CAFFÈ GILLI & CAFFÈ PASZKOWSKI
Two storied Florentine venues, both overlooking elegant Piazza della Repubblica. The former is the city’s oldest coffee house, with its own Liberty style. Coffee here is a genuine institution (for a real treat, try it with cream!), accompanied by delicious cakes and pastries. The latter greets the new day with the seductive aroma of coffee and freshly-baked croissants, as well as mouthwatering pancakes and toast. Both have been awarded three coffee beans and three cups by Gambero Rosso.

CAFFÈ LIETTA
Tucked under the porticoes of Piazza della Libertà, this refined coffee house has a French feel and is embellished with frescoes and flower arrangements. Their signature dish is the pirulo, a tall pastry parcel filled with incredible deliciousness; but there are also traditional pains au chocolat and fragrant croissants, scendiletto cake and the very best of Italian patisserie.

WILD BUNS BAKERY
We head to the San Frediano neighbourhood in Oltrarno and a Scandinavian artisan bakery and coffee shop, where we can try specialities including kanelbulle (the Swedish version of cinnamon rolls), buns with poppy seeds or raspberries and pistachios, treats dreamed up by the creative baker-patron Robert or, if savoury breakfast is your thing, delicious hamburgers, panini and wraps.

FORNO
Still in Oltrarno, but now in Santo Spirito, we find this small temple to superior baked goods, served up in a setting that combines industrial decor with vintage and modern furnishings. Alongside the savoury specialities there are sweet delights including muffins, pound cake, croissants, pains au chocolat and brownies.