dabarba lungarno — Restaurant in Florence

The food here is amazing. We enjoyed it so much that we came back a second time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unfortunately, our return visit left us very disappointed, and we felt insulted by a comment from the waitress. A young waitress with short hair and piercings looked at the bill after we had paid and sarcastically said out loud, "Thanks for the tip."

As Americans, we felt we weren’t treated the same as the Italian customers. It felt discriminatory, especially considering that tipping is not customary in Italy. If you’re reading this, don’t tip in Italy! ⭐️⭐️

Sadly, because of this experience, we won’t be returning to this restaurant during our trip or in future visits to Florence.

Below I added more information about service charge or coperto.

You're right! Italians generally don’t tip in the way that Americans or people in other countries might. Here's why:

Servizio (service charge) or coperto (cover charge) is often already included in the bill, so tipping isn't expected or necessary. For most Italians, rounding up the bill or leaving some small change (like €1 or €2) is considered more than enough if they want to show appreciation for exceptional service. Large tips are uncommon and might even be seen as unusual.

In summary, tipping as it’s known in countries like the U.S. isn’t a part of Italian culture. Most of the time, the coperto and...

I have been to Ristorante Da Barba Lungarno several times with my husband, and every visit feels like a perfect evening. The restaurant has a refined and elegant indoor space, but what makes it truly special are the two outdoor areas. One of them, right on the Lungarno Corsini, offers a breathtaking view over the Santo Spirito neighborhood and the dome of San Frediano in Cestello — absolutely magical, especially at sunset. Francesco, the ever-present owner, is a real host in the old-fashioned sense: attentive with great recommendations, and discreet enough to vanish when you want privacy. The wine list is a delight — not just the usual big names, but a curated selection of excellent boutique labels, handpicked by Francesco himself. And yes, they’re all truly worth trying. The menu strikes a perfect balance between land and sea. We’ve had the sea bass with caponata and the braised beef cheek — both beautifully cooked and full of flavor. The clientele is a vibrant mix: locals, Florence-based expats, and the occasional lucky tourist. It’s not unusual for conversations to drift from table to table in a patchwork of different languages — new friendships are almost guaranteed. If you're looking for an authentic, warm, and quietly elegant dining experience in Florence, this is the place. Highly...

From the moment we walked in, we knew we had found a gem. We happened upon this restaurant by chance and found two of the loveliest restaurant owners - Francesco and Katerina. They are an amazing team and made our experience so memorable. Francesco carefully crafted two of the best gin drinks ever - a cucumber gin and tonic and another one with basil (forgot the name). The food was outstanding and served on dinnerware designed by Katerina. All of Katerina's textiles add to the wonderfully cozy atmosphere. The place has a real sense of "hygge". Don't miss this Florentine gem. It's not a Florentine steakhouse, so leave that expectation behind. Enjoy a different type of Forentine fare. Don't miss this...