La Citè- Liberia Caffè
Something about the faint melody from the record spinning or the muffled chatter that leaks out of the slightly ajar door draws me into the cozy atmosphere of La Citè. This quaint coffee shop is almost unrecognizable after sundown. The quiet and concentrated nature of La Citè transforms into a lively atmosphere. La Citè is a local’s favorite for that mid-morning cappuccino or an evening nightcap.
Is this just a coffee shop? What makes it so special?
Tucked away, far from any tourist traps, La Citè is in a world of its own. A tourist might stumble in for coffee, but a local knows it is so much more. This café is not meant to just satisfy your caffeine needs (although it can, I recommend the Almond milk latte), rather it is also a bookstore and wine bar. Unlike most coffee shops in Florence, La Citè urges its customers to sit down and stay awhile while drinking their morning coffee. Which isn’t hard to do at all with their sprawling patio and infinite couches adorning the space. Starting from my first visit there, I found myself right at home. The familiar bald man with the Polish accent, I now know as Robert, treats all of his customers like family. His generosity is endless—from covering my coffee when I forgot my wallet simply stating, “don’t worry about it” to even returning my sweater after I left it there. Chances are if you walk past La Citè, he will be out there, cigarette in hand, urging you to come in.
If you’re looking for Barnes and Noble, go somewhere else.
Used and new books scatter every corner of La Citè, making it irresistible to not pick one up. La Citè actually has 5,000 literary texts available to purchase in the café and in their online catalog. Although you don’t have to buy them, customers can enjoy the books free of charge while in the space. La Citè even offers free wifi (yes and it works) to access these online texts. This unconventional café supplies only the most unconventional books, as they are aiming to support local and independent titles. La Citè is open to suggestions if there are any novels you would like to see on their shelf.
When does the wine bar come into play?
When dusk arrives the music roars a bit louder, chatter becomes more fervent, and the coffee mugs are exchanged for wine glasses. La Citè believes reading and tasting go hand-in-hand and that is a notion we can get behind. They believe that one of the most “dangerous” effects of a fabulous glass of wine is individualism and passion. I dare you to attempt to order a glass of the Gewürztraminer Südtirol Alto Adige or if that is too difficult, just say the “sweet, white wine” to Robert (he’ll know what you are talking about). Don’t be mistaken, it is not sweet at all, but it is still the best glass of wine I’ve had in Italy. Their wine list has been carefully composed using the criteria
of fair trade, local, and organic. They only purchase wine from organic vineyards that do not use any synthetic chemicals or herbicides. Try asking a La Citè employee about the amount of sulfur in the wine or how long the wine fermented in oak barrels. They truly care about what you are putting in your body and pride themselves on the quality of wine they serve.
What else do they offer?
To put it simply— experiences. No matter what night of the week, you can find philosophers, authors, musicians, or really any type of creative thinker performing or hosting forums. This is a chance to get conversation flowing and debates sparked. They also have live music multiple nights a week and the nights they do not offer entertainment, they always have records spinning. This place is the definition of eclectic.
I’m sold. Anything else that makes La Citè memorable?
No experience at La Citè is ever the same and that is what keeps me returning day-after-day and night-after-night. It doesn’t matter what time it is, the ambiance is always dynamic and just what I needed. The layout of La Citè allows for privacy in the upstairs rooms (if easily distracted like me) or can be quite the opposite if you choose to socialize downstairs. La Citè can be whatever you need it to be and somehow it always leaves me wanting more.
Where can I find La Citè?