The best wine bars in Florence

Historical names and new addresses where to taste the best labels from Tuscany and around the world

In a region like Tuscany, a land of wines with a strong personality and centuries-old traditions, entering a wine shop is like living in first person a story of great study and dedication, of passions and knowledge handed down. It is along this line of careful choice of labels and bottles that Florence's wine shops are grafted together. We have found out the most well-stocked wine bars, authentic temples of centuries-old tradition and endless taste. Come with us to discover the best ones.

La Divina Enoteca
Via Panicale, 19r
ph. +39 055 292723

Located near the San Lorenzo market, the characteristic restaurant of La Divina Enoteca maintains the furnishings of the historic Salumeria Ciatti: the counters, the tubs, the walls made of Carrara marble and the masks from whose mouth the water still comes out. From 2009 to the present, this wine bar managed by the two sommeliers Bianca - daughter of the Ciatti family - and Livio Del Chiaro - winner of the FISAR 2014 Best Sommelier Award -, offers a wide choice of tastings including: more than 500 wine labels from small, local and national producers, craft beers, fine distillates from all over the world and Italian grappa. The entire selection can be accompanied by charcuterie and cheese boards, gourmet sandwiches, or by the "panigaccio", a typical Lunigiana bread, round, unleavened and cooked on an earthenware and ceramic plate.

Vineria Sonora
Via degli Alfani, 39r
ph. +39 333 199 9093

In the same space that first housed a butcher shop, then a dairy and again a literary café, today we find a wine shop, Vineria Sonora. Its two owners - Andrea and Laura - are passionately curating the extensive list of organic, biodynamic and artisanal wines offered by the 81 independent winemakers. The catalog ranges from the Pét-Nat and sparkling wines, to white, orange, rosé and red wines, up to the special ones obtained from dried grapes. Everything is accompanied by aperitifs, gourmet, seasonal and zero-kilometer tastings. There are also literary meetings and good groove vinyl music played in rotation every weekend. The bottles on display can be purchased.

Oratio Wine
Via Matteo Palmieri, 25r
ph. +39 055 274 1025

A dream come true that of Riccardo Gavelli, Saverio Morozzi and Luiz Oliveira, who started Oratio Wine, a friendly and welcoming place where wines and food products are carefully selected from small wineries and producers throughout Italy. But also a library where you can find all the best books on food and wine. More than half of the wines on the list are by the glass, from Piedmont to Sicily, from the most authentic and genuine wine to fine wines such as Barolo and Brunello. Tasting tours are also available. All wines on the list are available for worldwide shipping.

Signorvino
Via de' Bardi, 46r-48r
ph. +39 055 286258

Set in a magnificent Florence overlooking Ponte Vecchio, Da Signorvino Florence features nearly 1,500 labels, all Made in Italy. The wines are divided by region. You can, in addition, eat in a good kitchen open all day.

Enoteca Bruni
Borgo Ognissanti, 25r
ph. +39 055 388 0177

Enoteca Bruni is a restaurant where the over 3,000 labels of the Italian and international natural and signature wines, selected by brothers Stefano and Alberto Bruni, are perfectly matched with the refined cuisine of chef Omar Dhib. Three blind tasting menu alternatives are available: three courses for €45 (plus wine pairing at €35 or €65 for premium ones), five courses at €70 (with pairing between €55 and €105), up to seven courses at €95 (with pairing of seven wines between €75 and €145). All dishes are made with seasonal and zero-kilometer products, and it is possible to request fully vegetarian or vegan menus. Enoteca Bruni also offers an online wine purchase service and shipping throughout Italy and abroad.

Grotta DiVino
Piazza Santa Croce, 4-5r
ph. +39 055 292133

In a place with a vaulted ceiling, exhibition walls of wine bottles and creative barrique tables, Grotta DiVino allows an evocative view of Piazza Santa Croce. In addition to the tasting of craft beers, distilled spirits (grappa, rum, whiskey) and fine local and international wines, they offer themed tasting menus which are enriched with the highest quality Florentine products, such as charcuterie and cheese boards, anchovies and foie gras, vinegar and oil such as Laudemio, also available for sale. Grotta DiVino's entire room is also available for private events and business dinners.

Vino al Vino
Borgo Ognissanti, 70r
ph. +39 055 2670495

Vino al Vino adapts to all tastes, whether you want to have a casual drink or attend one of the livelier events with DJ sets and vinyl music. The wine shop is a must for cheese enthusiasts. Each month, the wine produced by niche organic, biodynamic and natural wineries is paired with boards of the most iconic or sought-after cheeses, including Italian and foreign artisanal ones, as well as particular vegetarian ingredients such as the Conero wild fennel paccasassi.

Enoteca Alessi
Via dell'Oche, 27r
ph. +39 055 214966

A few steps from the cathedral, in a medieval alley, there is Enoteca Alessi for more than 50 years. The entrance between vaults and ancient wooden beams is reserved for tasting; you can sit quietly and converse in front of an excellent glass of wine accompanied by fine charcuteries and cheeses. Going down to the cellar, you enter in a room of about 300 square meters, where the perfect temperature and humidity for conservation, in symbiosis with a clever distribution of lights, allow you to admire more than 2,500 types of wine.

Enoteca Obsequium
Borgo S. Jacopo, 17
ph. +39 055 216849

A few steps from Ponte Vecchio, in Borgo San Jacopo under the medieval Marsili Tower. Here you can taste wines from Tuscany and other regions, Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena, and taste typical charcuterie and cheese plates, as well as other food and wine specialties such as fresh truffles, typical creams and sauces, chocolate, spices, cookies, cantucci and cakes. Furthermore, you will find a wide range of Pulltex wine accessories.

Piazza del Vino
Via della Torretta, 18r
ph. +39 339 4184545

It was an old warehouse near the Campo di Marte train station, and everything has been left as it was. Although it is also known as a restaurant, wine reigns supreme here, even to be purchased as in a regular wine shop. More than 40,000 bottles are available: you are spoiled for choice. Fun fact: an entire shelf is dedicated to private wine cellars, set up to store the bottles of the heart.