701 Rooftop Bar

701 Rooftop Bar sits on the seventh and top floor of the Gallery Hotel Art, one of the Ferragamo family's Lungarno Collection hotels, on a small lane a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio. Its name comes from Suite 701, the hotel's former top-floor suite, which the architect Michele Bönan transformed into a bar with carefully designed interiors and two panoramic terraces.

The view is the headline. From the terraces you look across the rooftops of the historic centre to Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's bell tower and the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, which makes it one of the most photogenic places in the city for an evening drink. Sunset is the most popular time, when the light turns the stone and terracotta golden and the city lights start to come on.

The drinks focus on signature mixology, with cocktails that combine classic and contemporary recipes, a curated selection of spirits and a choice of low-alcohol drinks for those who want something lighter. Light bites are served to go with them, including Duchesse sandwiches. On Sundays, a series called Daylight & Beats adds a soft DJ set to the signature cocktails. Prices are in line with a luxury hotel bar, so it suits a special drink rather than a long night out.

The bar is open every day from 14:00 to 22:30, which means it also works for an afternoon drink after visiting the Uffizi, not just for sunset. Space on the terraces is limited, so reserve a table through the booking link on the website, especially for sunset in spring, summer and early autumn. You can also contact the bar by phone, WhatsApp or email. The space is available for private events.

It suits couples, small groups celebrating and photographers, and it is a good alternative to Piazzale Michelangelo for a view of the skyline without the climb.

The hotel is on Vicolo dell'Oro, just off Borgo Santi Apostoli and the riverside, less than a minute from the Ponte Vecchio. The Uffizi and Piazza della Signoria are about three minutes' walk away, and the Oltrarno is just across the bridge for dinner afterwards. Arriving a little before sunset gives the best chance of a table with a view.