It seems to be final, Caffe Giacosa in Florence has gone. Giorgio Armani took over the space after Roberto Cavalli closed. The caffe became part of the Cavalli shop after the original one closed.
The Armani renovation took months. I was hoping that they would save some room and continue Giacosa. It has been my favourite place to go for coffee in Florence for 14 years quite apart from the fact that it has been a part of Florence for a couple of centuries.
The Armani shop is just a shop and I think it was a lovely opportunity lost.
I have been on the hunt for a new place to start my day in Florence and the obvious place to start was Caffe Gilli on the Via Roma corner of Piazza della Repubblica. It is the oldest cafe in Florence, opened in 1733.
The interior is elegant and full of delicious treats. If you stand at the counter your coffee and pastry will cost only around €2.50. The toilets are great too. (This is important, public toilets are few and far between in Florence)
I found another great spot on the other side of the Arno in Via della Sprone in the Santo Spirito area. Ditta Artigianale is just a few years old and a completely different style. They serve excellent coffee and snacks at good prices.
I still miss Giacosa, but I think I will get by.