Inside Shake Cafe in Florence, Italy. Plants hang from a structure over the bar area that's in the center of the room. Tables surround the central structure and people work and chat.
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Best Places In Florence For Studying And Working – Cafes, Libraries & Bookstores

Last updated on September 16th, 2024

Are you looking to hunker down with your laptop in Florence and get a bit of work or studying done? It has been easier said than done up until now!

Italy is notorious for having a very different coffee culture than in North America or Australia – one that does not permit you to sit down with your coffee beverage and enjoy endless hours of free wifi.

But not anymore! With a huge influx in tourism and student life, Florence business owners have given in to the lingering coffee culture so familiar to many foreigners. 

After being a student in Florence for several years and now residing here as a writer working from home since 2012, I have had ample time to explore the best places in Florence for studying and working. 

In this article, I will share with you my top places in Florence to sit down with a coffee, Spritz, or snack and your computer to work without anyone giving you the stink eye. 

All of these cafes, libraries and bookstores welcome you to take a seat either indoors or outdoors and linger as you work without being disturbed or feeling pressured to leave. 

Studying Abroad in Florence? Check out 5 Quick and Easy Meals to Cook as a Student in Italy.

Best Places In Florence For Studying And Working Map

Best Places In Florence For Studying And Working Quick Guide

NameCategoryAddress (Neighborhood)Best For
La MénagèreCafeVia de’ Ginori, 8/R (San Lorenzo)Light studying or office work 
Le Murate Caffè LetterarioCafePiazza delle Murate (Sant’Ambrogio)Budget friendly + group work 
Mama’s BakeryCafeVia della Chiesa, 34R (Santo Spirito)Studying with baked goods in hand
Shake CafeCafeVia dei Neri, 56 (Santo Croce), Via del Corso, 30r (Historic District), Via Camillo Cavour, 67/69R (San Lorenzo), Via degli Avelli, 2/red (Santa Maria Novella)Brunch & students
SantarosaCafeLungarno di Santa Rosa (San Frediano)Outdoor seating off the beaten path
Il ConventinoCafeVia Giano della Bella, 20 (Porta Romana)Studying and working side by side the locals
The Social Hub CafeCafeV.le Spartaco Lavagnini, 70-72 (Fortezza da Basso)Meeting new people & private meeting spaces
Ditta ArtigianaleCafeScattered throughout city center with locations in Via dei Neri, 30/32 R, Via dello Sprone, 5/R, Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 1r, Via Giosuè Carducci, 2/4r, and Lungarno Soderini, 7RLight studying or office work 
OdeonBookstoreVia Degli Anselmi, Piazza degli Strozzi, 3-5-7Quiet environment in beautiful setting
La CitéBookstore/CafeBorgo S. Frediano, 20/RCafe and bookshop in one
Todo ModoBookstoreVia dei Fossi, 15/RA short study session 
Biblioteca delle OblateLibraryVia dell’ Oriuolo, 24Best view
Biblioteca NazionaleLibraryPiazza dei Cavalleggeri, 1Quietest location (no eating allowed)
Biblioteca Pietro ThouarLibraryPiazza Torquato Tasso, 3Staying extra long periods

Eating in Italy Basics: If you are curious to know more about navigating dining in Italy, you may be interested in
How To Order Food In Italian
Tipping In Italy – When & How Much From A Local
What Is A Coperto?  All About Italy’s Cover Charge
A Visitor’s Guide To Eating In Italy
How To Order Food In Italian

Good To Know: Libreria in Italian means bookstore, not library. A library is a biblioteca. 

Best Cafes In Florence For Studying

La Ménagère

Blue awning and sign above entrance to La Menagere coffee shop in Florence, Italy.

Via de’ Ginori, 8/R

Best For: Light studying or working 

La Ménagère is my top pick for studying and working in Florence if you are looking for a cool, innovative environment. Characterized by a design shop and lots of greenery, this cafe is one of the hippest places to grab a full meal, a coffee or a cocktail.

