Kikuya

Kikuya, my favorite English pub in Florence, has some of the stronger beers in town. The pub is located on the popular Via de Benci street where you can find most bars filled with locals and students. Kikuya's loving staff is always ready to give great recommendations on what drinks you should try. You can find some delicous snacks all day, perfect for those nights out when craving something to munch on. Try their nachos, a rare find in Italy if you're craving a piece of something familiar and something other than kebabs or pizza. Make sure to pick up a customer drink card and earn points for a free kikuya t shirt!

• If you’re studying abroad in Florence and haven’t yet experienced the dim lighting and insanely strong beers of Kikuya, you’re obviously doing something wrong. The small tables pushed closely together and long bar which provides an expansive drink menu make Kikuya a bar not to miss along Florence’s nightlife circuit. As students studying abroad we quickly learned Kikuya’s vibe was much different from that of the popular Florence nightclubs, but a great atmosphere in which to spend an alternative night out. Your alcohol intake will be much of the same, armed with a different college-bar kind of experience. Located in a charming Italian venue, the bar will be packed with a rowdy group of American college students and young Italians on any given night. Kikuya is famous for it’s Dragoon beer, which can only be described as an average beer with an above average alcohol content. Start with a round of these amongst a crowded table of friends, and who knows where the night will take you. All I can say is if your night in Florence begins like this, it’s bound to be legendary.

I’ve been to Kikuya twice, and both times it was a totally different scene but really fun! One of the nights it was super crowded you couldn’t even walk around, the other had a lot less going on but still a fun crowd! The strong Dragon beers help lighten the mood and loosen up the atmosphere. On the more crowded night there were waiters so you didn’t have to fight the crowd at the bar for a drink, which was really nice. The staff is also super friendly! Kikuya is what you would expect from a typical pub, so be ready for a rowdy night!

Kikuya’s ambiance itself is enough to draw a crowd. The dim lights above the bar and the single candles adorning every table provide an atmosphere ideal for a good beer and good conversation with a new friend. The drink of choice at Kikuya is none other than the Charles Wells Dragoon. It is a hearty pale ale with a high alcohol content that is sure to make your night all the better. Start your night with just two of those incredible beers and you are destined to have a good time. It is because of the atmosphere and good beer that Kikuya is often packed with people into the late hours of the night. The bar is not that big and the seating arrangements require one to be rather agile on their feet. Despite the threat of spilling your Dragoon while meandering around the tables and crowd, Kikuya is the place to start and possibly finish your night. That is if you are up for the two Dragoon challenge.

Kikuya is a great bar to go to when you want to meet people. It is filled with students and young local Italians who are looking to chat. Get there early to grab a table and try out one of their many tasty specialty drinks. The Dragoon beer is a popular and practically legendary drink, and students go here just to try it. Kikuya has a super friendly staff who will come to your table and take your order, so you don’t have to worry about pushing through a crowd of eager drinkers just to get to the bar.