The best wine windows in Florence: our guide to the Buchette del Vino
Florence is famous for its Renaissance architecture, incredible art and delicious Tuscan food. But there's another, slightly more unusual experience that deserves a place on your Florence itinerary: ordering a glass of wine through a tiny hole in the wall!
Scattered throughout the beautiful streets of Florence are these little arched wine doors known as buchette del vino, or wine windows. Once used by wealthy Florentine families to sell wine directly to the public, these charming little windows have become one of the city's most unique attractions.
During our recent trip to Florence, we made it our mission to seek out some of the city's best wine windows. From beautifully decorated openings tucked away down cobbled streets to unusual historic windows, it's a fun way to while away a couple of hours.
If you're planning a trip to Florence and wondering which wine windows are worth visiting, we've put together this guide covering some of our favourite wine windows, where to find them and a few tips to help you plan your own wine window crawl!
What are the wine windows in Florence?
The Florence wine windows are small arched openings built into the stone walls of historic buildings, often just large enough to pass a bottle or glass of wine through. Their history dates back to the Renaissance, when wealthy Florentine families began producing wine on their estates in the Tuscan countryside. Rather than selling their wine through taverns or merchants, they created these little wine doors in their city palaces, allowing them to sell directly to customers on the street.
The windows also proved useful during the bubonic plague outbreaks of the 1600s, when they offered a way to sell wine while limiting face-to-face contact! Although many eventually fell out of use, the tradition has enjoyed something of a revival in recent years, with a number of restaurants and wine bars reopening their historic windows to serve wine, prosecco and even cocktails (Aperol Spritz anyone?).
It's reported that more than 190 wine windows have been identified within Florence's city limits. However, only a handful are actively used to serve drinks today. For us, that's what makes them so fun to track down. You can be wandering through the maze of city centre streets and very easily stumble upon not only a tiny wine window, but also a little piece of Florence's history too!
Our favourite Florence wine windows
One of the things we loved about exploring the wine windows of Florence is that no two are the same. Some are beautifully decorated and will immediately catch yours (and many other's) attention, while other wine windows are so discreet you could easily walk past them.
We've rounded up the wine windows we visited during our trip, including some of the more unusual ones and a few that are particularly easy to incorporate into any Florence itinerary.
1. Osteria Belle Donne – The most popular wine window in Florence
If you're looking for one of the most photogenic wine windows in Florence, then Osteria Belle Donne should be near the top of your list. Tucked away on Via delle Belle Donne, just a short walk from Piazza Santa Maria Novella, this charming little wine window is known for its beautiful floral displays, making it one of the prettiest we came across.
Unlike some of Florence's more understated wine windows, this one is difficult to miss. However, with big displays (perfect for the 'gram) comes big crowds! We were surprised just how busy this place was and the street was packed with people drinking or waiting to order wine.
The window belongs to Osteria Belle Donne, a cute traditional restaurant serving Tuscan dishes. You don't need to sit down for a meal to enjoy the wine window though. Just give the wine window a little knock and place your order!
Our tip for visiting: This is one of the more well-known wine windows in Florence, so don't be surprised if it's busy! We'd recommend visiting a little before lunch or late afternoon if you'd like a more peaceful experience.
2. Cicalone – A hidden gem
Also found along Via delle Belle Donne, is Osteria e Vinaino Cicalone. We stumbled across this place during our wine window hunt and it quickly became one of our favourites.
Despite being right in the historic centre, this little wine window can be found tucked away on a corner of a cute square, dotted with a restaurants and surrounded by narrow side streets. You'd have no idea this place was there unless you were looking for it.
You can take your pick of what you'd like to order, from red wine and white wine, to prosecco, cocktails or an Aperol Spritz. Cicalone also serve food and there's either a restaurant inside where you can sit, or there's street-side seating and tables, perfect for people watching - which is exactly what we did and one of the things we loved about it.
3. Piazza de' Pitti – The wine window with the best location
One of the best-located wine windows in Florence is the Wine Window Piazza de' Pitti (Buchetta del vino), situated directly opposite the magnificent Palazzo Pitti.
You'll find this wine window just across the Arno river in the Oltrarno district, which also quickly became one of our favourite areas of Florence. While many wine windows are hidden away down narrow streets, this one has a fantastic position overlooking one of Florence's most impressive historic buildings.
The window serves wine and aperitivo-style drinks, including spritzes, making it a lovely place to stop for a quick drink while exploring the area. We enjoyed sunset drinks here before dinner and what makes this particular wine window special is its setting. With Palazzo Pitti just across the square, the location is truly enviable and is a brilliant place to soak up the atmosphere, people watch and enjoy a different perspective of Florence.
4. Gustavino – The hidden one
Another wine window we accidentally stumbled across was Gustavino. Conveniently located in the heart of the city centre, just a short walk from Piazza della Signoria, making it one of the easiest wine windows to fit into your Florence itinerary.
We loved how searching for wine windows gave us another reason to wander through Florence's smaller streets, than sticking exclusively to the main squares and attractions, and Gustavino did not disappoint. Gustavino itself is a traditional Tuscan restaurant, and the wine window can be found in a small alcove to the side. It was sheer chance and luck that we spotted the little wine door and I'm so glad we did!
Served in plastic cups, you can take your wine "to go" if you wish. We stopped by to look at the menu for dinner and were sold by the array of pizzas and cheesey pasta dishes on their menu. We finished our wine outside before going in for dinner and had one of the best meals of our trip here.
Our tip: Pair your visit here with Piazza della Signoria, one of Florence's most impressive city squares. It's also a great rest stop after exploring the Uffizi Gallery.
