Must see nightlife in Santa Croce

Many a Florentine's favourite hotel bar, American cocktail bar Empireo inside the historic Plaza Hotel Lucchesi has been seducing cocktail lovers since…

With industrial decor and laid-back vibe, this ingenious coffee roastery is a perfect place to hang at any time of day. The creation of three-times…

At home in a 13th- to 15th-century palazzo, this tucked-away drinking and dining space is designed to stun. From the exquisite craft cocktails (€20 to €30…

This arty cafe-bar in Florence's former jail is where literati meet to talk, create and perform over coffee, drinks and light meals. The literary cafe…

A buoyant all-rounder, this busy pub rocks with young Florentines tucking into craft beers, cocktails and a mind-boggling choice of creative burgers –…

Specialist coffee has arrived in Sant'Ambrogio with this pocket-sized coffee shop. Linger at the bar to enjoy bilingual barista chat or squat at a bar…

A lively student crowd packs out this young, fun, colourful address with a hipster 'coffee, rum and philosophy' strapline and wooden benches tucked…

If you have the urge to hear more English than Italian – or to hear local bands play for that matter – this is the place. On a pretty pedestrian square,…

This trendy all-rounder pulls in a moneyed younger set with its endless stream of DJ sets, weekend parties, themed aperitivi (from 6pm) and late-night…

A 1920s speakeasy if ever there was one, Vanilla Club cooks up an astonishing array of craft cocktails – many served in over-sized, vintage-china tea cups…

Hidden down a rather dark and dank street near Basilica di Santa Croce, this tiny food and cocktail bar is a sweet spot for a quick drink between sights…

Sample the best of Italian craft beer at this young, fun beer bar in Santa Croce. Pick from 10 craft beers on tap and another 50-odd bottled beers, local,…

One of Santa Croce's original (iconic) hang-outs, this cafe-bar has lost none of its street cred over the years. Trendy 30-something Florentines continue…

A hipster crowd looks beautiful in this Santa Croce lounge and dance club with chintzy red seating, steely grey bar and a mix of hip-hop and R&B on the…

The cafe arm of Florentine superstar chef Fabio Picci (run by his son Giulio, no less), this charming old-world cafe behind Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio is a…

For late-night dancing in Santa Croce, hit this swish nightclub with sleek black facade and three dance floors playing a mixed bag of sounds: latino,…

This small and edgy Santa Croce club lures an international crowd with its music theme nights – loads of 1960s, hip-hop, alternative rock; all sounds in…

Duck behind Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio to find this busy dive bar, packed most nights with a mix of Florentine and foreign students downing shots and…

A variety of sounds energises the crowd at this popular Florentine nightclub, in the biz since 1958, where 20-somethings dance until dawn.

Cent-conscious students love this American-styled bar for its apericena – a copious early-evening buffet of appetisers, bruschette, salads, pasta dishes,…