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).
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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.
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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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