Arguably Florence’s hottest spot at the moment, this former cleaning equipment shop is now the site of a cocktail bar and a lauded restaurant as well as a florist’s. Arched ceilings and an industrial facade give way to walls of artwork, soft lanterns, long sharing tables and hanging plants. Downstairs in the brick- walled cellar, jazz musicians play to guests who lounge on velvet sofas and nibble seasonal dishes while choosing from a colourful selection of cocktails.

Is there any ritual more Italian than aperitivo? Florentines adore nothing more than an early evening spent with friends around big goblets of red wine or fiery Aperol spritz, picking at piles of olives or hot pans of pane con pomodoro flecked with garlic. Only steps away from the lively Piazza Santo Spirito, cosy Il Santino serves top-quality wines accompanied by cured meat and crostini bubbling with crumbled sausage and melted pecorino.

This is the second and largest branch of Ditta Artigianale’s Scandi-style coffee roaster and gin bar, set over two floors in a 1950s building just around the corner from the Ponte Vecchio. Here you’ll find Danish furniture, geometric wallpaper, solid wood panelling, a steely spiral staircase and artistic light fixtures. But of course the real reason to go is the coffee, which is as close to perfect as it gets.

In the folds of Florence’s leather market, you will find this tiny bar filled with locals who come to sip wine from around 10AM. Along with a wine list that reads like a map of the region, Casa del Vino serves little plates to accompany each glass – expect silvery anchovies, truffle crostini, pickled artichokes and strings of milky stracciatella di bufala cheese, served with a trickle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt.

A myriad of significant artists have taken to the Tenax stage since its opening in 1981: New Order, Bauhaus, The Psychedelic Furs – even a fashion show by Vivienne Westwood in 1988. These days, its predominantly house music and regularly hosts the worlds biggest DJs.

This little speakeasy off Santo Spirito is known as Disagio to most (meaning “unease”) but apparently its real name is Barrett Club. It opens at midnight, but if you turn up too early, you’ll likely spend the first few hours alone. The club usually picks up around 3AM, when it becomes a great spot for people watching.

Combining all the best aspects of a library, café, bar and event space, La Cite is the sort of place you can stay for hours without feeling pressured to leave (or buy another coffee). Designed to feel like somebody’s home, there are plenty of hideaways in which to work, study or socialise. They often host events in the evenings, including book launches, talks and live performances.