiche.
Address: Via di Santa Monaca, 3r
Website: http://www.ilsantobevitore.com
SimBIOsi Organic Cafe
Best Florence Café for: Cozy cappuccinos in the city center
SimBIOsi is a cozy café with great service and reasonably priced quality coffee. What more could you ask for? It was the first café I went to when I got to Florence, and it was right behind the apartment I lived in, so it was probably one of my most frequented cafés in Florence. They have WIFI and allow laptops so it’s a great place to get some work done, just be mindful of how busy it gets and avoid hunkering down with your laptop during the morning rush. While I’m partial to following the Italian way and sitting to enjoy my coffee at SimBIOsi, they do offer to go coffee, so if you’re rushing around the city center sight-seeing, you can stop by to grab some quick fuel. As far as the pastries go, you can skip the banana bread (I ordered it twice and it was very dry and one note both times) but the “Torta sefardita con yogurt Greco” and “Plumcake yogurt e mirtilli” were both enjoyable. SimBIOsi was my “third place” when I studied abroad in Florence, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. If you’re staying nearby or passing by while sightseeing, it’s a great place for a cappuccino stop.
Address: Via de’ Ginori 62-64R angolo via guelfa 50123, Firenze
Website: https://simbiosi.bio/en/
Manly The Office
Best Florence Café for: Flat whites and escaping the chaos
This café, situated in the San Frediano neighborhood, blends Australian coffee culture with Italian roots to serve up some seriously good specialty coffee. Since it’s an Australian café, ordering a flat white is a must but ultimately, we are in Italy, so they also serve a delicious cappuccino. The location is a breath of fresh air from the bustling city center and the perfect place for a relaxing cup of coffee.
Address: Via Pisana, 48r, 50143 Firenze FI, Italy
Website: Instagram
La Ménagère
Best Florence Café for: Grandiose brunch in a chic setting
There’s a lot to unpack here. I wrote an extensive review for this restaurant, so if you’re interested in learning more click HERE
Address: via De’ Ginori, 8/R 50123 – Firenze
Website: https://www.lamenagere.it
Coffee Mantra
Best Florence Café for: No frills specialty coffee
At this charming café, you’ll find the basics done right. You won’t find any fancy syrups or large cappuccinos here, just high-quality beans served simply. Their chalk board menu depicts the details for the bean they’re currently highlighting and the words “provalo senza zucchero” (try it without sugar) written in the corner. Coffee Mantra is the place for the coffee purists of the world. Stop by this Santa Croce café for one of the best cappuccinos in Florence.
Address: Borgo La Croce 71r, Via della Mattonaia, 24r, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy
Website: https://www.coffeemantrafirenze.it
Fluid Specialty Coffee
Best Florence Café for: Specialty coffee geeks
This Santa Croce specialty coffee shop spares no detail when it comes to what’s in your cup. When you order your coffee, you’ll be asked to select one of their many bean options and your coffee is served with a little card telling you all about the bean and its processing. All of this can feel trivial if you don’t have a strong understanding of coffee, but I would recommend using it as a learning experience and asking your barista some questions if they aren’t too busy. This café is a great place to visit if you’re trying to expand your palate and coffee knowledge. They also offer iced drinks and some basic syrups if that’s more your speed.
Address: Borgo la Croce, 59/R, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy
Website: https://fluidspecialty.com/home
Ditta Artigianale
Best Florence Café for: Quality specialty coffee in every neighborhood
Ditta Artigianale is one of the most popular specialty coffee shops in Florence, and for a good reason. They serve quality coffee in beautiful cafés and have something to offer for every type of coffee lover. The cappuccino is delicious and if you’re looking for a fun treat try the tiramisu latte! They also serve delicious brunch and pastries if you’d like a bite to eat. I would recommend skipping the matcha here, it’s dull, gritty, and lacks any pleasant flavor (unfortunately, I never found good matcha in Florence). They have 6 locations in Florence, plus one in Milan, scattered throughout the city so you’re always close to a good cappuccino.
Address:
- Original Location ~ Via de Neri 32R – Florence, IT
- My favorite location ~ Via dei Carducci 2R – Florence, IT
- For more locations visit their website at the link below
Website: https://dittaartigianale.com/en
Melaleuca
Best Florence Café for: Eating famous cinnamon rolls by the water
If you’re walking along the Arno and notice a long line of hungry customers, you’ve probably come across the viral Melaleuca. This Australian café gained virality for their cinnamon rolls which are always fresh from the oven since they’re flying out of the door. It took me a while to visit this café because I found it hard to justify going to an Australian café to get an American-style cinnamon roll when there are so many Italian delicacies to sample in Florence. However, I gave in after a run one day and I don’t know if it was the endorphins or not, but the cinnamon roll did live up to the hype. The coffee was also delicious, I ordered a cappuccino to make it a little bit Italian. The long line you see is for those wishing to sit at a table in the café so if you’re only looking to grab a cinnamon roll and a coffee to go, walk right in past the line and place your order.
Address: Lungarno delle Grazie, 18 Florence 50122 Italy
Website: https://melaleucaflorence.it
PRAE
Best Florence Café for: Cappuccinos to fuel the wine window wait
This café is sister to Babae, the restaurant which is home to one of the most famous wine windows, making it the perfect pre-wine caffeine stop. They serve a great cappuccino in one of my favorite areas in Florence.
Address: Via Santo Spirito, 46R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Website: Link Tree
