Where to have breakfast in Florence: historic pastry shops, hotels, and modern bakeries

In Florence, breakfast is a serious matter, even when it seems as light as a freshly baked pastry. Here, it's not just a matter of choosing between cappuccino or espresso, but of deciding where to start the day: at the counter of a historic pastry shop, in a Nordic bakery, in a luxury hotel, or over a specialty espresso. Because even before museums and trattorias, it's at breakfast that you understand the character of a city. And Florence, on this point, has a lot to say.

Wild Buns Bakery

Wild Buns Bakery is the Nordic artisan bakery that has conquered Florence with its Scandinavian-inspired pastries and breakfast buns, perfect with specialty coffees, fresh juices, and creative beverages. Originally located in Oltrarno on Via di Camaldoli, it offers brioche, cinnamon buns, paninis, and rustic bowls, perfect for a delicious and unique start to the day. Its success has been such that it recently opened a second location on Via Giuseppe Giusti, more spacious and with outdoor seating, where you can enjoy the same breakfast and brunch offerings in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.

Wild Buns Bakery. Via di Camaldoli 1/c, Florence. Tel. 055 020 2597. / Via Giuseppe Giusti 2/r, Florence. Tel. 055 709 6167. Instagram.

Lietta Coffee

Under the arcades of Piazza della Libertà, Caffè Lietta is a benchmark for breakfast in Florence. A wide selection of artisanal pastries and cakes emerges from the bakery every day. The signature dish is the Pirulo, a shortcrust pastry filled with a variety of creams, alongside classic rice puddings and fragrant brioches. The selection of pastries is extensive, while the coffee shop completes the experience with carefully crafted cappuccinos and espressos.

Caffè Lietta. Piazza della Libertà 6-7-8R, Florence. Instagram.

Artisan Company

Ditta Artigianale, with its six locations throughout Florence, is a must-visit for breakfast and specialty coffee lovers. Here, coffee is at the heart of the experience; artisanally roasted and served using different methods to enhance its flavors and aromas. In addition to the historic café on Via dei Neri, the offering extends to all other locations, with spacious and welcoming spaces. Their breakfast menu combines quality specialty coffees with brioches, pastries, and baked goods inspired by the French and Northern European schools.

Artisanal Company. Via dei Neri 32R / Via dello Sprone 5R / Via Giosuè Carducci 2-4R / Lungarno Soderini 7R / Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini 1R, Florence. Instagram.

Four Seasons Hotel Florence

Breakfast is a central focus at the Four Seasons Florence, according to chef Paolo Lavezzini. At Palazzo della Gherardesca, you can enjoy it even without a guest, indoors or, weather permitting, in the large park. The menu offers à la carte and buffet options, with a focus on seasonality and local produce: probiotic breakfasts, organic eggs, pancakes, waffles, and porridge. Pastry chef Mariano Dileo offers excellent sweet treats, plus savory treats served freshly. Breakfast is served from 7 to 11 a.m.

Four Seasons. Borgo Pinti 99, Florence. Instagram.

Marcello Pastry Shop

Outside the city center, Marcello is a must-try for those seeking quality artisanal pastries, paired with excellent coffee or a selection of teas. Everything is made in the in-house laboratory, using only natural ingredients and no margarine: breakfast pastries, savory pastries, cakes, and individual portions. Try the chocolate semolina and fruit tart. For about a year, the shop has also opened a second location, also in the southern Florence area.

Marcello. Viale Europa 169, Florence / Via Giovanni Lanza 77, Florence Instagram.

Pastry Shop

Bottega di Pasticceria, a Florentine brand with two ideal addresses for a delicious breakfast in the city. Here, artisanal pastries combine with well-made coffee and perfectly baked goods: fragrant brioches, croissants, and pastries perfect for accompanying cappuccinos or espressos. The elegant yet welcoming atmosphere is also perfect for a leisurely morning break. Excellent value and a selection ranging from sweet to savory, with products always fresh and inviting from the early hours of the day. A classic pastry shop.

