Swap Your Football Scarf For a Pint and Sample ‘Italy’s Best Guinness’

The wonderfully named Florence Irish Pub does exactly what it says on the tin.

There’s Guinness, there’s grub, there’s beers from around the world and there’s live sport on the telly. On the walls there’s more than a nod to all things Irish and strangely enough, there’s also a Goodison Park street sign.

Located on Via Santa Caterina D’Alessandria it’s about a 40-minute stroll from the Stadio Artemio Franchi, but don’t let that put you off as this place does have a lovely touch for football fans.

There are scarves from all over the world pinned to the walls and ceiling, and if you add one of yours to their collection you can exchange it for a pint, which would normally cost €6-€7.

Then, sit back and enjoy the match. Or matches. The two big screens show Serie A, the English Premier League, European midweek competitions and all the fixtures are listed on their website.

And don’t worry about going hungry. Mains such as burgers, hot dogs and fish and chips are on the menu at between €11 and €17 while the pinsa (a flatbread not unlike pizza) starts at €9. There is a choice of snacks too, with chicken wings, nachos, mozzarella sticks and pork bites available.

Closer to the stadium, on Viale Malta in the east of Florence, next to the Campo Marte train station and just a 25-minute walk from the Museo del Calcio in Coverciano, the Green Store Pub has been in the heart of the city for the past three decades.

It has that classic Irish feel to it – wood features heavily in the spacious bar while the veranda is ideal for nice summer evenings but also open in the colder months, with heaters and blankets providing a cozy atmosphere.

As for the beer, the stalwarts are there: Guiness, Magners, Harp and even Kilkenny, are on tap in La Guerrina while there’s Carlsberg and Luppoli.

However, it’s the black stuff that steals the show for one happy punter.

“They have a mix of beers on tap, usually around six at any given time, but I can’t recommend the Guinness highly enough – probably the best I’ve had in Italy and maybe outside of Ireland,” says Scott Balaam, an Englishman who has been living in Florence for six years.

In terms of food, expect the usual pub fare, such as paninis and fried stuff. There’s a jacket potato section, with pulled pork, bacon, cheese and speck (an Italian ham) among the options for filling.

Crucially for the calcio tourists, La Guerrina is less than a 15-minute walk from the Stadio Artemio Franchi, making it the perfect stop pre or post-game.

But don’t go if you fancy a bit of footy on the telly. There’s no screens. And don’t go until March. The pub closed its doors in January and February to have some work done, promising to come back “even more beautiful than before”.

The Florence Irish Pub: Via Santa Caterina D’Alessandria, 16A, 50129 Firenze. Open every day from 5pm to 2am

La Guerrina: Viale Malta, 1/r, 50137 Firenze. (Reopening March 2026)