A local's guide to honeymooning in Florence, Italy

The Local Guide To A Florence Italy Honeymoon – Olga Makarova 19

Buongiorno, beauties! Have you had your morning cappuccino and pastry? Are you ready to plan your dream Italian honeymoon? Alora, andiamo!

Jack and I have just returned from our nine-month honeymoon abroad and have oodles to tell & tips to share from our favorite destinations. I thought I’d start out with an overwhelmingly popular choice: Florence (or Firenze for my fellow Italians!)

Both having visited Florence & Tuscany on trips prior, we figured we knew everything there was to know about Florence. We knew about the food, the art, the history – but what we didn’t expect was how incredibly romantic the city is! Beautiful architecture, little osterias & wine bars hidden in charming alleyways, art out on the street everywhere!

After a month of wandering the streets with gelato in hand, we accumulated quite the insights to share with you. From where to stay, what to eat, where to drink, what to do & where to shop – consider this your “local guide” courtesy of the DiBlasis.

We’re even treating you with some truly local suggestions from wedding photographer & videographer Olga Makarova, who spoiled us with a little honeymoon photoshoot (which you should absolutely consider booking for yourselves!)

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The Local Guide To A Florence Italy Honeymoon – Olga Makarova 14

Photo by Olga Makarova via Bridal Musings

Where To Eat & Drink

Our month consisted of many planned and impromptu dinners at our beloved Il Santo Bevitore. An affordable menu by Florence standards, you’ll find elevated, sophisticated small plates that still sing with rustic Tuscan flavors. Tantalizing ragus, rich risottos, handmade pasta all paired with a trendy selection of natural wine & old-world classics.

Even more memorable to us was the many pre-dinner drinks shared next door at the restaurant’s tiny wine bar, Il Santino. The stylish staff – playing killer playlists akin to our own favorite Brooklyn bars – serve up a rotating list of cool, funky natural wines & small Tuscan snacks. The kicker? Every glass of wine comes with a free little bite – think crusty crostinis with freshly shaved prosciutto, cheeses and tapenades.

Other favorite bites & tipples:

Il Latini – old-school Tuscan fare featuring the classic ‘Bistecca Fiorentina’
La Divina – sourdough, Roman-style pizza made with stoneground flours
Gustapizza – feels like your favorite NY slice joint, only with woodfired Neapolitan pies
SandwiChic – Foccacia sandwiches with a wide array of local Tuscan meats, spreads & cheeses
Gelateria della Passera and My Sugar win our hearts for the best artisanal gelato in Florence (even if Jack and I will never agree on which of the two reigns supreme).

If visiting Florence in the summer, we highly recommend making dinner reservations in advance.

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What To Do

Having visited the museums & cathedrals on past trips (which you should absolutely do, too!), Jack and I focused on the joys of ‘living in Florence’ as locals.

This meant shopping daily at the famed & buzzing Mercato Centrale. As you stroll through the stalls you’ll find local Tuscan products (perfect for your pantry) and freshly made pasta for next to nothing – about $4 for enough fresh ravioli & sauce for dinner for two!

A must try at Florence’s central market? If you have an adventurous palate, Da Nerbone‘s famous Lampredotto sandwich is an only-in-Tuscany-classic. Split it with your honey alongside a roast beef (Jack’s favorite) and you’ve got a cheap, authentic meal of epic proportions.

But the shopping fun doesn’t end with foodstuffs. It’s nearly impossible to walk the streets of Florence without ogling beautiful designer & vintage clothing. After buying a designer suit, discovering up-and-coming artists & perusing halls of vintage treasures here are our favorite shops (aside from the household names):

Boutique Nadine & Studioteca – for local designers, funky prints & sustainable fabrics
WP Store & Ultra – for hip, stylish men’s workwear & streetwear
Street Doing Vintage Couture – for vintage designer clothing & accessories all kept in incredible shape (like Gucci, Ferragamo, Valentino and more!)

Once you’ve shopped the many big designer names, fashion lovers can hop into the Gucci Garden for an alternative museum date. Not only does the museum feature incredible vintage pieces, but you can also have a bite at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura – helmed by one of Italy’s most celebrated chefs.

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Where To Stay

With the privilege of visiting for an extended period of time, Jack and I booked a monthlong stay at this beautiful Airbnb loft (did you know that most Airbnb listings offer discounts for weekly & monthly stays?) on a quiet residential street just steps from Mercado Centrale, Duomo & My Sugar gelateria.

For a shorter honeymoon, we’re eyeing these well-located and oh-so-romantic luxurious hotels:

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Olga Makarova’s Perfect Florence Day

Wake-up early in the morning and go for a walk around city centre across of most amazing Florence landmarks like Duomo, Piazza Signoria, Palazzo Pitti, Ponte Vecchio. You’ll discover the beauty of the city waking up without crowds of tourists. Afterward, you can go to have a typical Italian breakfast with cappuccino and croissant in one of the cute cafes in the city.

In the late morning go to Uffizi to discover wonderful collection of paintings or you can take a cooking class and study how to cook homemade pasta or gnocchi. Do your best, because you have to eat what you cook.

After lunch, chill in your hotel’s swimming pool or go to relax in one of Florence’s gardens – Boboli Garden, Bardini Garden, The Rose Garden.

In the late afternoon, you can have a romantic boat tour on the Arno River and watch the sunset with an aperitivo on one of the many rooftop terraces with a beautiful panoramic view over the city – like Terrace Plaza Hotel Lucchesi. Or as an alternative, you can go to Piazzale Michelangelo and enjoy the sunset sitting on the stairs with many people and enjoy street music band – don’t forget to bring a bottle of wine with you!

Later, you can have a delicious dinner and go for a romantic walk under the street lights and stars.

Olga’s Recommendations

Langolino Gastrobar Firenze – a tiny bar in the Santo Spirito area for wine & appetizers
Caffè del Veronem – peaceful terrace with view over Duomo cathedral.
Santarosa Bistrot – a lovely bar & restaurant with big outdoor space – nice for aperitivo, breakfast and dinner, sometimes they have live music or a DJ
Cafe SottArno – a cute cafe with tasty dolci & panini
Pasticceria Dolci e Dolcezze – a cute, girly place for coffee with a good selection of sweets

Why You Should Visit Florence

“Florence is a perfect combination of art, food, сute small streets and old town atmosphere. It’s a beautiful open-air city-museum, where is not necessary to visit museums (but they are worth it), just step out on the street and you can find many masterpieces already there.

I fell in love in this city from the first sight and for me, Florence has the best panoramic view of a city – it’s just breathtaking. Florence also has a practical location, so easy from here to visit Rome, Venice, Cinque Terre or Milan, just a couple of hours and you’re there.”

– Photographer & Videographer, Olga Makarova