Mad – Souls & Spirits
San Frediano, Florence
Bar in Florence, Italy
Book with PearlThe Read
Bohemian Cocktail Craft
Why go
Mad – Souls & Spirits works for an easy Oltrarno drinks plan, especially if the goal is a spirits-focused stop rather than a formal dinner or hotel-bar splurge. The smarter move is to treat it as a cocktail-led San Frediano option and cross-shop if the night needs views, food certainty, or a more polished room.
About Mad – Souls & Spirits
Mad – Souls & Spirits is a Florence venue. The practical point is simple: the dress code is casual. Avoid building a plan around assumptions about food, prices, hours, seating, awards, or a specific service format.
The useful read is caution and fit. Consider it when a casual Florence stop suits the night, but check current details directly before making it the anchor of an itinerary. For wider planning, use Our full Florence bars guide alongside Our full Florence restaurants guide if dinner needs to be solved separately.
Use it as a casual Florence option, with details checked first
The stronger planning case is flexibility. Larger groups and tightly scheduled plans should check seating capacity, private-area options, food, pricing, any awards record directly before committing. If the night depends on a specific view, setting, menu, or service style, compare options before choosing.
For a broader Florence itinerary, pair this decision with Our full Florence hotels guide and other Florence planning resources. Further research can also include Cosimo Rooftop Bar, Il Santino, La Cité, Mysterium Cocktail Bar Firenze, Winter Garden Bar, depending on what kind of stop you need.
Planning details
- Location
- Borgo S. Frediano, 36/38r, 50124 Firenze FI
- Website
- madsoulsandspirits.com
- Phone
- +39 055 627 1621
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Mad – Souls & Spirits sits squarely in the Oltrarno’s artisanal lane, where Florentine evenings feel lived-in rather than staged. The neighbourhood’s workshop character and stone buildings give the bar a rooted, historic backdrop; light falling from white to amber contributes to a warm, intimate evening mood. That sense of place is paired with a thoughtfully curated cocktail programme, so the room reads as quietly rigorous rather than flashy. The overall impression is of a sophisticated neighbourhood bar that prizes craft, atmosphere and editorial intent, an address that feels like a confident local rather than a tourist stop.
Best For
This is an evening-first destination: the copy frames Mad – Souls & Spirits as part of the Oltrarno ‘after dark’ circuit, so it suits late-evening visits and the kind of relaxed date night or casual hangout that lingers over drinks. The bar’s rooted, inhabited setting makes it a good pick for locals or visitors who want a more authentic, non‑touristy Florentine night out. Given the focus on cocktails as a craft, expect to spend time at the bar in the later hours rather than treating it as a quick stop on a daytime itinerary.
Ordering Tips
The write-up emphasizes that drinking at Mad is “taken seriously as a craft,” so approach the bar with curiosity and a willingness to engage the bartender. Ask for the house or seasonal cocktails and let the staff guide you toward drinks that showcase their style and technique. Because the place is positioned within a set of peer bars that compete on liquid quality, prioritizing crafted cocktails over generic options will reveal what makes the bar distinctive. Visiting in the evening when the neighbourhood light and atmosphere are at their best enhances the experience.
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Pick Il Santino if the group wants wine and snacks rather than a spirits-led stop. Pick Cosimo Rooftop Bar if the occasion needs a view and a more scenic setting.
Bar context
How it compares in Florence
Choose Mad – Souls & Spirits when booking ease and an Oltrarno location matter more than a highly staged setting. La Cité is the better cross-shop for a more relaxed cultural-café feel, while Mysterium Cocktail Bar Firenze is the stronger alternative if the priority is a more concept-driven cocktail night.
Il Santino is the safer pick when wine and food are central to the plan; Mad – Souls & Spirits is the cleaner choice when the evening is primarily about spirits. For atmosphere-led booking, Cosimo Rooftop Bar makes more sense for views, while Winter Garden Bar suits readers who want a hotel-bar setting and more formal polish.
Value depends on the occasion: Mad – Souls & Spirits is the low-friction neighborhood call, Il Santino is the food-and-wine fallback, Cosimo Rooftop Bar is the scenic choice, Winter Garden Bar is the splurge-leaning option. For an easy Florence cocktail stop, start here; for a milestone night, compare the hotel bars first.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Mad – Souls & Spirits guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Mad – Souls & Spirits
How it compares in Florence
Mad – Souls & Spirits works as the easier San Frediano drinks choice, while La Cité is better for a casual café-bar mood and Mysterium Cocktail Bar Firenze is better for a more deliberate cocktail-bar plan.
If food matters, Il Santino is the safer cross-shop. If the room matters, Cosimo Rooftop Bar has the view angle and Winter Garden Bar has the hotel-polish angle.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mad – Souls & Spirits have outdoor seating?
Is the food good at Mad – Souls & Spirits?
Check current food details before treating Mad – Souls & Spirits as a dining choice. If the plan needs a stronger eating agenda, compare it with other options such as Il Santino or broader Florence dining choices.
What's the crowd like at Mad – Souls & Spirits?
Does Mad – Souls & Spirits have happy hour deals?
If happy hour pricing matters, check the venue's current channels before going, compare with other options such as La Cité if your plan depends on a specific format.
Is Mad – Souls & Spirits good for a date?
It may work if you want a casual Florence stop, but check date-night specifics such as seating, atmosphere, service format before committing. For a different kind of plan, Cosimo Rooftop Bar and Mysterium Cocktail Bar Firenze are natural comparisons to research.
