Bitter Bar — Restaurant in Florence

Tl;Dr Bitter Bar is aptly named. A cool concept is ruined by an unwelcoming atmosphere and a bitter host.

The bar is based on a “no menu” concept. Instead, you get a list of base spirits, and the host chooses/recommends a cocktail based on your choice of spirit. Although this is an interesting concept, it requires a patient host that is willing to explain things. There are some options under €20; however, most drinks were €20-25, and some options above this. Our host seemed very put upon the entire time and was generally very rude to our group.

We were seated right next to the bathroom, which is basically in the middle of the back room. The door does not lock, so after using the restroom, one of our party left the door cracked so that others would now it wasn’t occupied. The host came over and told us to shut the door next time instead of just closing the door.

When we ordered our drinks, we responded with “thanks” in Italian. One of our group failed to accent the “é” at the end, and the host corrected her, somewhat rudely, and told her that only American students pronounce it that way (for reference, we are not a group of students but are well traveled and in our late 20s/early 30s).

Lastly, when we received our drinks, for the most part they were well executed cocktails; however, one member really did not like his drink. We all tried it and agreed that it was just not very good (it was a riff on a Negroni and tasted like water). When the host asked about our drinks, he mentioned that he thought the drink was a bit unbalanced. Instead of offering to make something else, the host began to lecture him about how the drink was perfectly balanced and that there was nothing wrong with it.

Overall, not an enjoyable experience. The drinks are well made, but you have to know what you want and be familiar with enough cocktail lingo to ensure you get a drink that you want. Whatever you do, don’t leave the bathroom door open and don’t try to send...

I stopped in Bitter Bar the other day in the early evening -- I had marked this place as a "must visit" spot in Florence from other positive reviews. The bar was completely empty at 830PM and my group was quickly given a spot. The inside is very well decorated and there is lots of detail given to the space.

Service was emotionless and the staff member that took our order seemed bothered by our presence. Despite being the only table of guests, our drinks took more than 20 minutes to arrive. We had a member of our group that was being rather indecisive (asking for more time to make a drink) but the staff refused to start making drinks until they had the "full drink" order. I thought the refusal was odd given the bar was empty and other places were happy to oblige.

When the drinks finally arrived, none of us were particularly impressed or pleased with our choices. It felt like the drinks were either poorly made or missing ingredients. My drink, for example, was completely devoid of anything sweet, completely out of balance (and this is from someone who loves a citrusy, dry cocktail!). The group ordered 5 different drinks from the menu and only one was something that I would consider ordering again. I've been to cocktail bars in 20+ cities and not a single one stuck out in a negative way like this. (Note -- I did notice that at least a couple of recent reviews that other people have experience similar quality issues with their drinks, particularly with the current menu)

I would recommend you spend your money and time elsewhere in Firenze -- there are many fantastic cocktail bars in the city and this one falls short in...

I spent my last night in Florence here with a couple of friends. By night's end, we'd all wished we'd found it on day one. Truly world class cocktails made by the current owner, Daniel, who said he took over about six months ago (although there are reviews here dating back four plus years).

Reading through the more recent reviews, and having witnessed some patron interactions while there, I think it's important to set your expectations before arriving. This isn't a casual place for casual drinkers, not that there's anything wrong with wanting that. There are plenty of places throughout Florence to grab a delicious, simple cocktail or spritz without any muss or fuss. But just like you wouldn't go to Osteria Francescana expecting a burger, don't come here if you're not cool with waiting 15 minutes for a drink costing 15 euro or more. These are serious cocktails made with care, thought and precision for patrons seeking out that very specific level of service and craft, and willing to make a reservation in advance for it.

But this isn't a Soup Not-See / Pretentious type situation. Far from it. Daniel is warm and personable and clearly loves what he does, and loves talking to people who share that love. After building some rapport and trust, I left the next drink up to him. He grinned and said they had a saying for this in Italy. "We're in the $h1t now."

Not everyone wants to be in the $h1t like this. But if you're the type who does, there's no better...