Venice Experiences - Visiting Caffè Florian
CAFFÈ FLORIAN - Beauty, elegance and history served up on a silver platter, with a pinch of haughtiness (I mean that with love) and some surprisingly delicious cappuccini and cornetti on the side.
The lovely and elegant Caffè Florian sits in majestic St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) and has been serving Venice since 1720. It is considered to be one of the oldest cafés in Europe and is a symbol of the city of Venice. Caffe Florian has seen it all, from the grandness and glory of La Serenissima “most serene” Republic of Venice to the messy destructive flooding of Acqua Alta. It keeps on going…keeps on shining…and keeps on serving up some of the most exquisite and sophisticated fare in Venice. You can choose to sit inside, surrounded by gilded mirrors, lights and finishes, and be charmed by the scents, sights and sounds of a rich history. Or you can choose to relax in the shaded chairs under the arches or lounge at the tables sprawling out into St. Mark’s Square. Depending on the time of year that you are visiting, you may even be able to listen to the pleasing melody coming from the orchestra that plays in the evenings. There is nothing quite so romantic as being surrounded by the glory of St. Marks Square on a warm night…listening to the music playing on the wind and dancing off of the Venetian facades…truly magical! And if it could get better than magical (it usually can it Italy) then be at Caffe Florian for the dueling bands, when the three café orchestras in St. Mark Square compete to see who can charm the crowd.
Your experience at Caffè Florian -
SHOULD YOU GO?
GO -
If you are an Italy loving romantic at heart, and find incredible joy wrapping yourself in its history, then Caffè Florian is definitely for you. If you want to be surrounded by the ornate and sophisticated Venetian sweet life from the 1700’s all while you sip on your cappuccino or prosecco and delight in deliciously beautiful goodies, then Caffè Florian is a must. And if you are willing to pay for this unique and exquisite experience then take a seat and get ready to indulge!
DON’T GO -
If the above doesn’t sound appealing to you or if you just want a quick coffee or meal, than skip it because this is a place to be savored. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money then skip it because you are paying for an experience here as well, and the prices are going to be double, triple or even quadruple the price you may find at another café. If you want a place that doesn’t have tourists and isn’t busy then skip it because you will find both of these here too.
WHAT TO EXPECT - This place is famous, so during the tourist season it’s going to most likely be busy. We were there in November 2019 and it was very active, but there were open tables and we did get seated right away for coffee and cornetti. We also visited in May of 2022 and found that it was fairly empty. This may be because it was mid week or because Venice is still suffering a bit from less tourists. If you are visited during the summer months you may have to wait but the experience will be worth it. As far as I can tell, they do not take reservations unless you are reserving one of the rooms for an event or party.
There are many wonderful choices here for dining. From your morning cappuccino and cornetto, to a traditional afternoon tea, to aperitivi, to gorgeous light meals during lunch, dinner and after dinner. The service here is elegant, detailed and fabulous!
When you arrive at the door you will either be able to sit where you like (when it is empty) or you will arrive and be welcomed and seated by the host. They may ask you if you want to sit inside or out and if you are planning on having a light meal or coming for items such as drinks and pastries. When it is busier the the cafe’s rooms are split up to accommodate these different things. Once seated your handsomely dressed waiter will arrive to take your order, and then shortly your delights will be delivered to you. It was fairly quick even when we ordered a light meal. Even a simple order of coffee and pastries though will come in delicate cups and saucers, adorned with silver spoons and chocolates…all delivered to you on a silver platter. Ahhh…luxury!
SO HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? - This is all for seated service which usually costs more in Italy. A cappuccino will run you 10.50 euros and an espresso is 6.50 euros (3 euros if you stand at the bar). The cornetti were around 5 euros each. A full service traditional tea will run you 35 euros and their tramezzini and panini are between 11.50 euros and 18 euros. Obviously the costs are higher compared to other cafes, but it’s really not that bad for the incredibly unique surroundings along with the beauty and quality of the items. If you are there during a time when the the orchestra is playing then you will most likely be charged a cover charge. Again, this is worth if for the beautiful and unique experience!
MY FIRST CAFFÈ FLORIAN EXPERIENCE IN NOVEMBER 2019- When we arrived we walked up to the host and asked for a table inside. He asked us if we would be enjoying a meal or taking a coffee and pastry. We were doing the ladder. We were seated in a room with sparkling gold mirrors, dark mysterious portraits, frescoed ceilings, dainty tables and velvet lined seating. What a feeling of elegance, charm and sophistication…so unique! We ordered a cappuccino, espresso for us and two cornetti for the kids. For being busy everything came out to us fairly quickly. The kids were not the easiest that day and we were all cold and tired, but still….we sipped and enjoyed the surroundings and experience, taking in the frescos soaking in the soft warm light or gazing out the window into one of the most beautiful piazzas in the world. We didn’t stay too long but we didn’t feel rushed to leave by the caffe at any time. It all had a very relaxed feel. I wanted to look around at the details in the other rooms, but with the kids and the busyness of the café it didn’t feel like the right time. Next time though! Next time we’ll take more time, order more food….and maybe go without the kids :)
MY SECOND EXPERIENCE IN MAY 2022
It was fun to read over my last experience before giving this update. This time around was so much calmer and more luxurious! Some of this was because we prewarned the kids that we would be going to sit nicely and have a treat without fits or complaints because mamma wanted to have a nice experience….haha. It amazing how a little bit of intention can go along way. Giovanna was a darling too thank goodness. The cafe wasn’t very full so we were able to choose where we wanted to sit, which was lovely. The drinks and food were again fabulous and we did end up getting a more this time:) The orchestra started playing while we were there too which made the experience so dreamy and really everything I could have hoped for. I’m already thinking about my next visit!
CAFFÈ FLORIAN is located in the heart of Venice - in St Mark’s Square. It is one of two cafes that line the side of the square dominated by the bell tower. It’s address is Piazza San Marco, 57 but really you should just look for the tan chairs with cream colored tablecloths and large decorative awnings. They are open from 9 am to midnight 7 days a week.