Original, unusual and extraordinarily authentic, Gilda Bistrot is one of the most loved restaurants in the Sant’Ambrogio district of Florence, where it is possible to enjoy a break among vintage atmospheres and retro objects.

Overlooking Cibrèo, the kingdom of the histrionic Fabio Picchi and his son Giulio, this little restaurant with a literary and slightly bohemian charm is one of the favorite destinations of city connoisseurs, an address to be jealously guarded and recommended to only a few close friends.

A bistro that is a constant surprise for the eyes and the palate, managed personally by the volcanic Gilda, together with her son William and their chef Antonio.

Gilda and William, the former as a lover of good food and the latter as an art and poetry enthusiast, welcome their guests in a location boasting a vintage charm and a very familiar atmosphere.

Like art and all things that are made with Love, food for us is also poetry.

(Gilda and William, owners)

Art Nouveau is the stylistic feature that characterizes every element chosen to furnish the bistrot, from the furniture to the decorated glasses which in a spontaneous mix of shapes and colors create a cheerful whole full of personality.

Gilda’s husband, in fact, has a long experience in interior decoration around Italy and an incredible talent for recovering extraordinary pieces such as, in this case, the coffered ceiling found in a Piedmontese villa, the counter which comes from a Turin bank or the back counter which was part of an early 20th-century emporium.

The tables, covered with vintage handmade doilies and prepared with antique porcelain plates, bring back the atmosphere of a “grandma’s” living room that warms the heart.

The fine food and wine offering includes Piedmontese meat and fish dishes, traditional recipes, such as peposo from Impruneta (a typical braised stew), as well as the home’s signature recipes such as the knife-cut tartare or the egg pan with truffles.

The homemade desserts and the extraordinary pastiera and rum babas which come from the famous Bellavia pastry shop in Naples are also excellent.

During the summer, Gilda Bistrot also offers an intimate covered dehors from which to enjoy the spectacle of the Sant’Ambrogio market, the oldest in Florence, in operation since 1873.

The Secret

Everything inside Gilda Bistrot is original, even the prints of the works of Mucha, a famous artist from the early 1900s. These are, in fact, vintage reproductions that belonged to an old brothel in the neighborhood.

Useful Info 

Gilda Bistrot
Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti 40r
50122 Firenze 
Tel. + 39 055 2343885

Entrées: 6 – 10 euro
First courses: 13 – 16 euro
Main courses: 13 – 16 euro