Pastry Shop. Lungarno Francesco Ferrucci 9C R, Florence / Via Masaccio 22 R, Florence. Tel. 055.6580313 Instagram.

Fancy Pastry Shop

Fancy Pasticceria, Specialty Coffee & Croissant is a café and pastry shop renowned for its quality breakfast offerings of croissants, pain au chocolat, and French-style pastries paired with specialty coffee and other curated beverages. The establishment combines fragrant artisanal pastries with quality-crafted coffee, in a welcoming atmosphere perfect for a break away from the beaten tourist track. Its breakfast is beloved for its delicately baked pastries and rich, aromatic coffee, perfect for starting the day with a contemporary twist.

Fancy Pastry Shop. Via Francesco Valori 4R, Florence. Instagram.

W Florence

It's one of the most exciting openings of the moment: the W brand arrives in Florence, bringing with it iconic design and high-end service. Even without staying at the hotel, the breakfast is worth trying, designed as a true experience. Designed by Portuguese chef Ivo Benídio, the breakfast buffet is the centerpiece, complete with a bakery station dedicated to leavened goods, while all hot dishes are à la carte. Don't miss the avocado toast, eggs in purgatory, fresh juices, and the Lavazza 1895 special blend. Breakfast is served from 7 to 11 a.m. in the Tratto restaurant and lounge.

W Florence. Piazza dell'Unità Italiana 4b, Florence. Instagram.

Nencioni

Founded in 1950 as a neighborhood shop by Maria Luisa Falai and Vinicio Nencioni, this pastry shop is now one of the city's historic addresses. From a bakery serving fresh bread and pasta, it has evolved over time, increasingly focusing on artisanal pastries. For breakfast, the favorites include brioches, mini pastries, and classic rice puddings—some say the best in the city.

Nencioni. Via Pietrapiana 24R, Florence. Instagram.

Serafini Pastry Shop

Founded in 1928 by Nello Campanelli, Pasticceria Serafini is one of Florence's historic breakfast spots, located on one of the Florentines' most beloved streets just outside the city center. A well-stocked counter offers fine, fresh, and seasonal pastries, with a particular focus on their cream-filled pastry, a true bestseller. Also worth trying are cremini, shortcrust pastry boats, apple strudel, and the classic pappatacci (rolls of cooked custard, dotted with raisins). To drink, the Fornacino: coffee with cream, cocoa, and chocolate. A breakfast that's a sure thing.

Pasticceria Serafini. Via Vincenzo Gioberti 168R, Florence. Instagram.

The Hoxton Hotel

The Hoxton opened in Florence last spring, housed in an elegant Renaissance palace with 17th-century frescoes. Even without staying at the hotel, you can experience the place at breakfast, served in the lobby. The menu offers a varied menu: a generous buffet and à la carte dishes, from eggs "your way" to eggs Benedict, to a Florentine version with spinach and hollandaise sauce. Yogurt, granola, baked goods, and homemade cakes are also available. Breakfast is served from 7:00 am to 10:30 am.

The Hoxton. Via delle Mantellate 2, Florence. Instagram.

Clay

In the heart of Piazza della Repubblica, Caffè Gilli is the oldest café in Florence, founded in 1773. An iconic address where great pastry tradition blends with a contemporary twist. Try the Linzer Torte reinterpreted by our master pastry chefs, the award-winning 100% Arabica coffee, the miniature pastries, and the famous hot chocolate. An elegant, timeless breakfast, perfect for starting your day in the city center.

Gilli. Via Roma 1R, Florence. Instagram.

Panfuwa

We'll conclude with a recent development. The trend for fluffy Japanese pancakes has also conquered Florence, or at least that's what the line outside Panfuwa in Piazza dei Ciompi suggests. It's ideal for a breakfast that's almost like brunch, both for the generous portions and the opening time, around 10:00 a.m.

Panfuwa. Via Pietrapiana 48R, Florence. Instagram.