Momo Vintage
Momo Vintage is my favorite vintage shop in Florence. Unlike many second-hand stores, everything is beautifully curated, making it easy to find unique pieces without spending hours digging through racks. From designer treasures to more affordable finds, every visit feels like a treasure hunt where you always leave inspired. Once I found the most incredible vintage dress, tried it on, completely fell in love… and decided to “sleep on it.” I went back the next day and, of course, it was already gone. Vintage has taught me one important lesson: if you love it, don’t think twice.
Via dei Serragli, 24R
Todo Modo Dilà
Todo Modo Dilà is the Oltrarno sister of Florence’s beloved independent bookshop, and one of my favorite places to slow down for a while. Part bookshop, part café, it’s the kind of neighborhood spot where you can browse a carefully curated selection of books, enjoy a coffee or a light lunch, and simply watch local life unfold in the square outside. I love it because it feels genuinely lived in—full of students, writers, creatives, and neighbors. At Todo Modo, “Is this seat taken?” often turns into an hour-long conversation about books, Florence, and life. That’s the magic of places like this—you never know what story you’ll leave with.
Via dei Serragli, 18R
Galeria
Galeria is a small shop dedicated to one-of-a-kind pieces and creations by South American women artists. I love it because every object has so much personality—colors, textures, and shapes you simply don’t find in more conventional stores. It’s the perfect place to buy something that feels genuinely chosen rather than simply purchased. You walk in “just to have a look” and somehow convince yourself that a completely unnecessary object is actually an essential cultural investment.
Via del Moro, 12R
Hidden Oltrarno & San Frediano Walk
If I want to experience the most authentic side of Florence, this is the walk I always choose. Starting at Ponte Santa Trinita and winding through Borgo San Jacopo, Via dello Sprone, Piazza della Passera, Santo Spirito, Piazza del Carmine, and San Frediano (shown above) before returning along Lungarno Santa Rosa, it reveals a slower, more intimate Florence.
I love it because every street hides artisan workshops, beautiful old doorways, tiny squares, independent cafés, and wine bars where it’s impossible not to stop for a drink or something to eat. It’s the perfect route to wander without a plan, letting the neighbourhood surprise you at every corner.
Start at Ponte Santa Trinita
Santino
Santino is one of my favorite spots for an aperitivo in Florence. Hidden just off Piazza Santo Spirito, this tiny wine bar serves excellent natural wines alongside simple, high-quality Tuscan bites in a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere. I love it because it always feels effortlessly local—people spill out onto the street, glasses in hand, chatting until late. On warm evenings, the crowd often stretches well beyond the doorway, and the pavement outside becomes part of the bar itself.
Via Santo Spirito, 60R
Le Volpi e l’Uva
Le Volpi e l’Uva is a tiny wine bar just steps away from Ponte Vecchio, famous for its carefully selected wines and delicious crostoni. My favorites are the Asiago, speck & honey and the Asiago, sausage & truffle, ideally paired with a chilled bottle of Salina Bianco to cleanse the palate. We usually promise ourselves we’ll “just share one crostone,” and somehow, 30-minutes later, the table looks like we’re hosting a wedding dinner. It’s one of those places where aperitivo effortlessly turns into dinner without anyone ever making the decision.
Piazza dei Rossi, 1R
Gelateria della Passera & Caffè degli Artigiani
Gelateria della Passera is an absolute must. My classic order is yogurt and dark chocolate. The menu changes constantly, using fresh local ingredients, and for me it’s easily one of the best gelato shops in Italy. Afterwards, I usually sit across the square at Caffè degli Artigiani, a neighborhood café that’s still filled with many of the same regulars I remember from childhood. I genuinely thought they all lived there—and honestly, seeing some of them still around today, maybe I wasn’t entirely wrong.
Via Toscanella, 15R
Via dello Sprone, 16R
NOF – Eat & Drink
NOF is one of my favourite places for live music in Florence. Hidden in the heart of San Frediano, it hosts concerts almost every night, from blues and rock to jazz and indie, all in an intimate atmosphere that somehow always feels like a house party. I love how the music spills out into the street, drawing in people who had no intention of stopping. Some of the best nights I’ve had in Florence started because I heard a guitar from halfway down the road.
Borgo San Frediano, 13
9 San Jacopo Show
San Jacopo Show is one of Florence’s hidden creative gems. Rather than a traditional shop, it’s a visual merchandising and exhibition design studio where windows, installations, and display concepts come to life. Every project reveals incredible craftsmanship, from custom props to beautifully engineered display pieces.
Borgo San Jacopo, 66R
‘Aperitivo effortlessly turns into dinner’