Ditta Artigianale – Sprone

The world knows it and we Italians know it better than anyone: without coffee there is no life. Finding a place where coffee is more than a part of the menu, but the main (and yet, not only) house specialty is therefore a priority, especially for those who, living in the city, like to find comfortable corners to spend their afternoons in. If you were looking for places like this in Oltrarno, you do not have to look any further: the Ditta Artigianale is the right place for you.

The Ditta saw light in 2014, from the mind of Francesco Sanapo, three-time Italian coffee champion and finalist of the World Barista Championship. The founder has an intuition: take the culture of Italian coffee and give it a wider, international flavour. After the opening of the first coffee shop and the online store’s success, the Ditta Artigianale finally opened its first location, in Via de ‘Neri. Shortly after, near the Palazzo Pitti, the second coffeehouse opened its doors.

The Ditta in Via Sprone stands out for its atmosphere, with agile and modern lines, and with certain reminiscences of the ’60s that give it the right touch of eccentricity that serves to liven up the environment. Large windows, high ceilings and an elegant mezzanine opening in the middle on the lower room create an airy and light-filled space, where relaxing is easy.

The many coffee options (and we recommend the “specialties”, unmissable blends that come from small independent producers) you will find written on a black and white board at the entrance, which imitates the arrivals and departures boards of old airport. Obviously these are accompanied by a host of cakes, muffins and croissants. But the Ditta is also an excellent restaurant that offers lunch salads, carpaccio, burgers and sandwiches, as well as the inevitable pasta.

The proposal for dinner moves on the same line of simplicity, adding a few more flairs with skewers of shrimp and pineapple, grilled octopus and many seasoned tartare in many different ways. The best moment, however, to enjoy the atmosphere of the Ditta is definitely at brunch, with a dedicated menu and drink list that will delight all those who love to spend the morning eating. The most striking value of the Ditta, however, remains the solid presence in its neighbourhood, a center of aggregation where to have fun, relax or even study in an easy, yet chic and lively place.