San Niccolò District

San Niccolò is one of the most authentic and attractive neighborhoods in the city. It's located in the Oltrarno zone (other side of the Arno River), at the foot of the beautiful hills that house Piazzale Michelangelo and Forte Belvedere, far from the overcrowded tourist-beaten tracks.

Here Florentines and visitors alike can still breathe the atmosphere of an 'authentic Florence', mostly inhabited and frequented by native Florentines who know  its secrets, bars, enoteques (wine bars) and its traditional (and excellent!) restaurants very well. San Niccolò is the district where you can find the trendiest bars and the most typical wine bars and restaurants. If you'd like to see how the young Florentine jet-set spend their nights, stop by the most distinctive bars in the neighborhood: Negroni and Zoe (both located in Via dei Renai) where the 'chic-est' of the city's beautiful people meet every evening for 'aperitivo', a distinctly Italian tradition which includes in the price of a before-dinner cocktail a buffet of appetizers and finger-foods.

If your preference is rather to spend the evening in the warm atmosphere of a typical 'enoteca' (wine bar), pay a visit to the 'Antica Mescita San Niccolò' or 'Enoteca Fuoriporta', two of the most beautiful wine bar/restaurants in the city where you can truly experience the real 'taste' of Tuscany.

In San Niccolò you won't find famous monuments (except fot the San Niccolò Gate, the only one of the 5th walled circuit of the city that still rise at its originary height), churches, flashy gelaterie or big, fashionable hotels... on the contrary, you'll be immersed in the magic atmosphere of an ancient Florence of colourful houses, ancient walls, hidden streets and gardens, and ancient stairways.

We definitely recommend living in or, at least, spending a night in this characteristic Florentine quarter, and don't forget to taste the wonderful offerings in the local wine bars and restaurants.

BARS: ZOE, NEGRONI, RIFRULLO, EASY LIVING (summertime only), SPEAKEASY, JAMES JOYCE
RESTAURANTS: LA BEPPA FIORAIA, OSTERIA ANTICA MESCITA SAN NICCOLO', ZEB, LA BOTTEGA DEL BUON CAFFE'

PIZZERIAS: TAROCCHI, I BASTIONI DI SAN NICCOLO'
WINE BARS: ANTICA MESCITA SAN NICCOLO', FUORIPORTA
CLUBS: JAGUAR, PANTHEON LOUNGE