There are a lot of ways to see Florence from above, from climbing the Duomo dome, walking up to Piazzale Michelangelo, or ducking into a museum rooftop café. But the best way, in our opinion, is from a rooftop bar in Florence at golden hour with a Negroni in hand.
Tim and I have been to Italy six times, and on our second visit to Florence, we made it our mission to find the best Florence rooftop bars in the city. We spent multiple evenings working our way across the terraces, testing the drinks and the views.
Below, you’ll find our experience-based rankings of every bar we visited, from the rooftop with the most spectacular Duomo view to the one that’s more hype than substance. We’ve also added a section at the end covering two newer rooftop bars that have opened since our visit, based on current reviews and reputation.
At a Glance: Rooftop Bars in Florence
BARS COVERED | 13 rooftop bars: 8 firsthand-reviewed favorites, 3 additional picks, and 2 newer additions
BEST VIEW OF THE DUOMO | View on Art (Hotel Medici)
AVERAGE COCKTAIL PRICE | €15–21 (expect to pay more than at street-level bars)
RESERVATIONS | Recommended for most; required for 701 Rooftop Bar and Cosimo
DRESS CODE | Smart casual at all venues
BEST TIME TO VISIT | Arrive by 5 pm for golden hour light on the Duomo; most bars fill up by 6–6:30 pm
SEASONAL NOTE | Several bars close in late September or October — check websites before visiting in fall or winter
Best Rooftop Bars in Florence
Below is a list of the best rooftop bars in Florence. These are in order from our favorite to least favorite rooftop bar.
1. View on Art Rooftop Cocktail Bar
Location: Hotel Medici
View: The Duomo
Hours: 11 am to 11:30 pm daily
Reservation: First come, first served
Website: hotelmedici.it
Let’s be direct about this one: View on Art has the single best view of the Duomo of any rooftop bar in Florence, and it also has some of the worst service. Both things are true, and knowing that going in will help you decide whether it belongs on your itinerary.
From this rooftop terrace on the sixth floor of Hotel Medici, you look straight across to the Duomo from close enough to see people standing on top of the Campanile. The afternoon light hits the cathedral’s marble facade beautifully from this angle and there’s no better spot in the city for that particular view.
Everything else, however, is a different story. The hotel itself is run down, the decor on the rooftop is basic, and the service has drawn consistently negative reviews in recent years, with complaints about rude staff, long waits to order, and guests being handed the bill and rushed out before finishing their drinks. Recent reviewers have also flagged that the bar charges a €5 photo fee to visitors who take photos without making a purchase, with no warning posted anywhere. We didn’t encounter this during our visit, but it’s worth knowing before you go.
The view from View on Art
The View on Art seating area
We spent about 30 minutes here, just enough time to have a drink and enjoy the view. In our experience, the drinks were good and the service was fast. Overall, we had a very good experience, simply because we thought the view was phenomenal.
Our verdict: Come here for one drink and the view, nothing more. Arrive by 5 pm to get a railing seat facing the Duomo, keep your expectations low on service, and plan to have dinner or a second drink somewhere better. If you want the Duomo view without the hassle, Tosca & Nino at the Rinascente is a very close second with a similarly spectacular angle and a more pleasant experience overall.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Don’t linger. Order your drink, enjoy the view, take your photos, and move on. The experience is at its best when you treat it as a quick stop, not a destination.
2. Divina Terrazza Rooftop Bar
Location: Grand Hotel Cavour
View: Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Bargello Museum
Hours: Opening times vary, check the website for hours
Website: hotelcavour.com
Sitting on top of Grand Cavour Hotel, with a location between the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio, is one of our favorite rooftop bars in Florence.
Divina Terrazza view
Divina Terrazza seating area
The view while seated
From this small rooftop terrace, you have 360° views over the city. In one direction, you have an unobstructed view of the Duomo, and it is amazing. If you turn 180°, you can see Palazzo Vecchio and the top of the Bargello Museum.
This rooftop terrace has a casual, laid-back atmosphere. From most seats on the terrace, you get a wonderful view of the Duomo, even while seated. Most seating is on small sofas and high-top tables, so you are not packed in with other guests, as in some of the other rooftop bars.
Divina Terrace only offers cocktails, beer, and wine. They do not serve food, other than a small dishes of pistachios, corn nuts, and crackers that come with your drinks.
