Best wine bars in Florence

Taste the finest Italian wines (and food) in the Tuscan capital

wine bars in Florence

Tuscany is renowned for its wine, from classic Chianti′s to Super Tuscans to refined vintages from Bolgheri; a trip to this region of Italy wouldn′t be complete without exploring the array of bottles on offer at one of these best wine bars in Florence. There are several venues where you can enjoy exquisite local wines, ranging from authentically rustic to genuinely sophisticated. Below are four venues worth visiting for wine lovers in the Tuscan capital.

ZEB: AN AUTHENTIC WINE BAR

This quaint yet contemporary space in San Niccolò has been in the Navari family for over 20 years. Once a delicatessen, in 2009, it was refurbished by Alberto Navari to be a unique wine shop, bar, and open-plan restaurant: steel stools line a long bench overlooking a galley kitchen; crisp white shelves filled with wine, oils and aged balsamic vinegar, give this space a Tuscan feel, yet the décor has a modern twist. Grab a seat by the shop-front window overlooking San Miniato to enjoy a crisp wine whilst watching the locals and travellers head towards the famed lookout Piazzale Michelangelo. Should you feel peckish, Alberto′s Italian mother, Giuseppina, creates flavoursome dishes from the kitchen, producing classic family recipes handed down through the generations. Via San Miniato 2r Tel: (+39) 055 234 2864

CAFFE′ DELL′ORO: THE ITALIAN ESSENCE

An elegant yet peaceful bar set by the Ponte Vecchio, Caffe Dell′Oro opened last year as part of the Portrait Hotel, run by the Ferragamo family. Its clean lines, plush grey furnishings and sleek bar make this an ideal place to enjoy a pre-dinner wine (an adjoining dining room) or a post-Uffizi wind-down drink as the gallery is nearby. Their wine list is extensive, and with only a few seats in the salon, it is a chic oasis in the heart of Florence. Take a window seat and watch bustling Lungarno degli Acciaioli, with passers-by saddled on Vespas and bicycles, through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Arno River. Lungarno degli Acciaioli 2 Tel: (+39) 055 272 68912

ENOTECA CHIANTI CLASSICO: ENJOY THE FAMOUS WINE FROM TUSCANY

The upstairs of Florence′s historic Central Market has recently been overhauled and refurbished into a funky Italian food court offering an exciting array of food stands from fresh cheeses and wood-fired pizza to hand-rolled gnocchi. For wine lovers, Enoteca Chianti Classico is a Sangiovese specialist′s dream, with 1,200 labels available to try by the glass or purchase by the bottle. Open daily, from 8 am until midnight, you can speak with experts of these Black Rooster labels to find your perfect red wine in a fresh, modern setting under the arches of the 19th-century building. Piazza Del Mercato Centrale Tel: (+39) 055 239 9798

OSTERIA FIASCHETTERIA NUVOLI: AN ORIGINAL RUSTIC WINE BAR

This rustic hole-in-the-wall venue is just a block from the Duomo and offers an authentic Italian experience. A weathered small wooden bar fills the ground floor room lined with wine bottles, all served by glass. A cabinet of crostini is sold by the piece, with the room decorated with old family photographs and the purple colours of Florence′s beloved soccer team. It′s a family-run affair filled with locals and with inexpensive yet good wine. Grab a glass of your favourite drop and perch on one of the small wooden stools out front or venture into the basement cellar where an Osteria menu is also served, offering classic Tuscan dishes from ribollita (breaded soup) and antipasto of salumi (plate of an assortment of fresh salami meats). Piazza Dell′Olio 15 Tel: (+39) 055 239 6616

Photo credit: Gabriella Clare Marino