Santarosa Bistrot

Santarosa Bistrot sits at Lungarno di Santa Rosa 2 in the Oltrarno, tucked against a stretch of ancient city wall in the Santa Rosa gardens by the Arno. Lonely Planet files it under Florence nightlife, and the draw is a garden bar a short walk from Porta San Frediano rather than a room behind glass.

The format is part bistro, part bar. Mixologists behind the counter pour serious craft cocktails, the wine list is curated by the respected Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina, and the kitchen runs a short seasonal menu. It rewards anyone who wants a drink outdoors under the trees, and frustrates anyone after a quiet indoor cocktail lounge.

The setting is the point. Cushioned sofas built from recycled wooden crates sit al fresco beneath the trees, snug against the old wall, with the river a few steps away. Lonely Planet calls it a garden bistro buzzing after dark, and the greenhouse style keeps it working into the cooler months.

The drinks hold up next to the view. The cocktail list changes with the season, the Pitti Gola wine selection gives the bar real depth by the glass, and spaghetti jazz soirees turn the garden into a low-key music venue on listed nights. For more of the city, see our Florence cocktail bars guide, the best bars in Florence, and the near-me bar finder.

Come at golden hour before dinner, when the garden fills and the light off the Arno is at its best. The cocktail service runs from early evening.

Warmer months are prime, since the whole appeal is outdoor seating against the wall. Check the calendar for a spaghetti jazz night if you want music with the drinks.