There is an old café in Florence that is far more contemporary than it seems

There is a place, in the heart of Florence, where time seems to have stood still but which at the same time knows how to convey a contemporary vision and a gaze towards tomorrow: it is Caffè Gilli, the city’s oldest café, which since 1733 has welcomed Florentines and travellers with its old-world elegance. Period furnishings, glittering display cases filled with exquisite viennoiserie and refined pastries, the outdoor seating overlooking Piazza della Repubblica: every detail tells a story of tradition and care. But behind the beauty of the rooms, the excellence of the espresso, the signature cocktails, and the haute pâtisserie single portions, today there also beats a new soul, made of responsible choices and attention to the future, and for this reason it has been shortlisted among the candidates for the illy Bar of the Year award for the Bar d’Italia 2026 guide.

Sustainability as identity

In the hands of the Valenza family, who also manage two other historic city institutions such as Caffè Paszkowski and Giacosa 1815, in recent years – especially after the pandemic – Gilli has chosen to place sustainability at the centre, making it part of its identity. A journey aimed at environmental protection but not only, embracing social, economic, and cultural dimensions. In other words: taking care of people and the territory as much as of one’s own products.

People at the centre and connection with the community

The first major responsibility concerns the work team, considered a strategic resource. Here inclusion is not a slogan, but a daily practice: over 40% of the staff are women, 26% are people of non-Italian origin, with a significant presence of young people, so much so that half of the employees are under thirty years of age. More than 80% of contracts are permanent. Even beyond its own rooms, Caffè Gilli works to have a positive impact on the community. Every morning, the fresh products not sold the previous day are donated to the Misericordia di Firenze, a historic network of volunteers: a simple gesture that combats waste and supports those in difficulty. To this are added collaborations with foundations and associations such as ANT, Caritas Diocesana and Fondazione Fratini, proof of a solidarity commitment that goes beyond the café’s perimeter.

Environment and innovation

On the environmental front, actions are numerous and concrete: plastic has been eliminated, replaced by compostable or reusable materials; bottles are only glass, with returnable deposit systems; filtered water systems are available for employees, who are encouraged to use personal water bottles. Furthermore, increasingly efficient machinery, LED lighting with sensors, optimisation of deliveries to reduce emissions. There are also practices of creative reuse of production waste, transformed into new preparations, demonstrating that sustainability can also become fertile ground for gastronomic innovation.

Thus, what for almost three centuries has been an iconic place in Florence, continues to evolve without losing its soul. In the fragrant croissants, in the Gilli gianduia cake, in a perfectly crafted tiramisù, there is all the mastery of an ancient tradition. But today, alongside aesthetic care and impeccable service, there is also the awareness of the importance of responsibility: towards people, the city, the planet.