3. Tosca & Nino Rooftop Bar
Location: Piazza della Repubblica, Rinascente department store
View: Piazza della Repubblica and the Duomo
Hours: 9 or 10 am through 11 pm/midnight (hours depend on the day)
Reservation: This rooftop bar does not take reservations; it is first come first served
Website: toscanino.com
Ride the elevator to the top floor of the Rinascente department store. Walk to the wine shop, climb the staircase to the rooftop bar, and enjoy a close-up view of the Duomo.
The view from Tosca & Nino Rooftop Bar
We loved this view. It’s not as well-known as other rooftop bars, it’s easy to visit, and the views of the Duomo are one of the best in Florence. Once the rooftop terrace fills up, you will have to wait for people to leave, until you will be permitted to enter the terrace.
Late afternoon and sunset are popular times to be here. Early in the day (morning and early afternoon) you have a better chance of visiting this rooftop bar without a wait in line. We visited this spot multiple times and timing really makes a difference.
They serve cocktails, beer, and wine. They also serve a full menu, from appetizers to soups and salads to main courses and dessert. You can have a full meal here, all with one of the best views of Florence.
They get very mixed reviews on their service. Some reviewers state they had fast, friendly service while others say that service was very slow. We were in the “slow service category,” and it took about 20 minutes for our drink to be served.
Tim and I still think it’s a great rooftop bar to add to your list, since you don’t need a reservation and it has a great view of the Duomo. Take your pick between View on Art and Tosca & Nino, since they offer very similar views.
4. Cosimo Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
Location: The Westin Excelsior
View: The Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Arno River, Ponte Vecchio
Hours: 12 pm to 1 am
Website: cosimorestaurant.com
The view from this rooftop bar is one of the best in Florence. From here, you look out over the rooftops and can see many of the city’s famous landmarks: the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Arno River.
The view from Cosimo
Arno River from Cosimo
This rooftop bar has a mix of indoor and outdoor seating. The number of outdoor tables with a view of the Duomo is limited.
As you can see in our photos above, there are a few rooftops and nearby structures that block photos, but as you sit here, sipping on a glass of wine or cocktail, you have a fantastic view of the Duomo and the city of Florence.
The indoor section of Cosimo also has a nice view of the Duomo and across the Arno River to the south side of Florence. You don’t have the awesome views like you do from the small outdoor terrace, but it makes a good option if you happen to be here on a rainy day.
There is a second, larger outdoor terrace, but these tables have a view over the Arno River, not the Duomo.
The bar opens at noon for drinks. Is noon too early for a cocktail? Not when you are on holiday in Florence!
Lunch is served from 12:00 pm until 2:30 pm, and dinner is served from 7:00 pm until 10:30 pm. Or you can order off of the snack menu at any time during opening hours.
The service is 5 star, and this is one of the most high-end rooftop bars in Florence.
On a visit to the Westin, a walk here might feel a little bit out of the way, but your reward is an expansive view of most of the city, so we think it’s well worth it. Just make your reservation in advance…this is a popular rooftop bar in Florence.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: There is a taxi stand right outside of the hotel so you can easily get to your next destination without a lot of walking.
5. Aria Rooftop
Location: Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi
View: Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio
Hours: Hours vary, check the website for hours during your visit
Website: minorhotels.com
The Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi Hotel is a 5-star hotel in the historic center of Florence. This rooftop bar sits on the top floor of the hotel and offers stunning views of the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio.
The view
We really liked this rooftop bar, both for its views and its casual atmosphere. The drinks were good, the food was good, and the staff was super friendly. On the menu are small plates and cocktails.
6. B Roof
Location: Grand Hotel Baglioni
View: The Duomo, Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
Hours: Hours vary, so check the official website
Website: b-roof.it
Sitting on top of Grand Hotel Baglioni is a rooftop bar and restaurant. Together, the restaurant and rooftop bar span the entire top level of the hotel, so it’s a huge indoor and outdoor space with 360° views of Florence.
B Roof, which is the rooftop bar, takes up the majority of the top level.
B Roof has a large outdoor terrace with tables and chairs. From this terrace, you mainly have a view of the Florence rooftops without any major landmarks, like the Duomo or Palazzo Vecchio. However, if you walk to the far end of the terrace, you get an unobstructed view of the Duomo.
Most of the terrace seating is in a garden like setting, with shrubs and flowers lining the terrace walls and a long archway of vines covering the seating area.
There are a few elevated patios on the rooftop terrace, but they were not open during our visit (the end of September). These upper patios are open from late spring through the summer.
The view from the far end of the terrace at B Roof
B Roof
Also on the top floor of the hotel is a restaurant. This restaurant is all indoors and has incredible views of the Duomo. It is open at 7:30 pm and a reservation is necessary for dinner.
