Il Santo Bevitore
Italian restaurant · Santo Spirito ·
Refined Tuscan dishes in a traditional vaulted venue
Refined Tuscan dishes in a traditional vaulted venue
"Meaning “the holy drinker,” Il Santo Bevitore is a candlelit contemporary ristorante in the Oltrarno with a buzzy yet laid-back vibe. Its natural, small-lot wines pair beautifully with classics like pappa al pomodoro and gourmet small plates. Dishes aren’t too complicated, drawn primarily from seasonal, local Tuscan traditions with a creative twist, like wild boar ravioli with cave-aged pecorino in smoked broth. On the wine list, expect emphasis on ready-to-drink gastronomic wines (versus prized aged vintages) that are hard to find outside Italy, including from unique producers who are reviving rare and obscure grapes or those growing Pinot Noir in the mountains above Lucca. The tasting continues with their eclectic spirit offerings, from craft cocktails made with local Tuscan gins to after-dinner digestifs of amaro infused with macerated foraged herbs." - Coral Sisk
"In this Florence dining room, waiter Michel Dansou underscores local etiquette: “When you’ve finished eating, never ask for a cappuccino — never after lunch, and never after dinner,” and he urges guests to read the room, saving the chit-chat for the right moment and placing their order before calling for oil, balsamic, salt, or bread, while having faith in the staff working the dining room." - Mary Gray
"Both the simple, friendly atmosphere and the cuisine served at this restaurant are typical of a Tuscan trattoria. The menu features classic favourites from Tuscany (highlights include pappa al pomodoro and cured hams), which are full of the strong traditional flavours that you would expect to find in Florence and are occasionally reinterpreted in more contemporary dishes. For guests keen to take a culinary souvenir home with them, the Santino delicatessen is just next door." - Michelin Inspector
"A large former coach house in Santo Spirito with vaulted ceiling and dark wood paneling, Il Santo Bevitore is often full and quite noisy. Quietly groundbreaking when it opened in the early aughts, it’s no less popular today. The food combines creative Tuscan fare with a slow-food emphasis on seasonality and provenance. At “The Holy Drinker”—the restaurant’s name, translated into English—wine is important, and the carefully curated list is crammed with interesting and reasonably priced labels from Tuscany and Piemonte, plus a smattering of bottles from Alto Adige, Sicily, Ligura, and Sardegna. There’s also a better-than-average selection of by-the-glass choices." - Nicky Swallow
"A Lively Atmosphere This busy, buzzy Oltrarno restaurant continues to be a personal favorite for its lively atmosphere and dependable cooking at reasonable prices. The menu offers ever-present favorites such as pasta with sweet tropea onions and cherry tomatoes as well as seasonal specialties like honey-glazed lamb shank with ratatouille. Desserts are well worth leaving room for, and the well-priced wine list always has something interesting on offer. Lunch is more casual and the prices are lower."
