Best Rooftop Bars in Florence 2026 for Sunset Views
Updated: Oct 26
Updated October 2026
Friends always ask where to watch the sun go down in Florence. My answer is usually a hotel rooftop, drink in hand, with the dome glowing and the hills turning purple.
Here are the terraces I recommend, ranked by what you see, plus when to arrive and which ones need a booking.
Best for the Duomo view
Divina Terrazza, Grand Hotel Cavour
Address: Via del Proconsolo 3. Open all year.
It looks straight at Brunelleschi's dome and the Badia tower, and in winter the terrace is covered and heated, which makes it my cold-weather pick. Access is by a staircase from the top floor, and tables are limited, so reserve.
Angel Roofbar, Hotel Calimala
Address: Via Calimala 2.
Steps from Piazza della Repubblica, with the dome right beside you and a 360-degree view. It serves lunch, dinner and drinks. From November to February it opens Wednesday to Sunday.
Best for the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio
La Terrazza, Hotel Continentale (now at 701 Rooftop)
Address: Vicolo dell'Oro 6r (closed for now). Temporary home: 701 Rooftop at Gallery Hotel Art, Vicolo dell'Oro 5.
This terrace sat on top of a medieval tower right at the Ponte Vecchio, with the river below and the dome in the distance. The hotel has closed and is being folded into Portrait Firenze, with a reopening expected in early 2027. For now the rooftop bar has moved next door to 701 Rooftop at Gallery Hotel Art, so that is where I go for a drink by the river.
Cosimo Rooftop, The Excelsior
Address: Piazza Ognissanti 3.
It looks along the river toward the bridges and the hills. This rooftop replaced the former SE·STO on Arno, so do not be confused by older guides.
Best for the hills and Santa Croce
Empireo, Plaza Hotel Lucchesi
Address: Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia 38. Warm months only.
Near Santa Croce, with a rooftop pool and views over the river and the hills. It is a summer-season terrace, and after 7:30 pm non-guests need a reservation.
B-Roof, Grand Hotel Baglioni
Address: Piazza dell'Unità Italiana 6. Seasonal, usually closed from November.
Near the station, with a classic view of the dome over the rooftops. Its terrace is seasonal and in 2026 stays open until 30 October.
When to arrive
Sunset ranges from about 4:40 pm in mid-December to around 9 pm in late June.
Arrive 45 to 60 minutes before sunset to get a table on the rail.
Stay for the blue hour after the sun drops. The city lights come on and the dome glows.
Tips for rooftop bars
Book where you can. Walk-ins often wait or get turned away at sunset.
Dress smart casual. These are hotel bars.
Seasonal terraces close in late autumn or move indoors.
Rain can close a terrace at short notice. Have a backup plan.
More evenings out
Prefer a cocktail bar at street level? See my guide to the best cocktail bars in Florence. For dinner after, try my romantic restaurants in Florence picks, and for a later night read my Florence nightlife guide.
Where to stay
Several of these terraces belong to hotels near the cathedral. See where to stay near the Duomo. Or browse my guide to Florence hotels with Duomo views.
My rooftop routine
I treat a rooftop as the first act of the evening, not the whole night. I book a table for about an hour before sunset, order one drink, and watch the light change on the dome and the hills.
When the blue hour is over and the lights come on, I head down to street level for dinner nearby. Rooftop menus are fine for a snack, but the best food is in the trattorias below.
Rooftops by season
Spring: April and May evenings are mild and the light is clear. My favorite season up high.
Summer: sunset is late and the terraces are packed. Book ahead and bring a light layer for after dark.
Autumn: golden hazy light, and seasonal terraces start closing at the end of October.
Winter: only covered terraces stay open. Sunset is early, so rooftop drinks become a late afternoon plan.
What to order
An Aperol or Campari spritz is the classic, but a Negroni is the drink Florence invented, so I usually start there. If you prefer wine, ask for a glass of Tuscan bubbles or a Vernaccia.
Most terraces also serve small plates, which make a light aperitivo before dinner.
Free alternatives
You do not need a hotel bar for a great view. Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte are free. The Rose Garden and the Bardini Garden have views too. My Piazzale Michelangelo tips show the best route up. For the view from the top of the Duomo or Giotto's bell tower, book with the Brunelleschi Pass.
Staying with a view
If a view is the point of your trip, book the room, not just the drink. My guide to Florence hotels with Duomo views lists the best rooms, and for a whole villa with a panorama over the city, browse Exclusive Villa Collection.
Reading the skyline from above
Part of the joy of a rooftop is knowing what you are looking at. The great red dome is Brunelleschi's, on the Duomo, with Giotto's bell tower beside it. The tall crenellated tower to the south is Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall, with Arnolfo's tower.
The slim pointed tower further east belongs to the Badia Fiorentina, and the square one next to it to the Bargello, the old police headquarters and now the sculpture museum.
The green and white facade on the hill across the river is San Miniato al Monte, and the long grey building with a dome near the station is the Medici Chapels at San Lorenzo.
On a clear day, you can see Fiesole on the hills to the north and the Apennines behind. I always bring a friend who has never been and point it all out over a glass of wine.
Why the sunset is special here
Florence sits in a bowl of hills, so the light at the end of the day lingers on the stone and turns the terracotta roofs gold, then pink. In summer, the sun sets late, after 8:30 PM in June and July, which gives you a long golden evening.
In winter it sets before 5:00 PM, early enough for a sunset drink before dinner. Spring and autumn often have the clearest air and the most dramatic skies, especially after rain.
Dress and etiquette
Most hotel rooftops have a smart casual dress code. Shorts and flip flops may be refused in the evening. Bars are small and popular, so expect a time limit on tables at sunset, and do not lean on the parapets or move furniture for photos. Some ask for a minimum order at peak times.
Reserving a table
At sunset, the best rooftops fill quickly, especially from May to September. Many accept reservations online or by email, sometimes only for hotel guests or for a set seating time. If they do not take bookings, I arrive 45 minutes before sunset and order a drink while the sun goes down. On cloudy days, they are often quieter.
When it rains
Most rooftops close in bad weather or move service indoors. If storms are forecast, have a backup plan: a lobby bar in a historic hotel or a wine bar in the Oltrarno. On the other hand, the clear light after a summer storm can give you the best sunset of your trip.
My favorite moment
The moment the bells ring for evening, with swallows wheeling over the dome and the city turning gold, is my favorite in Florence. A rooftop is the best seat in the house.
FAQ
Do I need to be a hotel guest?
No. These rooftops welcome outside guests, though some pools are for hotel guests during the day.
Which rooftop is open in winter?
The Divina Terrazza at the Grand Hotel Cavour is open all year with a covered, heated terrace. Angel Roofbar opens Wednesday to Sunday in winter.
Is there a free sunset view?
Yes. Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte are free and spectacular.
What is the best time to go to a rooftop bar in Florence?
About an hour before sunset, so you get the golden light and the blue hour.
Are Florence rooftop bars open in October?
Most are, but seasonal terraces like B-Roof close at the end of October.
About the author
I'm Jason GaNung, and I write every guide on Florence Life. I have spent extensive time in Florence over many trips, and I have stayed in many of the hotels and villas I cover, so my picks come from my own stays, not press releases. More about me.
Read next
Plan my stay
Want a hotel with its own rooftop view? Plan my Florence stay
Comments