If you spend any significant amount of time in Central or Northern Italy and love food, wine and lively company and somehow do NOT manage to acquire the aperitivo habit; then you have the kind of willpower that would make St. Augustine bow down to you.

It took me a while to get around to trying Noir. I’m not sure what made me hesitate, I love film noir, pinot noir and little noir dresses. I am glad I finally did.  The first thing of note about Noir is the location.  When you hear real estate types talk about location, location, location; this type of space is exactly what they are talking about.  Positioned on the north side of the Arno, on a corner that has one of the many bridges of Florence. Absolutely stunning.

The focus here on drinks is more cocktail oriented and the bar is PACKED after 7pm, to make things more efficient they have set up a system where you first pay and get a receipt and then tell the bartender what you would like.  If you are lucky enough to get a table, the table service here was suprisingly good for a place that is as consistently busy as this.  The aperitivo is typical Tuscan and frequently restocked.  During slower periods, or if you tip on your drinks, then the waitresses will bring little plates to you so that you can just soak up all the chatter and flirting that is going on around you.

When the weather is a little warmer the crowds grow exponentially and the only available “tables” are the spots along the wall that girds the river.  This is where you will find all the flirtiest Florentines that have just finished their workday.  Resting your glass and little plate on the wall, standing over the Arno, looking on the Ponte Vecchio to the east and the beautiful Tuscan sky overhead is a fantastic way to transition into evening.

Noir

• Lungarno Corsini, Florence 50123, Italy
• Phone: 39 055 210 751