Florence’s nightlife
is fuelled by the city’s well-heeled, foreign students who
come to study History of Art and Italian. Old World meets New World,
as gangs of silver-tongued Romeos gather to admire the leggy American
blondes.
Despite a minimum drinking age of 18, partying
in Florence is determinedly a young scene, with students fresh out
of school getting their first taste of freedom and enjoying the
proliferation of inexpensive wine and flexible licensing hours with
some pubs stay open until 0100 hrs or even 0300 hrs.
The most bohemian area is the Oltrarno, south of
the river, where bright young things can play through until the
small hours. Elsewhere the nightlife is concentrated around Piazza
della Signoria, home of more sedate venues. Florentines,
like most Italians, are self-consciously stylish with a definite
bent towards smart, conservative dress. Dress up, take a pew outside
one of the city’s elegant cafés and enjoy being admired
in a city where beauty is taken for granted.
As with any university city, clubs and bars experience peaks and
troughs of popularity. To find out where the action is, buy Firenze
Spettacolo, the city’s definitive entertainment publication,
or check out Florence Today, a free listings publication
distributed twice a month. Entry to clubs is expensive at around
€13, although tickets usually include a free drink at the bar.
Bars
For a glimpse of an authentic Italian watering hole, make your way
to Le Volpi and L’ Uve, Piazza de’Rossi
1, to sample some of the best wines the region has to offer. The
owners, Riccardo and Emilio, can advise a plate of salami and cheese
to accompany your choice of wine.
Rex,
Via Fiesolana 25r, is a sound bet for chic company, good mixers
and tasty tapas, while for great snacks in the city centre, try
Cantinetta del Verrazzono, Via dei Tavolini 18-20r.
Strictly for homesick ex-pats is the Fiddler’s Elbow,
Piazza Santa Maria Novella 7r, an Irish-style pub with satellite
television, a good line in Guinness and would-be Celts.
South of the river, La Dolce Vita, Piazza del Carmine,
is more laid-back and popular with students who spill out onto the
piazza. Then there is tiny Vini, Via dei Cimatori
38, a simple wine counter, one of the last in the city, founded
in 1875. Just stand on the pavement with the other customers and
enjoy the wine.
There is old-fashioned appeal at Casa del Vino,
Via del Ariento 16r, situated close to the central market. For lovers
of sangria, Sulamanca, Via Gibellina 80, is a Spanish
bar that also serves up Spanish food and satellite television.
Casinos
There are no licensed casinos in Florence
Clubs
Central Park, Via Fosso Macinante, on
the outskirts of Florence in Parco delle Cascine, is the place to
be seen. Florentines flock here for the latest in music trends,
although transport can be difficult for those without a car.
Tenax, Via Pratese, in the Peretola district,
is one of the most popular discos in town, a favourite with the
young crowd. It also stages live concerts.
Meccano,
Viale degli Olmi 1, is self-consciously hip, while Dolce
Zucchero, Via Pandolfini 36, is a small club that quickly
fills up with dancers. Villa Kasar, situated on
the banks of the Arno, at Lungarno Colombo, is an altogether more
upmarket venue, reputed to be the haunt of celebrities, with attention-grabbing
prices to match. Soulciety Club, Via San Zanobi,
is a little known club that attracts a lively crowd at the weekend.
It is a great spot for funk, hip hop and soul. Finally, if your
fancy footwork stretches to the samba, head for Maracana,
Via Faenza 4, a lively Brazilian themed spot for swinging your hips,
or Cabiria, Piazza Santa Spirito, where you can
dance to hip hop, jungle and Latin jazz.
Live
music
Florence has limited choice when it comes to live music but you
can hear some good sounds at Be Bop, Via dei Servi
76, a cocktail bar specialising in live jazz and rock music. Or
you can try The Jazz Club, Via Nuova dei Caccini
3, which serves up live music every Friday and Saturday.
The Chiodo Fisso club, Via Dante Alighieri 16r,
offers a varied repertoire and is popular with the locals, while
anything goes at Caffe Voltaire, Via delle Scala
9r, from poetry readings to salsa dancing.
Further out, near the airport, Tenax, Via Pratese
46, has a live music auditorium, which doubles as a dancefloor.
Auditorium Flog, Via M Mercati 24b, another student
dive in the suburbs, is strong on contemporary young DJs and the
Indie scene. If you prefer a smaller club, there is Caffe
la Torre, Lungarno Cellini, an American bar where you can
hear jazz. At Caffe Girasol, via del Romito 1r,
you can dance to Latino music, while Caffe la Torre,
Lungarno Cellini, which is famous for its aperitifs, also serves
up jazz, blues and Latin beats. |
