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The Best Affogato in Florence

Florence · 3 affogato spots

An affogato in a white cup with cream gelato around the rim and espresso in the middle, on a Florence street
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The Best Affogato in Florence

Where to get affogato in Florence: the 3 spots from Instagram, starting with Vivoli's viral cup, all within a short walk of the Duomo and Santa Croce.

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  • Florence, Italy
  • 3 affogato spots
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The 3 affogato spots

Looking for the best affogato in Florence? These are the 3 gelaterias whose affogato went viral on Instagram: Vivoli, Barroccino and David La Gelateria. All three are in the historic centre, so you can try them on the same walk.

Affogato means "drowned" in Italian: a scoop of cream or vanilla gelato with hot espresso poured over it. The Florence version that fills social feeds comes from Vivoli, where the gelato lines the cup and the espresso sits in the middle.

Affogato in Florence by area: near Santa Croce, Vivoli and its Affogato Bar on Via Isola delle Stinche, with David La Gelateria 3 minutes away on Borgo degli Albizi; between the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, Barroccino on Via del Corso.

All 3 affogato spots: details & directions

  1. Café & dessert · Gelateria

    The historic gelateria near Santa Croce behind the viral affogato. Their Gran Crema Caffè is cream gelato pressed around the sides of a cup with espresso poured into the middle. It took off on Instagram in 2023, and in 2025 Vivoli opened an Affogato Bar next door at number 9 just for it.

    Tip: Queues can be long in the afternoon. Go in the morning or late evening.

    Via Isola delle Stinche 7r, 50122 Firenze
    View on Google Maps
  2. Café & dessert · Gelateria

    An artisan gelateria on Via del Corso, between the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Their affogato is the one you see on Instagram topped with chocolate chips and a wafer. The gelato is kept in covered steel tins and the cones are made in house.

    Via del Corso 66r, 50122 Firenze
    View on Google Maps
  3. Café & dessert · Gelateria

    A small gelateria on Borgo degli Albizi, a 3 minute walk from Vivoli. It serves a similar cup-style affogato, usually with a much shorter queue, and has tables where you can sit down to eat it.

    Tip: Good if the line at Vivoli is too long, it's just around the corner.

    Borgo degli Albizi 36r, 50122 Firenze
    View on Google Maps

Recommended hotels

Where to stay in Florence

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Borgo Pinti

€€€€

Best for: Garden and pool

Renaissance palace in a private 11-acre garden, about 15 minutes on foot from the Duomo, with an outdoor pool.

Portrait Firenze

Lungarno, by Ponte Vecchio

€€€€

Best for: Suites

Suites-only hotel of the Ferragamo family's Lungarno Collection on the river next to Ponte Vecchio.

Hotel Lungarno

Oltrarno, by Ponte Vecchio

€€€€

Best for: Views

Riverside luxury with rooms looking straight at Ponte Vecchio.

Hotel Savoy

Piazza della Repubblica

€€€€

Best for: Luxury in the centre

Rocco Forte hotel on Piazza della Repubblica, two minutes on foot from the Duomo and the shops of Via Tornabuoni.

Hotel Brunelleschi

Florence, Duomo

€€€

Best for: Location

Built around a Byzantine tower near the Duomo, about 15 minutes' walk from Santa Croce.

Hotel Calimala

Between the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio

€€€

Best for: Rooftop terrace

Modern hotel with a rooftop terrace on Via Calimala, halfway between the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.

Hotel Spadai

Near the Duomo

€€€

Best for: Location

Contemporary hotel on Via dei Martelli, between the Duomo and the Medici Chapels, close to the San Lorenzo market.

Hotel Davanzati

Near Piazza della Signoria

€€

Best for: Value

Family-run hotel in a historic building on Via Porta Rossa, a few minutes on foot from Piazza della Signoria.

B&B Hotel Firenze Pitti Palace al Ponte Vecchio

Oltrarno, by Ponte Vecchio

€€

Best for: Oltrarno

Mid-range hotel just across Ponte Vecchio on the Oltrarno side, with a terrace and an easy walk to the Pitti Palace.

Plus Florence

Near Santa Maria Novella

€

Best for: Budget

Budget-friendly hotel and hostel with a rooftop pool and private rooms.

See all 10 best hotels in Florence on one map

Recommended activities

Things to do in Florence

2 hours

Florence gelato making class

Learn how real Italian gelato is made, then taste what you churned.

Book

3 hours

Florence street food tour

Taste schiacciata, lampredotto, cured meats and gelato with a local guide.

Book

2 hours

Uffizi skip-the-line guided tour

See the masterpieces with an expert guide, a short walk from Barroccino.

Book

Before you go

Good to know

Try all three on one walk
Barroccino, Vivoli and David La Gelateria are all within about 10 minutes of each other on foot, so you can compare them in one afternoon.
Eat it fast
The espresso melts the gelato quickly. Have it right away rather than carrying it down the street.
Not a coffee drinker?
All three are full gelaterias, so anyone skipping the espresso can just order a cup or cone.
Amit Kerenspotz.guide

This guide was written by Amit Keren

spotz.guide is a collection of travel maps and step-by-step routes, made to be opened on your phone and followed on the ground. Every guide is put together and checked by founder and editor Amit Keren.

Spots come from time on the ground and strong recommendations, and each one is checked before it goes on the map.

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