"The Oltrarno's defining modern Tuscan dinner — chef Luca Marin's seasonal cooking and a serious wine list in a candlelit Santo Spirito room, open since 2002."
About Il Santo Bevitore
Il Santo Bevitore opened in 2002 on Via di Santo Spirito in the Oltrarno, the artisan quarter across the Arno, founded by siblings Marco and Martina Baldesi with Stefano Sebastiani. It reads as a trattoria and wine bar at once — bookshelf-lined, candlelit, paper-on-table — and it helped define the wave of confident, modern Tuscan rooms that put the Oltrarno on the city's dining map. It carries a place in the MICHELIN Guide.
For the Oltrarno and the wider city, compare the riverside Borgo San Jacopo, the Florentine institution Cibrèo or the three-star Enoteca Pinchiorri.
The Kitchen
Chef Luca Marin cooks a Tuscan menu that turns with the seasons, giving tavern classics a lighter, more refined reading: a marinated-tuna take on the old tuna-and-bean salad, wild-boar ravioli, a confit duck thigh with turnip tops and orange, and a veal fillet among the mains. The kitchen is matched by one of the Oltrarno's best wine lists, the "holy drinker" of the name well served. Expect a mid-to-upper-range Florence bill before wine.
The Room
The room is candlelit and lined with bottles and books — closer to a smart Parisian wine bar than a rustic trattoria, but still relaxed and paper-on-table. Service is knowledgeable, especially on the wine, and the Santo Spirito setting puts you in the most characterful corner of Florence. It works for a long, wine-led dinner as easily as a quick plate at the bar.
Best for First Date
A candlelit room and a wine list to linger over make Il Santo Bevitore an easy first date in the Oltrarno. The same setting carries a relaxed anniversary dinner, and the quality and the wine make it a confident business lunch with visiting guests.
Not for
Not for diners after a hushed, formal fine-dining tasting or a budget pasta — it is a busy, wine-led modern Tuscan room that runs lively, and the bill climbs once the bottles are open.
Frequently Asked
What is Il Santo Bevitore known for?
It is a modern Tuscan trattoria and wine bar in the Oltrarno of Florence, open since 2002 and listed in the MICHELIN Guide, known for seasonal cooking and one of the area's strongest wine lists.
Who is the chef?
Luca Marin leads the kitchen, cooking a seasonal Tuscan menu that refines tavern classics. The restaurant was founded by siblings Marco and Martina Baldesi with Stefano Sebastiani.
What should I order?
Seasonal dishes change often, but the wild-boar ravioli, the marinated-tuna reading of the tuna-and-bean salad, and the veal fillet are signatures — paired from a deep wine list.
How expensive is it?
Mid-to-upper range for Florence before wine; it is a serious but not formal room, and the bill rises with the wine, which is a big part of the draw.
Where is it located?
On Via di Santo Spirito 64-66r in the Oltrarno, the artisan quarter across the Arno near Santo Spirito and Ponte Santa Trinita.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Il Santo Bevitore
Popular Oltrarno room; book ahead, especially for dinner.
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Practical Information
AddressVia di Santo Spirito 64-66r, Florence
NeighbourhoodOltrarno / Santo Spirito
CuisineTuscan
PriceMid-to-upper range before wine
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingCandlelit trattoria & wine bar
ReservationRecommended
