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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.
- 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).
Gilli’s Menu: 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.
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.
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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