Italy: Florence: Where to Eat: Relaxed but Refined: Il Santo Bevitore

Il Santo Bevitore

This modern, spacious restaurant and wine bar has dark wooden tables, walls lined with wine bottles and a convivial atmosphere provided by the hip local patrons who flock here. Opened in 2002, Santo Bevitore is a good choice for lunch or a laid-back dinner. Picky eaters will love the straightforward menu of salads, panini, pasta and risotto, while wine connoisseurs will appreciate its fine Tuscan vintages. Service is on the slow side (my husband and I had to practically beg for the bill on a recent visit), but no one comes here to rush through a meal. Take your cue from the natives and linger over cheese plates or one of the tasty desserts. There are several rooms; for more privacy, reserve a table in the back. Open daily.