Since 1800 there were many Coffee house in Florence, including the “Bottegone“, built by Giuseppe Carobbi and located on two floors of a building in Piazza del Duomo, and near the most neuralgic areas of the city given the proximity of some historic Florentine theaters such as the “Niccolini Theater” and the “Teatro Nuovo”. It was the only coffee house in Florence that remained open until late at night, so as to be able to entertain and serve customers who came out of theatrical performances. The Bottegone has always been a meeting place for writers and actors, who entered before or after the theatrical performances. In 1826, the structure was sold and managed by Fortunato Carobbi until 1864, when it was sold again to Giovanni Gambassini, who changed its appearance and made it one of the most exclusive and sought-after cafés.
In the period between the two Great Wars and in the immediate post-war period, the Bottegone became one of the most sought-after and most exclusive coffee house in Florence, so much so that it was constantly an appointment and meeting place for the Florentines, thanks also to its closure late at night. Among the most famous and illustrious clients it is worth mentioning the poet vate Gabriele D’Annunzio, who attended this café during his stay at the villa La Capponcina (Settignano) in the late nineteenth century. and the beginning of the 20th century.
” Il Caffè del Bottegone lo chiamavano così, forse perché a quei tempi pareva un caffè molto grande. Nelle ore della mattina questo Caffè poteva dirsi una specie di stabilimento balneare privilegiato, dove gli impiegati in riposo e i canonici di Duomo venivano regolarmente a prendere un bagno di cioccolata coi crostini imbucati. Nelle ore della sera, e segnatamente nelle serate caldissime della canicola, il Bottegone, colle sue panche fuori dal Caffè, diventava la Svizzera dei fiorentini. Totando dalla passeggiata delle Cascine, i fiorentini vi si affollavano stanchi, assetati, madidi di sudore; e con la tenue spesa di quattordici centesimi avevano diritto a una mezza porzione di gelato di crema o pistacchio e a una porzione intera di quel fresco lino vivificante che, a notte fatta, si divertiva per il solito ad aleggiare intorno ai fianchi ciclopici della Cattedrale d’Arnolfo.”
The coffee house in Florence that most of all has marked the life of the Florentines from 1793 to today is definitely the Bottegone, which thanks to its strategic position between Via de ‘Martelli and Piazza del Duomo, has always attracted the attention of the passing public . One reason for pride has always been the Pastry, with production that give life to sweet masterpieces, to be admired before and afterwards to taste. We always try to recreate the right harmony between taste and creative inspiration. The Bottegone with its desserts, makes its customers discover a world of totally innovative palate emotions. Everything is taken care of down to the smallest detail, and starting from 7.00 in the morning you can have a coffee and a cake comfortably seated at a table looking at the Florence Cathedral and the Baptistery, as well as taking a lunch break at the counter or ordering from the table an “always present” sandwich stuffed with everything you want, or a first to taste and be delighted by our delicacies. National and international specialties: croissants, panettone, biscuits, traditional and innovative cakes, wide range of chocolate and chocolates.
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."
- John Lubbock
"Dopo una passeggiata nella magica città di Firenze siamo stati ospiti a cena dell'eccellente ristorante che ci ha servizio al meglio anche alle 22 di sera e fatto degustare una buonissima fiorentina contornata di patate e del formaggio tipico toscano. Grazie Ancora Giuseppe !!"
- Michele ATRIPADVISOR
"Accoglienza eccellente.... locale che trovi tutto dalla ristorazione alla grande pasticceria nonché gelateria.... e per ultimo da non trascurare un servizio curato nei minimi particolari grazie alla presenza di personale altamente professionale."
- _bealombardoTRIPADVISOR
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Piazza del Duomo is the beating heart of Florence, and “Il Bottegone” has therefore immediately conquered and for years a central role among the coffee houses in Florence is the Florentines and subsequently for tourists visiting the Tuscan capital, proposing a new way with the its original design to go to the restaurant and above all enjoy the excellent Florentine cuisine.
