Florence’s Pop-Up Summer Cafès 2026, Part 1

There may never be a dull moment for you this summer in Florence. Here is the first half of a two-part guide to where residents and visitors are spending their evenings. Admission is free, with food and beverages for purchase.

Ultravox

Ultravox is one of the city of Florence’s 11 official summer spaces, set in the Prato della Tinaia inside the Cascine Park. This venue is somewhere you can be sure to have a great time while immersing yourself in a rich and vivid cultural experience, including live music, stand-up comedy and movie screenings, with programming most evenings from 6 pm until late.  Located near the Cascine tram T1 stop, open from 6 pm;  More information can be found at ultravoxfirenze.it or their Instagram @ultravoxfirenze.

Il Molo

Molo spent last summer in exile across the river, pushed off its home bank by tramway works. This year the locale is back on via dell’Albereta 8 since tramway works have shifted the venue across the Arno river. Music events take place every night through September, free entry, with the Rex club’s resident DJs holding down the weekends. Daniele Palladini, who runs the Rex, runs this too, and you can be sure that the cocktails on the riverbank are club-grade. The street food this season includes Il Polpaio (seafood from Elba), Pizzagnolo Neapolitan pizza, Il Bovo hamburgers, and Firenzen 2.0 Asian cusine. Open from 6 pm. Program updates are on Instagram at @molofirenze.

Habana 500

Seven summers in, Habana 500 is still as wonderful as when it started. It opened in 2019 during the Estate Fiorentina (Florence Summer Festival) to coincide with Havana’s 500th birthday, and it has since drawn a nod of recognition from the Cuban Embassy in Italy for its cultural programming. Expect Latin dance classes daily, taught by local schools, plus live bands, pizza and Cuban-style sandwiches, all served up on the bank of the Arno starting at sunset. You’ll find it on Lungarno Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi. Details at habana500firenze.it or @habana500.firenze.

Fuoribordo

Come visit for an experience “blending fun activities, good vibes, high-level mixology, and great food” (fuoribordofirenze.com). Set along the Arno on the east side of Florence at Via Fabrizio De André, this is a family-run venue, open nightly from May until the end of September, with varied offerings at five food stands.  Doors open at 7 pm.

InStabile

Located on Via della Funga, beneath the Varlungo Bridge, InStabile takes up themes of culture, inclusion, and sustainability, and visitors may enjoy anything ranging from contemporary circus, to music, to all kinds of performing arts, including jam sessions on Wednesday evenings — bring your own instrument. Monday evening is dedicated to Latin music  In terms of food, there is sourdough whole-wheat pizza, grilled meat, vegetarian/vegan options, organic wines, and craft beers. More information can be found at instabilefirenze.it or on Instagram @instabilecultureinmovimento. The open-air season runs until September 13, daily, open from 6:30 pm. 

Festa del Mugello

Set in the garden of the Teatro Cartiere Carrara on Lungarno Aldo Moro, the 12th edition of this venue is both charming and unique, running nightly from 7 pm until late, with both indoor and outdoor seating and a stage for live music. There is a play area for children More information can be found at festadelmugello.com or their Instagram @festa_del_mugello_firenze.

(H.R.D.)