Better still, is that it’s work/study friendly with large tables, two tops and sizes in between both indoors and outdoors. The only downside is that because it’s such a cool and beautiful place, it can get busy which is why I recommend it for light study and work. Keep your ‘to do list’ small with easy to accomplish tasks and it’s a match made in heaven. 

Le Murate Caffè Letterario

Brick and orange painted building with painted sign for Caffè Letterario. Green tables with white chairs in front on terrace.

Piazza delle Murate

Best For: Budget Friendly + Group work and study

Le Murate is one of the best places for studying and working in Florence if you are on a budget. They have an amazing indoor and outdoor seating area with reliable wifi and several food and beverage options including breakfast, a lunch menu, snacks and an affordable apericena (large buffet + drink). 

Come anytime of the day and feel free to spread out at large tables and work or study with others. It’s also one of my favorite meeting points to talk things over. 

Good To Know: Le Murate also hosts many readings, performances, art exhibitions and small concerts in the evenings.

Mama’s Bakery

Via della Chiesa, 34R

Best For: American baked goods and bagels

Mama’s Bakery is tucked away behind Piazza Santo Spirito offering a wide selection of authentic American baked goods (brownies, pies, cookies, etc.) and deli sandwich options. Order at the counter, fill up your coffee from the self-service bar and stay for hours without feeling pressured to leave. 

Good To Know: They have a small indoor courtyard where you can step out and get a breath of fresh air.

Shake Cafe

Entrance to Shake Cafe and Juice Bar in Florence, Italy. People sit inside at tables working on laptops and there are foods displayed behind glass counters.

Four Locations in Via dei Neri, 56 (Santo Croce), Via del Corso, 30r (Historic District), Via Camillo Cavour, 67/69R (San Lorenzo), Via degli Avelli, 2/red (Santa Maria Novella)

Best For: Brunch and students

Shake Cafe is a new hotspot in Florence and for good reason: they have a huge menu catering to all kinds of dietary restrictions including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan all in a laptop friendly atmosphere. 

Each location is slightly different in terms of the seating arrangement but for studying and working I recommend the one in Via Camillo Cavour with the largest indoor and outdoor dining rooms with both individual tables, medium-sized tables and co-working large tables. 

Come and order anything from a breakfast sandwich to a coffee, juice, full brunch or falafel sandwich. 

Travelers With Special Diets: For more on eating in Florence with special diets read Eating Vegan and Vegetarian in Florence and Eating Gluten Free in Florence.

Santarosa

Lungarno di Santa Rosa

Best For: Outdoor seating 

Santarosa Bistrot is my top pick for studying and working in Florence if you are looking to get off the beaten path and sit outdoors. 

The outdoor terrace at Santarosa is not only large but beautifully situated just off the Arno river. Come here and have coffee and breakfast or bring your work and stay after you order from their eclectic and casual lunch menu. 

Good To Know: Santarosa isn’t the best place to study on Sunday because they offer a brunch special which can get quite crowded. Read more about Brunch in Florence.

Il Conventino

Via Giano della Bella, 20

Best For: Studying and working side by side the locals 

Il Conventino is perhaps the most inconvenient location on my list of recommendations for studying and working in Florence but once you get there, it’s a dream. Il Conventino is more than just a cafe but also a small art gallery and restaurant. 

Hidden within a small convent in the Porta Romana area, this hidden gem has ample indoor and outdoor seating with a great menu that rotates as the seasons change. 

Feel free to do group work here and catch some rays outdoors to reboot your soul between projects. 

The Social Hub Cafe

V.le Spartaco Lavagnini, 70-72

Best For: Meeting new people & private meeting spaces 

The Social Hub located just outside the downtown city walls of Florence is my favorite place for work and study if you are looking to meet others. It’s a hip co-working space, hotel/long term stay, restaurant and bar all in one. 

You don’t have to be a club member to use the bar and set up shop but to access their private rooms and amenities you do. 

It’s a little confusing to first understand where you can sit as a cafe guest but don’t be afraid to ask. Everyone speaks English because it’s THE co-working center in Florence. 

