Mi Garba

After saying “mamma mia” at the town hall, Florentine Anastasia Passerotti unveiled this tiny caffeteria named Mi Garba (literally, “I like it!”) with her partner Daniel Dumitrescu. Elbow your way in any time of day, it’s a cheerfully tight squeeze – at most, this place is a long and narrow corridor with a colorful wood and tiled bar! In true Italian fashion! And the same goes for the golden schiacciata (Tuscan flatbread), kneaded in house and left to rise for 36 hours, before being deliciously stuffed with pistachio mortadella, provolone and artichoke; or the one packed with stracchino and salsiccia toscana – much-vaunted by regulars, but out of stock this time round. No wonder Italians lovingly sneer at Belgian sandwiches… On top of all that, there are homemade stuffed croissants for breakfast, caffè crema for your coffee break, and cheese or charcuterie platters for aperitivo hour. // Casimir

FEELING THIRSTY? Excellent coffees from the Magnelli family near Florence, whose beans can also be bought in store (€16 for 250 g). Failing that, sip other options on the large sunny terrace: Tre Fontane trappist beer (€6.80 for 330 ml), homemade lemonade (€4.50 a glass) and some wines served by the glass (a Sicilian grillo from Feudi Andronaco at €6) or by the bottle (a classic chianti at €26).

PRICE: Viennoiseries €3 to €4.50, schiacciata €7-11, platters €10-25 (cheese and/or charcuterie), desserts €4.50 to €6.