Cafe Life Florence: A Guidebook to the Cafes & Bars of the Renaissance Treasure [Paperback]

Joe Wolff (Author), Roger Paperno (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2005 | Series: Cafe Life

Like its older sibling Café Life Rome, author Joe Wolff and photographer Roger Paperno's new book profiles family-owned cafes, bars, and gelaterias, this time in the glorious and historic city of Florence. Reap the rewards of their exhaustive research into the fine espressos and artisanal gelatos to be found in the city that is the heart of Tuscany, one of the world's great regions of gustatory pleasure. Not only will this book recommend choice vantage-points from which to sit back and enjoy Florence, but Wolff's interviews with the cafés' owners make a fascinating read. It seems the gregarious owners of these establishments can't help but sprinkle their information about the ancient freezing systems for the gelato or the best sources for coffee beans with local customs (such as one involving oxen and fireworks on Easter morning), Italian film history (of course), and gossip (about a certain American actor's indigestion, for example). If the stories in Café Life Florence make you want head to the Barberi bar or the Ciolli gelateria to hear some more, Paperno's stunning and evocative photography makes you feel as if you're already there-the steam rising from your espresso, your spoon slipping into a creamy gelato. Florence is like no other city, and Café Life Florence pays homage to its simplest pleasures.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Roger Paperno has shot photos for clients all over the planet, working to capture the beauty present in everything from smoky Roman cafés to flamboyant cruise ships in the Panama Canal. His books include Café Life Rome and the forthcoming Café Life Venice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: Interlink Books (June 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566565626
• ISBN-13: 978-1566565622
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Background Reading, Bad for Recommendations, January 4, 2007

By 

Coffee Boy (Astoria, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cafe Life Florence: A Guidebook to the Cafes & Bars of the Renaissance Treasure (Paperback)

I completely agree with the "Knitting Fiend" below. Reading this book before going was a joy, especially the stories about the families who own these cafes, the luminaries who frequented them, and so forth. But almost without exception they were poor places to actually visit: far too touristy, overpriced, super crowded (these places must be recommended the world over!) and, most shockingly, they had BAD COFFEE!!! Was the author off base, or have things changed dramatically since he visited? Who knows? The best advice, sad to say, is simply to avoid all the places he writes about. (NOTE: The same applies times two to Wolff's "Cafe Life Rome." Never have I been steered to such bad, tourist ripoffs. Read the book, but leave it at home and follow your nose!)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cafe Life Florence, December 4, 2007

By 

Mrs. Ines Noordhuis (Glen Innes, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cafe Life Florence: A Guidebook to the Cafes & Bars of the Renaissance Treasure (Paperback)

This book made my trip to Florence worthwhile. Instead of standing in line for a church or museum I was able to sit in the best cafes and read a potted history not only of the cafe but the surrounding area. Joe's interviews with the cafe owners led to the inclusion of some anecdotes you won't read anywhere else! I tasted only the best old fashioned style gelati of every flavour. If the beer was a bit expensive at the Cafe Rivoire the free nibbles made up for it. Following in Joe Wolff's footsteps I was led to various slightly off the beaten tracks parts of Florence and up to Fiesole. If you've already 'done' Florence do it again with 'Cafe Life'. A tip - put the page numbers beside the Cafe Locations on the map to save going back and finding them on the Contents page.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't weigh down your luggage with this book!, June 2, 2006

By 

Christina K. Hunnicutt "Knitting Fiend" (Fort Wayne, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cafe Life Florence: A Guidebook to the Cafes & Bars of the Renaissance Treasure (Paperback)

This book is more of a storey book than a guide to use when you are in Florence. I went to one gelateria and two caffe's out of this book and all weren't that great, more tourist traps than hidden gems. I wish this book would give some idea of prices, because a few of the places we checked out (but didn't order) had ridiculous prices. If you want a wonderful food guide to Florence, check out Emily Wise-Miller's Food Lover's Guide to Florence, it is excellent.