Good To Know: You can get to the Social Hub via the tram (T2) in Florence by getting off at the Fortezza stop and walking 1 min. 

Ditta Artigianale

Inside area of Ditta Artigianale Cafe in Florence, Italy. You can see pastries in a display case on the left, goods for sale on shelves on right. Tables on right.

Scattered throughout city center:
Via dei Neri, 30/32r
Via dello Sprone, 5r
Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 1r
Via Giosuè Carducci, 2/4r
Lungarno Soderini, 7r

Best For: Light studying or office work 

La Ditta Artigianale is my top pick for people looking to do a little bit of light studying or work in a cool cafe with great coffee beverages and cocktails. 

Known for some of the best coffee in Florence, La Ditta Artigianale has a large beverage and coffee menu with drinks made from their locally roasted coffee beans. 

The food is also excellent with a wide selection of brunch items like pancakes, bagels, sandwiches, salads, avocado toast, scrambled eggs, and green curry. 

The main thing to keep in mind is that every location has a different amount of space. For example, the Ditta in Via dei Neri is small so a better study location is either Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini or Lungarno Soderini. 

Good To Know: La Ditta Artigianale is also one of the best places in Florence cocktails, which you can read more about in Coolest Bars in Florence.

Best Bookstores In Florence For Studying

Giunti Odeon Libreria

Bookshop on the lower floor of Odeon Cinema in Florence, Italy. People sit in the seats in the upper level.

Via Degli Anselmi, Piazza degli Strozzi, 3-5-7

Best For: Quiet environment in beautiful setting

Florence’s most beautiful movie theater (ex-theater) has recently been turned into a Giunti bookstore. Its classic old-style theater architecture allowed Giunti to turn the ground seating area of the theater into a bookstore while leaving the top balcony seating as is for studying and readers. 

Come and enjoy a quiet morning or evening studying and working in one of the most beautiful theaters in Florence with the opportunity to browse a well curated selection of books below on your breaks. 

The bookstore does not actually allow food or drink inside but attached to the theater is the bookstore cafe with all you could hope for from coffee to snacks, breakfast items and quick lunch options. 

Good To Know: Although it’s very quiet here they do leave the old screen on with a quiet black and white film running, which can be distracting for some people. 

La Cité

street view of le cite cafe with brown umbrellas covering an outside eating area with brick building in background.

Borgo S. Frediano, 20/R

Best For: Cafe and bookshop in one

La Cité is one of the oldest cafes in Florence to welcome students to linger over their coffee without feeling rushed or pushed out. Even when I was a student in Florence years ago I would come here to study with friends. 

Today, the atmosphere is just as I left it with big chairs to get cozy in, several tables, a balcony seating area and a small outdoor terrace on the street (not as great for working). 

La Cité also doubles as a small bookshop with an interesting selection of Italian books which line the cafe walls. 

Good To Know: La Cité organized events, readings, music, small comedian shows, and more in the evenings. 

Todo Modo

Via dei Fossi, 15/R

Best For: A short study session

Todo Modo is a small family run bookshop in the center of Florence with one of the best selection of books in the city. 

Make your way to the back of the store to their small seating area and cafe. Get here early to enjoy a quiet corner of Florence with coffee in hand in an atmosphere that will just make you feel better about studying. 

I only recommend staying here for a few hours though because the cafe has only a couple of tables and relies on a good turnaround to support themselves.

Best Libraries In Florence For Studying

Libraries in Italy are not the same in the USA. To enter you may or may not need a library card and they usually don’t have quite as many places to sit down and spread out. Wifi may be limited.

This being said, they have always been my favorite spot for studying in Florence because I am the most efficient here.  

Biblioteca delle Oblate

View of the Duomo from the Oblate Library Cafe in Florence, Italy.

Via dell’ Oriuolo, 24

Best For: The best view

Biblioteca delle Oblate is centrally located in the Historic District offering a quiet place to study in Florence with the absolute best rooftop view of the Duomo. 

Come early if you want to get a good table or seat within the library. If you aren’t picky, there are plenty of smaller outdoor tables within the library but I don’t suggest setting up shop here in the winter. 