B Roof Restaurant
For the best view from this rooftop spot, come in the summer and request the upper patios in your reservation. Or, book dinner in the restaurant.
If you can’t get a reservation for an upper patio, or if it’s not open as in our case, come for a drink, take your photos from the far end of the terrace, and then relax in the garden like area.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: For the best view from B Roof, make a reservation in advance and request the upper patio. You can’t do this online. You will have to call and speak to someone to make this request. The phone number is listed on the reservation page.
7. 701 Rooftop Bar (formerly La Terrazza)
Location: Gallery Hotel Art, Vicolo dell’Oro
View: Florence rooftops, top of the Duomo, Arnolfo Tower
Hours: 2 pm to 10:30 pm daily
Website: lungarnocollection.com
Note: La Terrazza, which we visited at Hotel Continentale, has relocated and is now operating as 701 Rooftop Bar on the 7th floor of the nearby Gallery Hotel Art, under the same Lungarno Collection ownership. The new location sits one building back from the Arno with a row of buildings between it and the river, so the Ponte Vecchio view that La Terrazza was known for appears to be gone. From what we can tell, 701 looks out over the Florence rooftops with partial views of the Duomo and Arnolfo Tower. The new space adds a covered terrace, making it an improvement over the original. We haven’t visited 701 personally, so check current reviews before you go.
When we visited La Terrazza at Hotel Continentale, the reservation policy came with a significant catch that we felt was poor value: your first drink carries a €35 minimum per person, whether you order a cocktail or a glass of water. That same policy has carried over to 701, and recent visitors are consistently flagging it as the biggest frustration. Many say it wasn’t clearly disclosed upfront and felt like a hidden fee only discovered when the bill arrived. To be fair, the policy is technically stated in the booking process, but it’s easy to miss, and several reviewers report leaving after one drink and still being charged the full amount.
On the positive side, 701 appears to have improved on La Terrazza in one meaningful way: the cocktails and service get genuinely good marks from recent visitors, which was not the case at the original location. If you go in knowing about the fee and can accept it as the cost of a seat, the experience seems more worthwhile than La Terrazza ever was.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: The €35 reservation minimum per person is non-refundable against your drinks bill. It’s a seat fee, not a drinks credit. Know that going in, decide whether it’s worth it to you, and if it’s not, choose one of the other bars on this list instead.
8. Angel Roofbar
Location: Hotel Calimala
View: Palazzo Vecchio, a small portion of the Duomo
Hours: 5 pm to 12 am
Website: hotelcalimala.com
The views from this rooftop terrace are not all that exciting…you do get a wonderful view of Palazzo Vecchio and you can see the front of the Duomo (from one prime spot on the outdoor terrace), but you cannot see the dome from this rooftop bar.
Angel Roofbar
Angel Roofbar
If you are short on time, and just want a great view of the Duomo, this is one to skip. But if you want a great cocktail or meal, this is the place to go. The drinks and the food were the best we had in any rooftop bar in Florence.
Reservations are highly recommended at Angel. But that does not guarantee that you will get a table with a good view.
We had a reservation for a rooftop terrace table and sat inside, with no view, since a private event got the privilege of the better tables and viewpoints. After taking a few photos, we almost left, since we were so disappointed, and frustrated, but decided to have one drink.
The cocktail menu is very creative and the drinks are superb. We tried several, including the various Negronis, and have to say that the Ideal Negroni was our favorite drink here.
We had an excellent experience with the food here, but if you look at the reviews, they are all over the place. Maybe we were just here on a good night, but we loved the small plates that we ordered off the aperitif menu. It seems as if many of the bad reviews seem to come from ordering off of the dinner menu.
Tim and I recommend the Burgerini (burger sliders…yum!!), Il Tagliere (meat and cheese board), and Patata Perfetta (fantastic French fries).
So, make your reservation, if you don’t get prime seating, go up to the terrace and take a few photos, and then order drinks and snacks off the menu…we loved the experience even though it turned out differently than we expected.
More Rooftop Bars in Florence
Here are a few rooftop bars that we visited but weren’t fans of. They are either far from the city center or the views were just OK.
Loggia Rooftop Bar
Sitting on the west side of the Arno River is a historic hotel (Hotel Palazzo Guadagni) with a rooftop bar and restaurant. It is a bit of a walk from the main sites in Florence, so to get here, you will have a 10 to 15-minute walk, or a short taxi ride. The views aren’t anything special. You are looking out over the neighborhood and cannot see any of the iconic sights in Florence. The food was good, the drinks were OK, so overall, we think this rooftop bar should get a pass, unless you are staying here or will be in the area.
