Le Vespe Cafè — Restaurant in Florence

Myself and my partner did a trip around Florence, Venice and Bologna last September (2024) and were fortunate to try some amazing places to eat with Le Vespe Café being one of the highlights.

My girlfriend is a pescatarian (vegetarian + fish) so she really wanted to try this place as we had found some of the food choices limited for her throughout our Italian adventure and this place gave her a lot of options plus it was a bit different to the traditional Italian menus and food we had been eating the entire week. Before I start on the food, personally I was a little disappointed that the menu online had been discontinued and the new one hadn't been updated yet so I had my heart set on a dish and then it wasn't available but it wasn't the end of the world and perhaps I just visited during the website being updated.

This place is very busy and you may need to wait to get in, we had to que up outside on the street, we were greeted at the entrance and explained there was no table and asked if we wouldn't mind waiting. The server was very polite and we waited across the street until we were called.

My girlfriend had smoked salmon served on thick whole-wheat bread with smashed avocado on top served with a side of small roasted potatoes which she said were the best potatoes she had ever eaten and mentioned this fact several times over the next few days. I went for a Huevos rancheros which I have never tried before, it was fried eggs served with the potatoes above, freshly made salsa, smashed avocado, brown rice with black beans and a bit of feta cheese on top. It was incredible and I wish I could eat it again.

To drink I think I had an orange juice and my girlfriend had some fruit drink they made up, I think maybe it was a raspberry lemonade but she said it was refreshing.

The food was generous portions and reasonably priced, basically standard pricing for the country maybe each dish was about 10-15 euros per person.

There is also a nice small dog inside named (presumably) after the Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker that was smiling lying in its bed, probably smelling all the delicious food!

If I ever return to Florence this will be one of the first places I will go to for food. The only negative I would give this place is that it's too small for the demand. They could do with getting a bigger premises if its financially viable so you didn't have to wait outside on the street to get in but maybe that is part of the reward when you get your food.

If you don't come here when you visit Florence you have...

TLDR: Great feel of a home-away-from-home cafe. Stellar food which came fast and affordable. Phenomenal atmosphere and service to match.

Read on: My friend Peter and I were looking for a good spot to enjoy an easy meal for our last food in Florence. He happened upon this place and I’m so glad he did. La Vespe is a wonderful and pleasant mix of familiar food and a vintage/relaxed cafe atmosphere. The servers are all very attentive and whether you ask your server or any of the others walking by they are always willing to help you with a smile.

Water was served as soon as we sat down which was a huge plus and a welcome convenience. For those looking to budget then I can honestly say you can skip the specialty drinks and just get the complimentary water but I would recommend trying their juices because they are all freshly squeezed or mixed!

Amanda was our server and she was extremely efficient and kind. The food came exactly as requested and the service was very fast! I needed a couple things throughout my dining and my requests were always met without hesitation. The dog Travis was a plus for animal lovers, he’s nestled in a little corner of the cafe near the bar. I don’t know if his full name is Travis BARKER but give. The aesthetic of the cafe that is what he now is in my head permanently.

Overall, I would absolutely put this on my list of places to go if you’re in need of a familiar and homely spot, especially for Americans. Bravo, La Vespe! We...

Incredible, delicious, wonderful food, service, prices, energy. From arrival to departure Le Vespe is a super friendly, high quality, excellent Canadian breakfast joint. Seriously. Go here for your Sunday brunch. Coffee was delicious, with vegan milk options and a reasonable price. There are menu options for every appetite and dietary restriction. We ordered three giant breakfast plates: the King, the Queen, and the Benedict. The two younger kids had scrambled eggs, bacon and the yogurt granola. The yogurt granola bowl was full of fresh fruit, crunchy seedy granola and chia seeds. The big dishes were full of tasty fresh variety, from the buttery French toast and breakfast sausage, to the creamy perfectly balanced hollandaise sauce, to the baked Tomino cheese and fall vegetables. The country potatoes were also perfectly seasoned. Can’t say enough good things about the place, but with a mostly woman staff and a female head chef, it also made me proud to support such a hard working group. I wish I could have breakfast here everyday. My husband says it might be the best breakfast he’s ever had in his life... which says a lot! We are from California, have traveled and eaten all over the world and are adamant foodies. This place is one of the top 5 restaurants I’ve been...