- Top Rated in Florence
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Brac Libreria di Arte Contemporanea
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Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Italian
Organic
Juice bar
This spot is a library, cafe and restaurant with vegan menu as well. Uses organic vegetable. Reservation suggested for Friday and Saturday nights. NOTE: Reported to be unreliable with bookings. Open Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00, Mon-Sun 19:00-00:00.
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- Outdoor seating
- Reservations required
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Last update on 20 Oct 2021 by Guest
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282 Reviews
First Review by Vesanto
kherrmann
Points +121
Highly Recommend!! - Edit
This was by far one of my favorite meals in Florence!! The food was so fresh and flavorful, and such a refreshing change from what's on offer at most restaurants here. The restaurant itself is so cute, and unique mix of a bookstore and restaurant, and feels like a cute cafe and a classy dining experience all in one. It's a must try! Get the piatti unicorn - so much bang for your buck!! Only 15 euros and you get so much food, and three options, so you get to try a little bit of everything!
Read moreGuest
Lucia M
Points +221
I would eat here everyday! - Edit
A little hidden library-restaurant in the center of Florence. Really cool place, friendly staff and bohemian atmosphere. The food is absolutely to die for. Authentic homemade food. Amazing portions. They have an offer called "piato único" where for 15€ you can choose 3 different plates of the menu. I totally recommend it! We lunch there 2 times in the 3 days we spent in Florence. Better If you book in advance. The first day we went was totally full, but hey made us a small place in the bar.
Read moreIf you go to Florence you can't miss this place!
Pros: Excellent Food., Big portions., Friendly staff
Cons: It's a bit hidden and it's difficult to recognize.
Guest
msmith10
Points +30
Best food we've had in Italy - Edit
This is a small restaurant in a book store in Florence. It is a little quirky- you MUST make reservations. However, the food is unique and superb and ranks with any vegan restaurant we've tried anywhere.
Read morePros: superb food, Unique menu items
Cons: small- reservations are essential
Guest
MarkSevers
Points +22
Fantastic - therefore busy - Edit
This is a combined vegetarian and vegan restaurant, but as a vegan, the staff were very helpful in identifying which dishes are vegan (essentially anything that doesn't list cheese in its description). The in-house homemade pasta is vegan.
Read moreBut onto the point, which is that the vegan food is amazingly good. It is also of local character (Florentine or Tuscan).
There is a huge range of wine sold, and also some less-well-known (but very good) beers... plus liquers and aperitifs etc.
The food is superb, but the atmosphere is also good and quite "cool" too. The "library and restaurant" thing works well.
There is a daytime menu and an evening menu, with the changeover sometime around 7pm.
If you want to eat here in the evening, you will need a reservation. While eating, a continuous string of drop-ins were seen to be turned away and the staff were all running round like headless chickens to get it all done. Still friendly and good service despite this. I didn't even have to wait very long to be served, for the food to come, etc, as can happen in some more traditionally-styled premises.
Pros: Fantastic food, Cool atmosphere, Nice staff
Cons: Tiny entrance/frontage, not effortless to find
Guest
drsu
Points +17
Brac Review - Edit
Fine tasty food, well prepared. Nice find in Florence. We ate there three times.
Read moreNo complaints
Pros: good food, organic as well, gluten conscious, near Uffizi museum
Cons: need reservations, and can be busy, as so good, doesn't open until 7
Guest
lorrainehamilton
Points +66
Definitely worth finding! - Edit
Loved this place. Staff were friendly and helpful. Vegan options were very good and a welcome break from burgers/pizza/bread.
Read moreI sat at the bar early on a Tues evening and got chatting to the other diners from around the world. It has a lovely relaxed atmosphere, lots of artwork and art books, a great layout with a cute courtyard between the bar and restaurant areas - and they were playing PJ Harvey when I arrived so felt right at home! Food was served pretty quickly (we were the early diners!) and given very generous portions.
Wish I'd found it earlier in my trip (I walked right passed by accident the night before) as would be really nice to go in and enjoy some chilled time away from the bustle of central areas with a coffee and cake. Or beer.
Pros: Bar area is social, Peaceful place away from the crowds, Food was healthy, tasty, plentiful
Guest
Mavaha
Points +139
Worth a visit - Edit
We almost missed this place because it looks so anonymous from outside. Once inside you have a small seating area with a bar leading out to a private garden/seating area and in the back another beautiful seating area with great big windows.
Read moreThe food was delicious - we each got a 14 euro lunch menu and so we were able to try most of the vegan options. You should definitely visit this place. Lovely!