5. Matteoni – Florence's prettiest wine window
Matteoni was another wine window we were keen to find during our time in Florence, largely because of its rather unusual low-level wine cellar opening, surrounded by iron bars, giving it the appearance of a jail, which we thought looked fun! However, the jail-like window is no longer used, instead replaced by its more traditional arched wine window.
However, Matteoni soon became a favourite of ours in any case! Osteria Belle Donne may be set to impress for the 'gram, Matteoni's wine window is dressed in trailing green foliage and we thought looked the prettiest of them all!
There's a restaurant inside or there's street-side eating if you prefer al-fresco! Both being vegetarians, we found this place also had the most extensive list of vegetarian-friendly dishes. They served everything from ricotta ravioli and pumpkin risotto, to pizza and truffle mushroom pasta.
Our tip for visiting: While you're in the area, we'd recommend visiting the beautiful Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Said to be the world's oldest pharmacy and perfumerie, it's well worth a visit.
6. Café Odeon – A wine window with a cinematic twist
One of the best wine windows in Florence was Café Odeon - tucked away beside the beautiful Giunti Odeon cinema and bookshop.
What makes this one particularly special is of course the Odeon cinema it shares its name with. The Giunti Odeon first opened as a cinema in 1922 and has since been transformed into a stunning cultural space, combining a bookshop, cinema and café, all housed beneath an incredible decorative ceiling.
The wine window itself is a relatively recent addition to Florence's revived wine window scene, having reopened for service in November 2023. It's tucked around the side of the building, away from the main entrance, so it's easy to miss if you don't know where to look.
Unlike some of Florence's more traditional wine windows, Café Odeon offers a slightly more contemporary experience, serving a selection of drinks including red, white and rosé wine, prosecco and spritzes. They also have a gorgeous outdoor room in the square for dining and drinks.
We think this is a particularly good one to add to your Florence wine windows list because it gives you the perfect excuse to also explore Odeon building itself. Even if you're not planning to catch a film, it's worth stepping inside to admire the interiors and browse the books.
7. Babae – The wine window that helped revive Florence's historic tradition
If there's one wine window in Florence that deserves a place on your list, it's Babae.
Located in the charming Santo Spirito neighbourhood, Babae is widely credited with kick-starting the modern revival of Florence's wine windows. When the restaurant opened in 2019, its owners discovered an original wine window built into the historic Palazzo Manetti. Rather than leaving it as a decorative feature, they decided to bring it back into use, reviving an otherwise lost Florentine tradition.
The little window, complete with its beautifully decorated wooden door and traditional stone surround, soon became one of Florence's most recognisable spots. Babae gained even more attention when it featured in Stanley Tucci's Searching for Italy, helping introduce Florence's wine windows to an international audience too!
Today, the window continues to serve glasses of wine and other drinks directly onto the street, making it one of the most authentic places to experience one of the many wine windows in Florence.
And although the wine window itself is the main attraction, the surrounding neighbourhood is another reason we'd recommend visiting. Oltrarno has a slightly different feel from the busy streets around the Duomo, with independent boutiques, artisan workshops, traditional restaurants and lovely little squares.
Our tip for visiting: Babae is one of Florence's best-known wine windows, so expect it to be busy, particularly around aperitivo time. Look out for the little bell beside the window, which you can ring to order your drink.
Are Florence's wine windows worth visiting?
If this round-up of wine windows hasn't made that clear already, then for the avoidance of doubt - yes, absolutely! They're a fun way to discover the city's history, explore some of its quieter streets and, of course, enjoy a glass or two of fine Tuscan wine!
Where are the best wine windows in Florence?
Some of the best wine windows to visit in Florence include Osteria Belle Donne, with its beautiful floral display, and the wine window in Piazza de' Pitti, which has a fantastic location opposite Palazzo Pitti. Most are located around the heart of the city centre, so you can't go too far wrong wine window hunting if you're in the area.
How much does wine cost at a Florence wine window?
Prices of course vary depending on the place and the drink you choose. As a general guide, expect to pay around €7-€10 for a glass of wine.
Do you need to book to visit a Florence wine window?
No, and that's the beauty of them! All wine windows will come with a bell or buzzer of sorts. Just ring the bell and order your wine - simple! However, if you're planning to eat at one of the restaurants attached to a wine window, booking a table may be worthwhile.
What time do the wine windows in Florence open?
Opening hours vary between Florence's wine windows, so there isn't one set time when they're all open. Some serve drinks throughout the afternoon and evening, while others only open for a few hours, particularly around aperitivo time (typically between 5pm and 8pm).
It's also worth knowing that wine window opening hours don't always match those of the restaurant or bar they're attached to. Just because a restaurant is open doesn't necessarily mean its wine window is serving drinks. Most listings on Google are up to date though, so if you're planning to visit one in particular just be sure to check first.
Our thoughts on Florence's wine windows
Florence is packed with incredible things to see and do, but exploring its historic wine windows was definitely one of the more unique experiences we enjoyed during our trip!
We loved how each wine window had its own personality, from the beautifully decorated opening at Osteria Belle Donne to the fun history behind Babae and the more unusual stops like Cafe Odeon. And of course, there's something rather fun about ordering a glass of wine through a tiny hole in the wall - what's not to love?
Whether you're planning a Florence wine window crawl or simply want to tick off a few as you explore the city, we'd definitely recommend adding them to your itinerary.
If you're planning a trip, be sure to check out our other Florence travel guides and itineraries for more inspiration on what to see, do and experience in this beautiful Italian city. Cin cin! 🍷
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