Caffe Concerto Paszkowski

Paszkowski Café (pronounced Pash-KOFF-skee) - A Polish Central European oasis in scorching heat of beautiful Florence ! We visited Paszkowski on a blistering Sunday afternoon with our family during la pausa, and this place truly saved our day. Tucked into Piazza della Repubblica, the terrace is cooled by what looked like fine “misting sprinklers” — a blessing under the Tuscan sun. Inside, the interiors are a striking mix of Polish‑Austrian / Central European elegance: wood‑panelled walls, crystal chandeliers, mosaic floors - think the grand cafés of Vienna, Cracow, Warsaw or Prague, transported into Florence. Service was warm and polished. The manager greeted us with humor, interest in our origins, and genuine care throughout our stay. Highlights from the PSK signature menu? Their bubble‑tea twist felt refreshingly light, and the signature cake—a billowy, Central‑European‑style delight—was perfect. The coffee, too, carried that rich Polish‑Austrian sensibility: full‑bodied, smooth, slightly sweet, and utterly comforting. But what really makes Paszkowski iconic is its history and atmosphere. Founded in 1846 as Caffè Centrale, it became Polish‑run in 1903 when Karol (Carlo) Paszkowski - an enterprising Polish brewer and, later, Honorary Polish Consul in Florence - took over. He transformed it into a Viennese‑style brewery and concert café. Since then, Paszkowski has been a beloved meeting place for Florentine intellectuals and European literati - from Italian greats like Giovanni Papini, Ardengo Soffici, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Władysław Reymont, Stefan Żeromski, Eugenio Montale, Umberto Saba, Vasco Pratolini and Leopold Staff are often mentioned as part of that broader Central‑European café milieu, which Paszkowski beautifully embodies. It’s a place where Polishness quietly but proudly lives within the interior architecture, coffee and convivial conversational style - part of an esteemed Central European café tradition of intellectual gatherings, mid‑afternoon coffees and layered cakes. Today, Paszkowski stands alongside Café Florian in Venice or Cafe Greco in Rome — equally steeped in art, politics, literature and music. It’s not just a beautiful stop for a break - it’s a living, breathing cultural institution. Highly recommend for anyone looking for history, good taste, and that slightly refined, unforced Central‑European charm.

The experience: 5 The food: 4.5 Service: 5+ Value for food/coffee: 4 Beautiful location outdoors or indoors for a nice Sunday lunch. We people watched on a beautiful afternoon My wife said the bread and the club sandwich was some of the best she tasted in Italy. My scrambled eggs were good, but lukewarm.

The place is beautiful and the service is nice. However, the dessert ordering process is very misleading: the prices shown at the bar only apply if you stay there. I chose desserts at the bar and then decided to sit on the terrace, and when the bill came, the prices were almost tripled — without any prior warning. In the end, 2 coffees and 3 small croissant-based pastries cost €27.5. Very disappointing, and it completely ruined the experience.

We just popped by for a cappuccino this morning and had a lovely time on the patio. The staff were wonderful, coffee delicious and views amazing! It’s pricey, but fair with this location.

I only tried the tiramisu, and it was absolutely delicious. Being a Saturday night, there was live music which added to the atmosphere—great singing that everyone seemed to enjoy. Guests were clearly having a good time, sipping their drinks and enjoying the tunes.

The perfect place to relax and people watch. We stumbled into here on a rainy day and I’m so glad we did. Though it’s spacious, there’s still a cozy element. We got coffees and pastries which were quite enjoyable, I only wish that I tried more. There’s a full food menu, cocktails and wine. The space itself is beautiful - dark wood and marble.

Absolutely perfect café! We celebrated our anniversary here, and the waitress was incredibly warm, even offered to play a song for us. Both the tiramisu and the lemon, strawberry, and hazelnut ice cream were amazing, especially the strawberry and lemon, which tasted just like real fruit. Highly recommend it for dessert!

Over our short stay in Florence, we found ourselves going back to Paszkowski's again and again. This place is absolutely lovely. They tick all the boxes. First and foremost, the coffee is top-notch, and the pastries are absolutely divine. You will find Ciro behind the counter, pleasantly waiting to make whatever drink you desire. While Valentina, answering any questions or assisting in any way, near her register. I seriously feel that Paszkowski's is as much of a Florentine institution as the Uffizi Gallery or the Duomo. You would do yourself a disservice by not visiting when you're in town.