During a solo week-long stay in Florence, I discovered so many wonderful things I want to share with anyone planning a trip there. This post is all about Cafe Gilli — the cafe in Florence — which I ended up visiting nearly every single day of my stay. Here’s my honest experience and review.
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The short version
Worth it — but where you stand or sit changes the price by three times. I went six times in one week, so this is not a single-visit impression.
| What I ordered | Standing at the bar | Seated at a table |
|---|---|---|
| Cappuccino | €1.80 | €6 |
| Florentine cake | €5 | — |
| Tiramisu with cappuccino | — | about €16 |
| Typical total | about €6.80 | about €16 |
If you only go once, sit down — ideally toward the back, where the historic interior is at its best. If you are passing by, the bar is still absolutely worth a stop.
- Standing at the bar vs. sitting at a table
- Gilli’s menu
- How the sweets actually taste
- Summary
Standing at the Bar vs. Sitting at a Table
Over my six visits, I mixed it up depending on my mood: I stood at the bar twice and sat at a table the other four times. I chose to stand when I wasn’t particularly tired and just wanted to enjoy a delicious cappuccino and a pastry at minimal cost. Both times at the bar, I ordered a cappuccino paired with one of Florence’s signature cakes (see photos below).
Standing at the Bar — Great for an Everyday Treat
Looking at my receipt from when I stood at the bar, the Florentine cake cost around €5, and the cappuccino was €1.80, for a total of about €6.80 — roughly $7.50 USD at the time.
Sitting at a Table
On one occasion I ordered just a cappuccino at a table, and it came to €6 — so sitting down essentially triples the price compared to standing at the bar.
That said, if you want to truly soak up the atmosphere — which is unlike anything you’ll find outside of Italy — I wholeheartedly recommend sitting down. It’s an experience in itself.
When I sat down and had tiramisu with a cappuccino, the total came to around €16 (approximately $17–18 USD).
Caffè Gilli Menu & Prices: When You Sit at a Table
The seated drinks menu offers a full range of espresso drinks, and the sweets menu includes Torta Gilli (a chocolate cake) and tiramisu at around €10. They also serve breakfast and brunch. When I visited in June, the cafe was already open at 8:00 AM.
Torta Gilli: What It Is, plus What I Ordered Instead
Torta Gilli is the house chocolate cake, listed at around €10 on the seated sweets menu alongside the tiramisu.
I should be honest: over my six visits I kept choosing the Fiorentina cake plus the tiramisu, so I cannot review the Torta Gilli itself. Both of the ones I did try were lightly sweet plus beautifully balanced — I am not someone with a sweet tooth, yet I could happily have had two.
How the Sweets Taste
Both the Fiorentina cake and the tiramisu were absolutely exquisite — lightly sweet and perfectly balanced. I don’t usually eat many sweets and don’t consider myself someone with a major sweet tooth, but these were so good I could have easily had two. And the cappuccino? It reminded me why “authentic Italian coffee” is more than just a phrase — it genuinely tastes on a different level.
Is Caffè Gilli Worth It? An Honest Review
Yes — with one caveat about price. Sitting at a table roughly triples what you pay for the same cappuccino. That is normal in Italy, it is not Gilli overcharging, but it surprises people who are not expecting it.
What you get for the higher price is the room. The interior is unlike anything you will find outside Italy, plus you can sit as long as you like. Over a week I went six times, which tells you what I thought of it.
One practical note: when I visited in June the cafe was already open at 8:00 a.m., plus breakfast plus brunch are served. Early morning is the calmest time to sit.
Summary
The bottom line: both the stunning interior and the exceptional food and drink make Cafe Gilli an absolute must-visit in Florence. If you only have time for one visit, I’d recommend sitting at a table — preferably toward the back of the cafe where you can fully take in the elegant, historic decor — and ordering a sweet and a cappuccino. If you can, choose a seat further inside rather than near the entrance, so you can truly appreciate the atmosphere.
Even if your time is limited and you can only stop in briefly, the sweets and coffee are so good it’s absolutely worth going — even just to stand at the bar.
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