I’ve lived in Florence as a student and as a remote freelance worker, which means that one institution was fundamental for my survival: the café.
In the US, we have a huge culture surrounding the romantic notion of “working from a café.” You don’t just pop in for 45 minutes to crank out that assignment or write a quick article. No, no. You bring a bag with all of your essentials (laptop, charger, notebooks, a granola bar) for several hours of caffeine sipping, people watching, and if you’re lucky, pleasant productivity. It’s kind of an ordeal.
When I returned permanently to Florence, I realized I didn’t really know where I could go spend a few hours working without getting kicked out after more than an hour. After all, the size of a cup of coffee in Italy is about a third of that in the US. How long can one physically drag out the process of drinking a cappuccino? Do people even study in cafes in Italy? What would Hemingway do?
After a few months of trying out new places, gingerly scanning the room for disapproving glares as I casually opened my laptop in public, I accumulated a list of my favorite spots for an afternoon on the grind. Here are my top picks for an afternoon of productivity in a cafè. Whether you’re studying, working remotely, or simply eager to find a setting that is slightly more exciting than your camera da letto, these are great options for the cafè goer.
Quick coffee shop phrases:
- Vorrei (voh-ray) – I would like…
- Posso avere un/una (po-so ah-ver-ay oon/oona) – Can I have a…
- Per favore (pear fah-vor-ay) – Please
- Grazie mille (grah-zee-ay mee-lay) – Thank you so much
- Avete wifi qui? (ah-vet-eh wi-fi qwee) – Do you have wifi here?
- Buona giornata (bwon-ah jour-nah-tah) – Have a good day 🙂
Read more: What to Do on a Rainy Day in Florence
Biblioteca Oblate
Holy views. This gorgeous convent-turned-library is located right in the city center, behind the Duomo on Via Oriuolo. The library has two floors that wrap around a courtyard, culminating in the coolest terrace to work from ever. On the top floor, you’ll find a little café and a view that may challenge your ability to look at a screen (I hope) or inspire you if you fancy yourself to be the Dante Alighieri of your generation. The Duomo is right there, in full view, which makes a few hours of hard work still feel like a cultural experience in such a beautiful city.
I’d recommend going early, since both outdoor and indoor seating tend to fill up by mid-afternoon. The wifi isn’t the best (you connect to the public city network), but you can sit anywhere except inside the café without even buying a coffee if you’re balling on a budget. The view will keep you coming back for more.
Ditta Artiginale
This is a modern spot in the Renaissance city. Ditta Artiginale has great coffee and offers a selection of brunch style food and café goodies with an American twist. If I tell you they have avocado toast, you’ll probably catch my drift. The interior is funky and artistic with suede furniture, modern music, bright colors, and even the occasional neon sign. You can easily snag a table or cop a squat at one of the bars looking out at the street, order a cappuccino, and type away for a few hours without being disturbed.
There are four locations in the city now: one in Via dei Neri (the original and smallest), one in Via dello Sprone (second biggest, just off piazza pitti), one in piazza Sant’Ambrogio (the biggest), and the newest (and smallest) right next to La Carraia in the Oltrarno. Your best bet is Sprone or Sant’Ambrogio if you want to ensure you get a table and plan to stay for a while.
Read more: Where to Eat in Florence, Italy
La Feltrinelli
An Italian cafe and bookstore chain, this spot is smack dab in the center of Florence. Head towards the carousel in Piazza della Republicca and you’ll spy it under the portico. Grab a coffee or centrifughe (a smoothie-juice hybrid), and snag a little wooden table downstairs for a convenient and simple study-work station. Don’t come at lunch time however as they may ask you to give up your table for people dining there.
La Citè
My favorite cafe in Florence, La Citè is an alternative, beatnik style café located in the Oltrarno on Via Santo Spirito. They serve all of your café favorites and it turns into a wine and cocktail bar with occasional live music in the evening. Come in the morning or late afternoon to snag one of the tables downstairs or up in the loft. It’s not a huge place – are there any huge places in Florence? – but it definitely has an abundance of character and charm thanks to it’s hodge podge, beatnik décor. I will warn you that the wifi can occasionally be spotty here when it gets really crowded (there’s only so much bandwidth to go around, folks) so be prepared for that.
Todo Modo
A hidden gem on Via del Moro between the Arno and Santa Maria Novella, this quaint café doubles as a bookshop. With a few wooden tables tucked between bookcases and the coffee bar, it will feel like you’re studying in your own little private library. The treasure trunk size makes it another tricky place to land a table so be sure to go early and perhaps have a backup plan in the Oltrarno.
Santa Rosa
If you’re looking for an outdoor study or work venue, Santa Rosa in the Oltrarno is a great option for you. Located just past the Porta San Frediano, the large outdoor café has a patio with seating for the civilized studiers or a grassy area where free spirited scholars or artists can recline with their work. It also turns into a bar in the evenings and is a good option for dinner. Overall, the environment is very relaxed and feels like you’ve stepped outside the city center…probably because you literally have.
Read more: Where to Dance in Florence, Italy
I hope this roundup helps you pinpoint your new café of choice for working or studying. Remember to be courteous to the owners and please respect the customs if you’re planning to stay and work for a while.
