Cute wine bar in the Oltrarno
Il Santino
Why locals love it
Il Santino is cozy and classy. The sister wine bar of the restaurant Il Santo Bevitore, it's a prime "happy hour" destination, but don't expect the less-than-impressive buffet fare you find at some other aperitivo spots. It's great for a casual but elegant date spot or a quick weeknight rendezvous with a friend.
Why you should visit it
In theory, Italian aperitivo is supposed to whet your appetite for dinner, not spoil it—but you may fill up on boring, tasteless stuff if you choose a spot with overcooked pastas and bland finger foods. Il Santino is the perfect pre-dinner solution: you won't fill up, but you'll snack on something sumptuous and high quality, paired with good wine.
Special tip
They have delicious marmalades meant to go with cheeses; let the staff guide you in their pairings.