Hi! I had plans for dinner at Trattoria Zaza for my son's birthday, but now realize it is a holiday and there will be fireworks that evening. I was hoping to find a restaurant where we could eat and have a view of the fireworks. I would of course like a good restaurant since it is his birthday! Suggestions?
FYI....we will be on Roberto's tour of Brunello Val D'Orcia that day, so I am hoping that we will be back in time for a bit of a rest then fireworks in the evening.
For anyone who didn't see your previous post, you'll be staying in Florence, and the fireworks are June 24th and not 4th.
Thanks, Kathy....hoping for suggestions. I think I need to make reservations ASAP!
I've never been there for fireworks, this comment is based on .....
My family was in Athens over the Christmas/New Year's holiday.
We went to Syntagma Square (a hotel near there) to watch the New Year's fireworks.
I live on a lake in Minnesota and there are some people that shoot fireworks off, at their house, near the 4th of July.
That Minnesota home-owner shoots off more fireworks than the Athens' fireworks were.
I was glad to have the experience MAINLY becuase it was such a dud that it was fun in a reverse way.
Also, the fireworks were shot from the roof of a hotel. So you had to be looking at a steep angle up.
The point being, anyone that comments on "your" fireworks had better be talking from good, direct experience. Or you shouldn't have high hopes.
Yes...I agree. I live in New York and have seen the Macy's fireworks and West Point Fireworks...etc. etc.. If we are to have a nice birthday dinner in a good restaurant in Florence....and it happens to have a great view of the fireworks....it's a plus! One more thing to add to the day! I don't like wall to wall crowds and pick pockets are plenty at that time of year, so I'd rather just be in a restaurant to see them.
I think the only restaurant that you can see fireworks is at Piazzale Michelangelo La Loggia restaurant. This is what I heard from the restaurant La Buchetta. I think I will just go there since it seems to be close to the river and I would rather not fight crowds to get to the other one.
Two great spaces to enjoy the fireworks from.
www.albergocavour.it
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/flrwi-the-westin-excelsior-florence/
Are you suggesting we visit the hotel? or have dinner in the hotel? We are staying at an Airbnb
I've no personal experience with this website or the individual hosting the buffet but.....
https://www.bonappetour.com/bla8/24-june-san-giovanni-fireworks-in-florence
Just for your info, the fireworks start at 22:00 (10pm) and are shot from Piazzale Michelangelo.
If I’m there in the 24th I try to go at the Chalet Bellariva, along the river Arno. Actually I eat there a lot regardless of the day, because it’s a great place to eat. My cousin is a good friend with the owner, so we generally have no trouble getting top tables in the garden, but the place in summer is packed on a normal day, so on the 24th of June the place is sold out, always. If you can get a reservation try (contacts below).
http://www.chaletbellariva.it/contattaci/
Other well renown places I know are roof top bars/restaurants, often part of hotels. Some names:
La Terrazza del Brunelleschi (roof top restaurant of Hotel Baglioni)
Hotel Minerva roof top restaurant
Grand Hotel Cavour Divina Terrazza (roof top bar)
L’Antica Torre hotel Terrazza roof top bar
Sesto on Arno (roof top restaurant on the 6th floor of the excelsior hotel)
Of the above I’ve eaten only at Sesto, which is a full restaurant. The others I’m not sure if they are just bars or also full restaurants. I’m sure they all serve some food on that night.
Another place I’ve been for the fireworks o “Fochi” in Florentine (Pronounced “ Fo’hee” since Florentines pronounce a hard c like an h) is the Bar Il Tempio, basically a kiosk on the gardens of the Lungarno Del Tempio. It’s not a restaurant, but you can certainly get drinks. Another outdoor bar/kiosk is the Easy Living, at the Torre di San Niccolo (Piazza Poggi) The two spots above are probably the best spot to see them (not full restaurants though, just drinks).
At the Piazzale itself, there is the Ristorante La Loggia. I’ve seen the fireworks there but not on the 24th, of June, rather on New Year’s Eve of 2000 (on Dec 31, 1999). For that millennial occasion fireworks were shot from all hills surrounding Florence, not just Piazzale Michelangelo. It was the most amazing display of fireworks I’ve ever seen to date. Check if that is a possibility for the 24th of June. The Piazzale is generally closed to traffic on that night, so you might have to walk upthere unless you go earlier.
Take your pick. Just to let you know, finding a seat in any of them is going to be a major challenge on that night.