Pros: great space, great value , nice staff
Guest
liiv1
Points +36
Favourite place in Florence - Edit
The food here was amazing and its such a cosy little cafe that it away from big crowds. We were very happy with the vegan options and it was fhe best meal we had in Florence. We bought the 14 euro menu and tried most of the vegan options available and loved all of them. Definitely recommend going here!
Read morePros: Away from busy touristy restaurants, delicious foo
Cons: none
Guest
VegansArePeopleToo
Points +112
Find this place - Edit
Recommend making reservations any day you are going - we nearly did not get in on a Tuesday! As others have said, can be hard to find and not clearly marked, but worth it. We spent 8 days in Italy and this place was in our top 2 with ease.
Read morePros: Flavor, Portions
Cons: Difficult to find
Guest
Pteri
Points +344
Italian divinity - Edit
The 14 euros menu we had here was absolutely divine. Not only are you welcomed with a contemporary art decor but the modern cafe/restaurant serves superb traditional dishes with a twist.
Read morePros: Totally veggie and traditional Italian
Cons: Many with lactose, not so many gluten free options
Guest
MariePinholt
Points +77
Different and cozy - Edit
Different from the more fast-food type veggie places. The food is very interesting, and there are som traditional Italian dishes.
Read moreYou have to ask staff which dishes are vegan and which are vegetarian - it would be ideal to mark out the vegan dishes.
Service was a bit slow, but the place was very nice and had a great atmosphere. We went there twice - first time we weren't too lucky with our choices, but the food was still fine. However, the second time we went, our food was amazing - the best we have had in Italy!
Pros: Great vibe, Traditional, but interesting, food
Cons: Long wait
Guest
geminibec17
Points +198
Best meal in Florence!! - Edit
Not only is this place set in a gorgeous little library, it also serves delicious tasty vegan food. I would recommend picking the option that allows you to get a starter, main and bread dish. The tortellini with coconut cream were to die for. Honestly all of it was so good I wish I could go back!
Read moreGuest
Bearmina
Points +252
Hidden treasure - Edit
Difficult to find but glad we persevered.
Read moreBehind an unprepossessing and faded shopfront is a little veggie oasis.
Pros: Tasty vegan main courses, Calm retreat from tourist hustle & bustle
Cons: Limited vegan dessert options
Guest
FranziskaMagdalena
Points +46
title fits the product - Edit
great fresh vegan food/drinks
Read morethe staff were so helpful and friendly;
Our non - vegan friends were totally impressed and now look for food options on their travels!
thank you!
Pros: great vegan healthy food
Cons: no cons
Guest
Sooz
Points +116
Delicious and delightful! - Edit
We had been walking near the river and I turned to trusty Happy Cow to see which vegetarian places were nearby. The street is easy to find, there is no sign for the restaurant, but no trouble to find. As it was s Friday evening, it was fully booked, but they squeezed us in anyway :) So glad they did. I chose the 1 plate for 14 Euros, where you get a small salad (I chose the avocado), small pasta or rice and a wrap ur Scandinavian flatbread (I chose aubergine) - all of it was delicious! There are both vegetarian and vegan options, no meat. The room is full of interesting books and we dined by candle light. There is also a lovely courtyard. Staff were very helpful and friendly. Definitely recommend.
Read morePros: Delicious and innovative food, friendly and helpful staff, Ambience
Cons: it gets busy and booked, so make a reservation!
Guest
DebiraX1
Points +287
Oasis at 5 min from Palazzo Vecchio - Edit
Great hiden place. You will not see a signal...but if you know where is it, you will find a peaceful, beautiful, full of books place with an amazing food.
Read moreGuest
jspizz
Points +77
omg yum - Edit
really good delicious food, decent serving size and a great vegan cake. so moist. They can tell you which dishes are fully vegan.
Read morePros: yum
Cons: not many tables
Guest
Rapturedwanderer
Points +23
a real hidden gem - Edit
Without knowing about Brac, you wouldn't even notice it! There is only the tiniest sign on the door.
Read moreYou walk in and feel at home straight away, a super cosy atmosphere with a wall of beautiful books, a courtyard area that lights up your eyes from beautiful decor and food that makes you want to undo the top button of your jeans.
A fresh, wholesome, vibrant plate of yum!
I would book in advance, we had to wait until 2:30 for a table after arriving at 1pm,but it was well worth it.
Guest
LynneG
Points +33
Great find. - Edit
Yes, you could easily miss the narrow doorway at #18, but do persist because you will be rewarded! We arrived toward the end of lunch time and found a spot at the counter, but by the time our food was ready a table had opened up. Don't be put off if the front room is full, as through the courtyard in back is another, larger space. Everything we ate was quite good, and as others have said the unico meal (three items) is a great value, but I'm here to rave about the avocado carpaccio: thinly sliced avocado served on a delicious puree of vegetables and a bit of greens. I would eat this every day if I could! The Sardinian style 'sandwiches' are also very yummy.
