Cheryl Shops

I had been to Florence once before, about 10 years ago. I was traveling with a group of friends who had done a lot of planning in terms of tours and day trips to Tuscany (highly recommend). We saw all the major sights—the Duomo, David, the Uffizi—ate well, and generally had a great time, however I felt I had "done" Florence and didn't really need to go back. In planning our trip last month, Sean had never been and I thought it was worthwhile to see, so we decided to squeeze in a two-night stay before we headed to Puglia. We ended up loving Florence so much, we wished we would have skipped Bologna altogether so we could have more time there. I liked Florence the first time I visited, but this time, I loved it. The light bouncing along the Arno river is gorgeous. The city is very walkable. The food is fantastic (it was my favorite of the entire trip, sorry Bologna). But really, it was the shopping that did it for me. There's so much of it, I decided to devote an entire blog post on where to go. Here are the best places to shop in Florence. 

7 must-see shops

Santa Maria Novella: This is the original location (and the oldest pharmacy in the world); you will likely have to wait in line to get in, but it moves quickly and is 100% worth it. The scents are lovely (Rosa Gardenia is my favorite) and the building itself, which used to be a chapel, is stunning. 

Aqua Flor: This is SMN's Dark Academia younger sibling. Same apothecary-type concept, but more of a Victorian Gothic presentation and bohemian feel. I bought a diffuser here that has made our living room smell absolutely divine. 

Scuola del Cuio: Somewhat off the beaten path (not far from Aqua Flor though!) but worth it for the most gorgeous leather goods, made on site by real artisans. (Note: a lot of the leather stores in Florence are selling Italian leather jackets and bags that are actually made in China; read labels and ask questions!) The bags can get pricey, but the belts and small leather goods are more accessible. 

Boutique Nadine: This was recommended by our hotel and was one of my favorite shops. They carry a bunch of well priced, locally designed clothing, as well as costume jewelry and vintage clothes in the back. 

Il Bisonte: The Coach of Italy. I didn't buy anything here this time, but I have a bag from my last trip that I still use (and love). Their leather develops a really nice patina over time, and the branding is minimal, which I prefer. Prices are a little higher, but everything is actually made locally. 

Marina Calamai: Florence is known for its gold jewelry, and while the real thing was beyond my budget on this trip, I stumbled upon this delight of a boutique and promptly brought a gold-plated ring. I wish we had more time to spend in this neighborhood—it was super cute! 

Luisaviaroma: If you're like me, you probably can't afford to actually buy anything here, but it's great for a browse of the must current, coveted, high-end designer stuff. Very tightly edited, in the best possible way. 

More great shops

Campomarzio70: I discovered this perfume shop in Rome last year; they carry Fornasetti, which is what drew me in, but also a bunch of niche fragrance lines like Paris Memo and Perfumer H. Kind of clingy service, but it's this way in a lot of perfume shops. 

Fashion Room Bookstore: Exactly what it sounds like—a bookstore just for fashion books (and magazines), a little off the beaten path but close to our hotel. We wandered in here randomly, and I would have bought a ton here if it weren't for luggage weight restrictions!

Pineider: Really luxe (but not too obscene) leather-bound journals, fountain pens, briefcases, and other businessy stuff. They also do custom-printed stationery. Great for gifts!

Goccia: A family-run shop of unique Italian-made shoes. The shop is tiny and was absolutely mobbed while we were there, so I didn't buy anything, but prices are reasonable for the quality. 

Ortigia: This brand is technically Sicilian (and you can find it fairly easily stateside) but I absolutely love the packaging, and we bought the exact tray that our hotel room had. 

P.S. You can see everything I bought in Italy in last week's Substack newsletter.