Loggia Rooftop Bar
View from Loggia Rooftop Bar
Rooftop Bar at Hotel degli Orafi
This rooftop bar is located near the city center of Florence, so it’s easy to get to. From here, you can see the Duomo, the Palazzio Vecchio, and the Arno River but the views are not as good as the rooftop bars mentioned above.
Rooftop bar at Hotel degli Orafi
Uffizi Gallery Cafeteria
The Uffizi Gallery has a rooftop terrace cafeteria on the second floor, situated near the end of the museum route. Access requires an Uffizi entry ticket. You cannot visit this terrace without going through the museum, so it’s not a standalone rooftop bar stop the way everything else on this list is.
The view is genuinely pleasant: Palazzo Vecchio feels close enough to touch from here, and you can see the top of the Duomo above the surrounding rooftops. It’s a nice spot to take a break mid-museum, have a coffee or a glass of wine, and decompress before finishing your visit. Food options lean toward cafeteria fare, basic and overpriced, as you’d expect inside a major museum, but a coffee or aperitivo on the terrace is perfectly reasonable.
If you’re planning to visit the Uffizi anyway, build in 15 minutes here. The terrace is a logical stopping point near the end of the route, and the Palazzo Vecchio view is worth a few minutes of your time. That said, there’s no reason to visit the Uffizi specifically for this terrace, and if rooftop views are your priority for the day, you’ll be better served by the bars on the main list above.
New Rooftop Bars in Florence Since Our Visit
Florence’s rooftop scene has grown since we were last in the city. These two bars had not yet opened during our visit, so we can’t offer the same firsthand reviews as the spots above — but both are generating enough buzz to be worth including.
TornaB Panoramic Bar at Antica Torre Tornabuoni
Perched atop a 13th-century tower on the elegant Via Tornabuoni, this is one of the most historically striking rooftop settings in Florence.
The bar, officially called TornaB, underwent a full renovation in April 2025, emerging with a new look: ceramic surfaces, cement tile floors, and a burgundy color scheme that feels both contemporary and grounded in the city’s palette.
From the rooftop you get two distinct vantage points: the Dome Terrace faces Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s bell tower, while the Arno Terrace looks south over Palazzo Pitti, Forte Belvedere, and the river. The cocktail menu was completely renewed alongside the redesign.
One important note: the hotel’s two private rooftop terraces are reserved for hotel guests only. TornaB, the panoramic bar, accepts reservations from outside visitors. If you want access to the full terrace experience, you’ll need to book a room.
Website: tornabuoni1.com
The Social Hub Florence Belfiore
This one is a different kind of rooftop experience: less intimate bar, more elevated urban park.
The Social Hub Belfiore opened in February 2025 and its rooftop followed in June, immediately becoming one of the most talked-about spaces in the city. The numbers are impressive: 7,000 square meters of rooftop garden, a 50-meter pool, and capacity for nearly 1,000 people. It’s open daily from 9 am to midnight and is accessible to non-guests via the outdoor staircase or hotel elevator.
The caveat: this isn’t in the historic center. The hotel sits in the San Jacopino neighborhood, a short tram ride from the Duomo, and the views, while genuinely panoramic, don’t give you that up-close Duomo drama that makes bars like View on Art or Divina Terrazza so special. Think of this as a scene rather than a view. For an aperitivo with a crowd, a poolside drink, or a summer evening with live music, it sounds fantastic. For the classic Florence rooftop experience? Head to the bars on our main list.
Website: thesocialhub.co/florence-belfiore
Florence Rooftop Bars: On a Map
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Best Florence Rooftop Bars: Our Recommendations
Rooftop Bars with the Best View
For the best view of the Duomo, View on Art at Hotel Medici is the clear winner, because nothing else we visited comes close for sheer proximity to the cathedral. Tosca & Nino at the Rinascente is our runner-up, with a similarly spectacular angle and the added bonus of no reservation required. Divina Terrazza and Cosimo round out the top tier for views, with Cosimo offering the widest panorama of the city overall.
If you want to go beyond rooftop bars and explore all the best viewpoints in Florence, including Piazzale Michelangelo and the Duomo dome, and Fiesole, we cover all of them in our guide to the best views of Florence.
