To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies.

From contemporary reviews often refreshingly caustic of novelists such as Ian Fleming, Nancy Mitford and J.The oysters have perfectly realistic colouring and the little twist of lemon on the ice are perfection. By turns eccentric, wistful and polemical, Betjeman's writing for the Telegraph gave voice to this unease. Yes, I am still annoyed by the touristic mass that make you feel like in a gigantic theme park sometimes, but thanks to you and other friends now I feel like I know Florence a little bit better! The staff have never been the most courteous or helpful but what does help is the roaring fireplace in the back on cold days, the garden on warm nights and the outdoor, street side tables. True, there are many “campi” and “campielli” that a Venetian can still retreat to, but sometimes getting from A to B is impossible in the crowds.

The quality of the essays is a little variable, some were enjoyable and thought provoking whilst others were a little flat and uninspired. Quattro Leoni has its merits – I’ve never been in love with this place, it’s a little touristy despite the local feel of this piazza, but I have often taken visitors here and they have always loved it. Solid nuggets of aural pleasure have been selected; Lakker's inspired ethereal bass music, rugged amplified tracks from Buddy Lee Dickens and H. I can’t tell you the times when tourists would yell at us, claiming we shouldn’t ride our bike in this ancient part of town, I would kindly remind them we had to live there and get around … The evenings, however the view over the renaissance church, beautifully lit and the views over the cathedral even prettier, I couldn’t sleep through the noise of people having fun in the bars on the square, students singing, and sirens running.

With an emphasis on quality produce, the salumi and cheeses that are paired with mostly local wines by the glass do not disappoint.