Bar Culture

Without a doubt my favourite thing about the Italian way of life is the bar culture. Bar does not mean the same here as in England, it is more of a cafe, but that still doesn't quite describe it. Bars are, in general, open from very early in the morning to very late at night - something of a rarity in an Italian business - and  they are central to the communities. You can get anything from a coffee to your evening (or morning, if you are so inclined) Grappa and pastries, panini and pizza at pretty much any time of day. Though don't be fooled, just because something is available, that doesn't mean it's always socially acceptable; for example, ordering a cappuccino after lunch time will get you some very strange looks in some bars, espresso or macchiato are safe at any time of day. And beware - while Starbucks will understand what you mean by 'a latte', if you order that here, you will literally just get a glass of milk. While most bars do seem to have some kind of affiliation with the brand 'Sandy', unlike in England where Starbucks and Cafe Nero dominate, each bar has a unique and independent feel, most of the clients will be regulars to their own bar and there will always be someone standing chatting to the people who work there, be it in the village bar or in the middle of Florence.