The Oblate cafeteria located upstairs is where you can get some budget friendly bites, coffee and snacks while taking in one the best views of the Duomo. 

Keep In Mind: The cafe is closed on the weekends but the library remains open with limited hours. 

Biblioteca Nazionale

Front entrance to two story stone library in Florence, Italy. Cars parked out front.

Piazza dei Cavalleggeri, 1

Best For: Quietest location (no eating allowed)

The Biblioteca Nazionale is Florence’s biggest public library and archive with the grandest study hall room for students who really need to buckle down and get things done. 

To access the library and wifi you will need a valid passport. It’s easy to sign up and once you have, you can also access their lockers to keep your items in while you study in the great hall. 

You cannot eat in the library so bring a bit of money to step out for a coffee or lunch break. I suggest heading down to Via dei Neri, just one block down or Melaleuca Bakery and Bistro along the river where you can find plenty of baked goods, sandwiches and pastry. 

Discover More:
My Favorite Schiacciata in Florence
7 Off The Hook Sandwich Shops In Florence, Italy – A Florentine Family’s Favorites 
Best Pastry Shops in Florence

Biblioteca Pietro Thouar

Piazza Torquato Tasso, 3

Best For: Longer study sessions

Biblioteca Pietro Thouar is a quiet library located on the outskirts of Florence in Piazza Tasso. It’s a great place to hunker down if you need a lot of time. Like other libraries, you need a library card to access the wifi, which may be limited. 

There is no cafe but Piazza Tasso has some really good food options including some of the best gelato in Florence and several trattoria style eateries on the square. 

Studying And Working In Florence Etiquette

Although all my recommendations welcome guests to stay and work or study, it’s important to keep others in mind: 

  • Be mindful of hours. If you are at a small cafe, it’s not the best to stay all day. For all day study sessions, choose a library or larger venue off the beaten path.
  • Try not to study over lunch hour. Many of these recommendations serve lunch and they rely on tables for their lunch customers. If you aren’t going to order lunch, switch locations over the course of a day and just stick to coffee and snacks. 
  • Be mindful of your volume.
  • Keep weekends in mind. Many more locals get out on the weekends, making it harder to find a spot if all tables are taken by working clients.
  • Some bars and cafes might ask you to clear out at lunch time if you don’t plan on eating. This is normal. Alternatively, you might be asked to switch tables.

Spending Time in Florence? Make the most of your time eating and drinking in bella Firenze!:
Best Pizza in Florence
Best Gelato In Florence
Best Coffee In Florence
10 Foods You Must Try On Your First Visit To Florence
The Best Cheap Eats in Tuscany
Eating Vegan and Vegetarian in Florence
Best Rooftop Bars in Florence
Where to Have Aperitivo on a Budget in Florence

Where to Eat on Your First Visit to Florence
My Favorite Places to Eat Bistecca Fiorentina in Florence
Where to Have Brunch in Florence
Coolest Bars in Florence
International Restaurants in Florence
My Favorite Wine Bars (Enoteche) in Florence
Wines to Try in Tuscany
Where to Find Florence’s Best Schiacciata
Florence’s Best Panini
Food Markets in Florence
Where to Find Florence’s Best Pastries
Best Bakeries in Florence
Eating Gluten-Free in Florence
Where to Have Apericena in Florence
Where to Get Takeout in Florence
Where Locals Eat in Florence
Florentine Food Souvenirs

Where to Buy Specialty Food Items and Gifts in Florence
Where to Eat with Kids in Florence
Where to Get a Quick Bite with Kids in Florence
Traditional Tuscan Food

Where to Study & Work in Florence – FAQ

Is Starbucks a good place for studying in Florence?

While I wouldn’t list Starbucks as one of my top picks for studying in Florence, the downtown location does have ample seating in the back with a good wifi connection. No one will pressure you to leave either. The reason it doesn’t make the cut is because of the atmosphere. I find it a bit sad in the back room BUT it’s absolutely a solid option if the ambiance isn’t important to you.