Djària - American Bar — Restaurant in Florence

Nicolo and Sarah have created something truly special here. It is a hard sell to convince the locals of Florence to sit at an actual bar and eat American food, but the fully reserved seating and the number of Italians brushing shoulders with travelers as they ate bison burgers and downed Old Fashions is a testament to just how good Djaria is.

This is not your average dive bar. Nicolo makes some of the best cocktails we have ever tried. I never knew that a whiskey sour could be so good until we had him whip one up on recommendation. The secret is that Nicolo and Sarah painstakingly make their own mixes. The beer selection is a mixture of some of Italy's best breweries (that's not a joke) and American imports. The black IPA was a particular favorite.

If you're thinking of skipping over the food here, don't. Sarah prepares some of the best chicken wings we have ever had from wings she purchases daily from the local market. The sauces are also made in-house and are excellent. Every burger on the menu can be served with beef, buffalo, or bison, and while we did not try them personally, they seemed very popular with the locals.

Most importantly, Nicolo and Sarah are wonderful people that make an effort to engage with every customer that comes through their doors. It is their great hospitality and fantastic selection of food and beverages that make people become regulars. I know American bar is not the first thing that comes to one's mind while in Florence, but if you make the effort to stop by and give Djaria a try, I promise that you...

I came here expecting typical average bar food, instead, I got wings so good I nearly proposed to them before my wife stopped me. Forget fine dining… the wings from here should be served in museums under glass with security guards. They were so outrageously flavorful and crispy, I’m pretty sure the table next to us heard my spiritual awakening.

The buffalo wings alone are worth flying to Florence for, but then the spicy burger showed up… juicy, fiery, cooked perfectly, and so ridiculous it made me laugh mid-chew. The vibe is just as good: rock legends, Reservoir Dogs posters, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to move in permanently. And the prices? Shockingly fair for food this insane.

This isn’t just a good bar in Florence, it’s the place you’ll compare every future burger and wing against, and nothing else...

The bar decor Is fun and visually entertaining. The husband is affable, but the wife is not. The menu lists three meat options: beef, bison, and buffalo. Given that they claim to be an American bar, this is misleading. Here’s why: Americans (in general) refer to bison as buffalo, But at Djaria, the buffalo on the menu is water buffalo- which, as a meat source isn’t widely available in the states. It tastes games and is fattier, whereas North American bison is very low fat and quite similar to beef. Unwitting customers will order buffalo but expect bison- and be greatly disappointed. The beef was under seasoned for an American palate, and the wedge style fries were both undercooked and flavorless. Having been away from the U.S. for an extended time, I had high hopes I left...