By late evening the terraces around the Piazza della Signoria are full, street performers are working the space in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, and people are eating after-dinner gelato while they watch. Across the river the streets of the Oltr'Arno stay quieter and more local, and the last drink of the night is as likely to be a glass of Chianti as anything else.
Florence's nightlife is built around eating, walking and drinking wine rather than around a single club strip. The centre is compact and best covered on foot, the bar scene ranges from historic terraces to small wine bars, and the clubs sit either just off the centre or well outside it. It suits visitors who want an evening woven into the city's streets and squares, and less so anyone looking for one concentrated party district.
Where to go out in Florence
1. Piazza della Signoria and the historic terraces
The square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio is the city's most theatrical evening setting. Street performers appear in front of the Palazzo Vecchio of an evening, with acts ranging from violin duets to people dressed as sculptures, and it is a natural place to stop while you eat after-dinner gelato. The terraces facing the square are the classic spot for a late drink.
This suits a slow, scenic evening rather than a late night. Rivoire, on the Piazza della Signoria, is described as a Florentine institution founded in 1872, and the bar at the Uffizi offers a view over the piazza, though it is only accessible through the museum, so you need a ticket.
2. Piazza della Repubblica
The terraces on this piazza, including Paszkowski and Gilli next to the hotel Savoy, are a central option for an evening drink. Be aware that the terraces on the other side of the piazza are equally pricey, so this is a setting to choose for the location rather than for value.
It suits an early, elegant drink before or after dinner, or a central meeting point when you do not want to walk far.
3. Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the Irish pub
The Fiddlers Elbow, an Irish pub on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, offers plenty of seating along with live music. It is a straightforward, sociable stop near the station end of the centre.
This suits a group wanting a long, easy session with music rather than a formal night out.
4. Via dei Servi and the Duomo area
Bebop, north of the Duomo on the right of Via dei Servi before you reach Piazza d'Annunziata, is described as having great cover bands every night and a €4 pint. The Bamboo Lounge Club on Via Giuseppe Verdi, not far from the Duomo, runs from 23:00 to 04:00 and is aimed at young adults and students, with mostly house, techno and hip hop, VIP tables and two midsized bars; dress is a little more than casual but not upscale, with women free until 01:00 and men paying €10.
This area suits people who want music and dancing within walking distance of the centre. The club is described as clean and safe, and the atmosphere is loud and energetic.
5. Piazza de' Rossi and the wine bars
Enoteca Le volpi e l'Uva on Piazza dei Rossi is described as the place for tasting wines and savoury titbits. Ambrosia, in Piazza de Ambrosia, is primarily a wine bar where you can sample good wines at low cost if you come with friends and share the price of whole bottles.
This suits a small group who want to drink wine properly rather than quickly, and it is the closest thing here to a tasting-led evening.
6. Borgo San Frediano and the Oltr'Arno
La Cité, at Borgo San Frediano 20r, is a cosy cafe and bookstore with good prices, a nice atmosphere and good books. The Oltr'Arno on the south side of the river is described as being in many ways like Rome's Trastevere or Paris's Left Bank, though far smaller, and the narrow medieval back streets of the Santa Croce area are also good for walking.
This suits an unhurried evening of walking and a quiet drink away from the busiest squares. The character of the area, rather than any single venue, is the reason to come.
7. Piazza del Carmine and the dressed-up club night
The Cavalli Club on Piazza del Carmine is described as upscale in dress, with a stage projecting the designer's fashion shows, an upstairs that can serve as a private lounge or VIP section on certain nights, and a black and leopard interior. Drinks run about €10 each, and it is described as not seasonal, so it is open to visitors all year.
This suits a night when you want to dress up and pay accordingly. Note that the source describes it as having been most popular on Wednesday nights while also open at weekends.
8. Outskirts clubs
Tenax on Via Pratese is a two-storey club on the outskirts of Florence, known for house and electronic music with DJs from Europe, America and Australia, and it also holds concerts in winter and summer. The dance floor is very large and always crowded, and the source warns to be careful with bags and wallets because pickpocketing is easy in large clubs like this. Cover is usually €20 and drinks are rather expensive.
This suits a dedicated club night rather than a stroll. Because it is on the outskirts, the source advises going by taxi or bus rather than walking, and says people at Santa Maria Novella station can help with directions.
How a night out unfolds
The sources describe evenings that begin with eating and walking rather than with drinking: after-dinner gelato in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, an evening stroll along the Arno or across its bridges, and street performances in the main squares. The view from Piazzale Michelangelo is recommended during the summer and at night, reached on foot by the stairs called Rampe di San Niccolò beside the Arno in front of the national library. For those who want to go later, the Bamboo Lounge Club runs from 23:00 to 04:00, and the larger clubs sit outside the centre, which means a taxi or bus at the end of the night.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Feast of St Francis of Assisi — 4 October
- All Saints' Day — 1 November
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception — 8 December
- Christmas Day — 25 December
- St. Stephen's Day — 26 December
- New Year's Eve — 31 December
- New Year's Day — 1 January
- Epiphany — 6 January
- Ash Wednesday — 10 February
- Father's Day — 19 March
- Good Friday — 26 March
- Easter Sunday — 28 March
Frequently asked questions
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Yes. Tap water is safe, and if you prefer bottled water it is plentiful, with both still (naturale) and sparkling (gassata) available. There is also a fountain set into the wall of the Palazzo Vecchio where you can fill up for free.
What should I drink while I am here?
Sample the wines of the region. Chianti is the local wine and can be ordered cheaply, with many eateries offering carafes of various sizes of house Chianti, usually for under €4.
Do I need to book anything in advance for an evening out?
For the rafting trips on the Arno through the historic centre, which pass beneath the Ponte Vecchio and run March to November, booking in advance is required. For bars and clubs, the sources give no booking requirement.
How do I get to the clubs outside the centre?
Tenax is on the outskirts, and the source advises going by taxi or bus rather than walking, noting that people at Santa Maria Novella station can help with directions.
Decide whether your evening is for the squares and wine bars of the centre or for a late club on the edge of the city, and plan the walk, the meal and the ride home around that choice.