Most Expensive Rooftop Bars
If budget is a concern, 701 Rooftop Bar is the one to skip. At €35 minimum per person just to secure a reservation, it’s the most expensive rooftop bar in Florence by a significant margin, and in our opinion, the views don’t justify the price tag. Cosimo and Angel Roofbar are also on the pricier end, though both deliver more for your money than 701 does.
Rooftop Bars Serving Drinks and Food
For a full meal or serious food alongside your drinks, Angel Roofbar is our top pick. The cocktail menu is the most creative of any rooftop bar we visited, and the small plates were genuinely excellent. Tosca & Nino, Cosimo, and B Roof all serve food as well, ranging from light snacks to full dinner menus. If you just want drinks with your view, Divina Terrazza keeps things simple with cocktails, beer, wine, and a small dish of nibbles.
No Reservation Necessary
If you don’t want to be bothered with making reservations and prefer to keep things spontaneous, View on Art and Tosca & Nino are your best chances to have a seat at a rooftop bar without making a reservation in advance.
If you enjoy rooftop bars as much as we do, don’t miss our guide to the best rooftop bars in Rome, a completely different experience from Florence, but equally worth an evening of your time.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Florence Rooftop Bars?
We visited Florence’s rooftop bars at the end of September, which turned out to be a good time to go, with warm evenings, manageable crowds compared to the peak summer rush, and that gorgeous late-afternoon light hitting the Duomo just right around 6 pm. That said, we did notice the season winding down. The upper patios at B Roof were already closed for the year during our visit, and a few bars were within weeks of shutting down entirely for the fall. If you’re planning a trip in late September or October, check each bar’s website before you go, because some close earlier than you’d expect.
For the best overall experience, we’d aim for late spring or early fall. You get the long golden hours of the warmer months without the intense summer heat and crowds that make rooftop bar hopping feel less relaxing. Summer works too, especially if you’re visiting on a weeknight, but arrive early, because the most popular spots fill up fast.
- Spring (April–May): Ideal — pleasant evenings, all bars open, crowds manageable
- Summer (June–August): Peak season; hot but great for long evenings; arrive by 5 pm for prime seats
- Early Fall (September): Our pick — warm, beautiful light, slightly fewer crowds
- Late Fall/Winter (October–March): Many bars close seasonally; limited options
Frequently Asked Questions: Florence Rooftop Bars
Which rooftop bar in Florence has the best view of the Duomo?
View on Art at Hotel Medici has the best Duomo view of any rooftop bar we visited in Florence. You’re close enough to see people standing on top of the Campanile, and the afternoon light on the cathedral’s marble facade is spectacular. For a similar view without a reservation, Tosca & Nino at the Rinascente department store is an excellent alternative.
Do you need a reservation for rooftop bars in Florence?
It depends on the bar. View on Art and Tosca & Nino are both first-come, first-served, no reservation needed. For most others, including La Terrazza and Cosimo, a reservation is strongly recommended, especially during peak season (May through September). La Terrazza in particular fills up fast; without a reservation, you risk being turned away entirely.
Can non-hotel guests visit the rooftop bars in Florence?
Yes. All of the rooftop bars in this guide are open to non-guests, even though most are located on top of hotels. You do not need to stay at the hotel to visit.
How much do rooftop bars in Florence cost?
Expect to pay €15–21 per cocktail, which is significantly more than you’d pay at a street-level bar in the city. La Terrazza is the most expensive, with reservations requiring a minimum spend of €35 for your first drink. View on Art and Tosca & Nino tend to be the most affordable options.
What is the dress code for rooftop bars in Florence?
Smart casual is the standard across all of Florence’s rooftop bars. Most venues are relaxed about enforcement, but avoid beachwear, athletic wear, or overly casual clothing, especially at higher-end spots like La Terrazza and Cosimo.
Are Florence rooftop bars open year-round?
Not all of them. Several bars close in late September or October and reopen in spring. If you’re visiting Florence in fall or winter, check each bar’s website before you go to confirm they’re open.
More Florence & Italy Travel Guides
Planning the rest of your Florence trip? Our one-day Florence itinerary and two-day Florence itinerary walk you through the city’s highlights, and our guide to the best things to do in Florence covers everything worth adding to your list.
For the best vantage points beyond the rooftop bars, see our guide to the best views of Florence.
If you’re heading further afield, our Florence day trips guide is a good next step.
For the bigger picture, start with our 10-day Italy itinerary or 14-day Italy itinerary.
If you have any questions about the best rooftop bars in Florence, if you want to share your favorites, let us know in the comment section below.
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