Read morePros: Peaceful space, Unique choices, Great quality
Cons: Takes a while for food to come (enjoy the books!)
Guest
Ciad
Points +1520
Unique Vegetarian Restaurant - Edit
It is quite difficult to find; we walked right past it as it looks more like a book store if you just glance inside.
Read moreWe both chose the "piatto unico" where you choose a salad, pasta/rice dish and a typical Sardinian flatbread dish (almost like spanakopita).
A lot of care was put into each plate and everything was delicious. Meals you won't find anywhere else.
Some people have complained about the staff in their reviews but they were great when we were there. Very helpful with suggesting vegan options and finding us a place to sit.
Pros: Inventive dishes, Delicious
Guest
HalvardIvarjord
Points +26
Very satisfied! - Edit
Food was excellent. Great surroundings and nice envioment. Good vegan options.
Read morePros: Great food, Good prices for all the food you get
Cons: Food took a while to make, Very hidden place
Guest
StephenEamonn
Points +616
Great Expectations - Edit
Sometimes reading all the great reviews can be a bad thing.
Read moreThis place was hard to find and opened at 12 and not 10 as advertised.
The service was poor and the beautiful, unique surroundings I expected were bland.
Speaking of bland, my pasta dish was small and my girlfriend's salad was boring and overpriced.
We had been warned about being overcharged in Italy but didn't expect it in a veggie place off the tourist path.
Bottom line, go elsewhere IMO.
Cons: Bland food , Overcharged, Unfriendly
Guest
theexternvoid
Points +485
Tasty - Edit
I ordered a pasta with Indian curry spices. I was a nice mix of Italian and Indian styles. The wine was also awesome. Lastly, the table bread isn't the terrible dried out husks that they seem to serve everywhere else in Florence. In all a good experience.
Read moreCaveat: place is *packed* on Saturdays.
Pros: Tasty, Bread not terrible like rest of Florence
Guest
faerycake
Points +98
Stunning setting, lovely food. - Edit
We decided to give this a five, in recognition of the beautiful setting as well as the food! It's a really special place, full of books and beautifully decorated, with a little outdoor seating area in an inner courtyard (complete with cushions!). You can get a lovely menu for 12 euros, where you pick one thing from each bit of the menu (a salad, a pasta dish and a flatbread with toppings), and it comes to you on one plate. My (all vegan) selections were an avocado salad (tasty), a flatbread with green beans and some sort of veggie pate (very tasty) and fresh spaghetti with breadcrumbs, tomatoes & garlic (amazing)! My partner had stuffed pasta, and an aubergine & mozzerella flatbread. Staff were also very clear about what was & wasn't vegan. It really filled up after we arrived, so it's probably best to get there early. Excellent location, right near the Uffizi.
Read morePros: setting, location, menu
Cons: busy
Guest
EleonoreOppenheim
Points +16
Go here!!! - Edit
I read a review of this place here on happy cow and decided to check it out. My non-vegan, meat and cheese-worshipping wife and I went there without a reservation and were told it was all booked up, so we made a reservation for dinner the next night, and it was well worth the wait. The avocado carpaccio was a bit of thinly sliced avocado heaven, and the pasta I ordered with a vegan curry pesto was unbelievable. Sundried tomatoes, basil, walnut, curry, garlic, olive oil, and some kind of wonderful. This place passed the non-veg test of approval as well! Also, the list of biodynamic, organic, and just plain local wines is really great. The waitstaff are super nice, and you can see into the kitchen while you are sitting at the bar. Great bang to buck ratio, and Best meal we've had in Italy in a while!!
Read morePros: Delicious, Fresh, Great ambience
Guest
Plantp0wer
Points +105
Great food but unfriendly staff and poor service - Edit
We were very much looking forward to eating at Brac and the host of our B&B Home in Florence managed to book a table for us. When we arrived the waiter simply ignored us and once we managed to find our table we had to wait quite some time for our drinks, food, bill etc...It was very busy, and that's not a problem of course, but the staff made us feel we were rather a burden than that we were welcome. However, the food was great, we chose the mix of dishes for 12 euro which was good value for money. An another plus is the special ambiance as you're surrounded by interesting literature and art. Make sure you have an empty stomach when you go here!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Monday August 10, 2015
Guest
Joshilib
Points +346
great discovery - Edit
In short: great atmosphere, friendly and beautiful staff, non touristy (because it doubles as an Italian-language bookshop), nice drinks and food. Cheap. Strongly recommend.
Read moreGuest
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