What an absolute treat! From cookies to gelato, and featuring a variety of coffee options,…read morePasticceria Giovannini is worth the stop. The cookies are all crumble in your mouth fresh, with an attention to quality that is immediately apparent. Each offering has a unique style and flavor, and everything is very reasonably priced. The staff is super friendly, especially if you're making an effort to communicate in Italian. And as you'd expect, this cafe has a neighborhood, local feel. It's stylish and lively, but not overwhelming. One of our favorite spots in Montecatini.

Words don't do this place justice! Amazing pasticceria!!! Friendly staff, super affordable, amazing…read moreespresso and the desserts are out of this world. My mother and I were on vacation in Montecatini at a hotel that was a 1 minute walk away (dangerous). Our morning routine was to get a cappuccino and un caffe. The espresso was strong and full of flavor. Most days we came back later in the day and tried other varieties - all great. Now about the desserts....nothing like I've ever tasted in America! Everything was so clean, had unique tastes with a perfect amount of sweetness - just mouthwatering. The prices were super low too. One visit we got 5 pastries for 8 euros. Giovannini makes me want to vacation there again ASAP!!

Delicious croissants, pastries, and cappuccinos. Happy to have found this place while staying in…read morethe nearby countryside. Came twice for breakfast during our stay and were happy both times.

Had a great cappuccino. There's nothing really around in this little area of oggibonsi so finding…read morethis little gem was great!

Fantastic coffee, pastries, sandwiches. BUSY place with outside and inside dining. Perfect…read morecroissants - many varieties.

Stopped in to enjoy an apertivo and Impero's selection of complimentary tapas that you have…read moreunlimited access to as long as you order at least one cocktail. It's an interesting marketing concept that I wish would catch on in the U.S. :) The space is very large and features both indoor and outdoor seating. It was extremely busy when we arrived but we managed to snag a table for two outside. The tapas buffet selection was varied and interesting and included finger sandwiches, pastas, rice, pastries, and more. As an added bonus, they bring you a complimentary cheese pizza just make sure to ask for it. We only stayed for one cocktail each but mine was very delicious and packed a punch. The food was just good/ok. Nothing mindblowing in a country where mindblowing food can be found on every corner but worth a stop in for the money.

Best fresh made cookies I have ever tasted, you can't find it like this in the USA. The lady there…read moreis friendly and helpful. Definitely will be my go to place for cookies whenever I visit Florence.

Lovely biscotti that made nice presents for coffee lovers back home. Softer than what you can buy…read morein stores, the biscotti come in 4 flavors. I recommend getting a mix of all 4 as the flavors that didn't sound appealing (orange chocolate?) still ended up tasting really great. Purchased 400gm worth which wound up being pretty affordable. The nice lady behind the counter also threw in 2 shortbread cookies for free.

While visiting Lucca, we had to stop by and try the local raisin bread, buccellato, along with…read moreother favorites. The buccellato was baked perfectly, but admittedly not my thing. However, I completely devoured the half-dozen cookies I ordered in near record time. Everything was light, flavorful, and fresh. There's nothing quite like baked cookies from someone with a lot of experience and traditional training. If you're around the piazza, I highly recommend grabbing some selections and sitting down on the church steps outside. It's one of a kind experience that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Traditional raisin bread with a hint of anise. Sold as a baton or a ring…read more It's got a good crumb and chew. I joked about being able to make it at home but the clerk wasn't impressed. The flour, the yeast, the salt, and the water are different so good luck!

This coffee shop/bakery is located on a small, hidden side street off one of the main pedestrian…read morestreets in the center of Empoli. What a surprise it was for me to find, in this small Italian city, a quaint little place like this that serves American desserts! I was there on a Saturday afternoon and there were brownies, a carrot cake, cupcakes, fudge bars and chocolate chunk cookies among other things (there were a couple of sandwiches, Italian-style cookies, macaroons and chocolate lollipops). There are four or five tables and you can order coffee, cappuccinos and other drinks together with your desserts. The ambience and decor are simple but contemporary and the nice thing about this cafe' is that they chose to not fill it up with tables so there is plenty of space for its guests. I inquired and they occasionally hold some cake design courses too (consultable online on their website). The only disappointing thing was that the display seemed a bit empty for a Saturday afternoon. There was a bit of everything but somehow I got the feeling as if we had arrived late and there was little left. The chocolate chunk cookie we had was delicious, perfectly American. Next time I will go back to try the brownies and cupcakes! Lovely atmosphere, WIFI available also, excellent place to rest and snack.

Cupcakes, brownies, cookies, macarons, carrot cake, cheese cake, apple pie, pecan pie, AND MUCH…read moreMORE!