1. Tea rooms in Florence: “Derb”, a Moroccan oasis.
March 10, 2010
Located close to the Medici Chaples and the San Lorenzo church, right two steps from MR My Resort Inn, the “Derb” Moroccan Tea Room creates a tranquil setting for enjoy tea, but this places is not only a typical tea room.
As a Tea Room, here you can find the best Moroccan selections of typical tea from the large menu, together with typical biscuits and home-made cakes, some in Moroccan style, others more italian. Here it is possible to have a light lunch with a vegetarian cous-cous or a good panino, or come in the afternoon to read a newspaper and sip a home-made fruit-juice, or a tea with fresh ingredients and special aromas (try the Risveglio a Marrakech, or Notti d’Arabia, or just the simple tea with fresh mint). The late afternoon this is a good place for aperitivs, too.
But as I told you, this is not only a Tea Room. The proprietor, Sofia, is a young sweet girl who creates jewels in Moroccan style in her laboratory located in a part of the “Derb”; you can see her working at rings or hear-rings while you’re sit at the table with your drink.
In addiction, she imports directly from Morocco some typical hand-crafts products: hand-made covers in colored silk, silk pillows, moroccan slippers in leather, and the famous “tagine”, that they use to prepare the cous cous but that one’s can use and a standard plateau to serve food on table. Colored glasses decorated with silver, warm colored dishes hand-decorated.
Do you want to discover the true secret of the Moroccan girls beauty? Here is it: the Argan Oil. This prodigious, completely natural element, is considered as a must by all the arabian ladies, and it is actually used in most of recent beauty treatments for hair, body and face. You can find it at “Derb”, pure 100% and bio, at a very reasonable price! Don’t miss it! You can use the Argan Oil after our Body Space experience at MR My Resort…
DERB, Via Faenza 21/R
(open daily 11.30am – 7.30pm. Closed on Sunday)
I love shopping in Florence 3.
November 3, 2009
From Via Tornabuoni to Via della Vigna Vecchia
(see also I love shopping in Florence 1 and I love shopping in Florence 2 )
Ok, you’re in Via Tornabuoni, which is the most famous street for shopping: it starts from the Ponte Santa Trinita and ends at the corner with Via dei Vecchietti, a small street to the Duomo sq. This area is about 15-20 minutes walk from MR My Resort B&B location , and it won’t be difficult to back home after a day of shopping.
In Via Tornabuoni you can find: boutique of Ferragamo with its gorgeous shoes and accessories (close to the Ponte Santa Trinita), Versace, Tiffany&Co., Blumarine boutique (at the corne with Via di Porta Rossa), Emilio Pucci, God Save the Queen!(I love the interiors), Dior accessories and jewelleries, Armani (man and woman), Prada, Gucci (accessories and jewels), Damiani jewellerie… And Emilio Cavalli, Pomellato jewellery, Max Mara boutique (best coats ever, according to me), Tod’s, Hermés…
Cavalli boutique also has its Café, but one of the best places where you can have a good light lunch or an excellent slice of cake is Procacci, an old fashioned place loved by Florentines, right in the middle of Via Tornabuoni.
If Via Tornabuoni is not enough for your credit card, then you can consider to go in Via della Vigna Vecchia: La Perla lingerie, Braccialini with its great bags, Furla, Comptoir des Cotonniers , (one of my favourite), Mont Blangc jewels, and many others…
The street is also full of beautiful ancient palace and there is a shop for children: Petit Bateau
At the end of the street there is the W’p Store for Woolrich: a good pair of jeans, a jacket or the Blundstone shoes for a high-quality casual italian style.
Also see: I love shopping in Florence 1. and I love shopping in Florence 2.
I love shopping in Florence 2.
October 7, 2009
Part 2: Via Calzaioli – Signoria square – Porcellino Market – Via Porta Rossa – Via Tornabuoni
(From I love shopping in Florence 1)
Ok, you’re in Via Calzaioli and enjoy Nannini shoes, the multistore Coin, Stefanel shop.
But: nothing can make you feel chic like a tailleur by Chanel. Where? At the end of Via Calzaioli, right in Piazza della Signoria.
What to say about Coco? She’s still here, with her jersey, her jackets, her bags…
From Chanel you can go in the direction of Piazza delle Logge del Porcellino (also known as the Porcellino Market) and turn in Via di Porta Rossa.
The street is one of my favourite not only because there is the beautiful Palazzo Davanzati which worths a visit, but also because there is the shop I love most: for women only, its name is Spazio A: here you can find a Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Narciso Rodriguez. I’ve never had a breakfast at Tiffany‘s, but I have to say that I would here.
The staff is simply great; a nice young man and two women will make you feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (don’t forget your Richard Gere and his credit card 
If you need something sweet to make your partner happy after shopping, well you can try the Chocolate Shop of Roberto Catinari recently open right in front of Spazio A.
A couple of steps from Spazio A you will find Blumarine, girls only, very elegant and sophisticated.
At the corner, you see Via Tornabuoni, where the most important boutiques are located… TO BE CONTINUED
I love shopping in Florence 1.
October 1, 2009
Let’s walk together for shopping!
Part 1: from your B&B MR My Resort to San Lorenzo Market – Duomo square - Via Roma – Piazza Repubblica – Via degli Speziali – Via Calzaioli
You need just a couple of minutes walk from MR My Resort bed and breakfast to reach the San Lorenzo Market.
The Market, which is on your way to the Duomo, is famous for its stands of leather jackets, pashmina, leather bags and souvenirs (a small David, the Florentine decorated paper); prices are good, but always ask for a discount.
In the Duomo square you find a good shoes shop Bologna. Trendy boots, sneakers, italian shoes. Expensive but not too much.
After Bologna, you can see the Raspini multistore, at the corner with Via Roma. This place is one of the most favourite from young women and men loving Dolce&Gabbana, Prada, Cavalli, Paul Smith, Y’S… Shoes & clothes, man and woman.
But Raspini is not the only one: a few meters from its entrance you can see Luisa Via Roma : the most gorgeous shop window in the city.
Here you can find Kenzo, Chloé, Dior, John Richmond, Dsquared, Victor&Rolf, Jil Sander, and many others, as you can see from the website. Three floors, including the Coffee Shop. A real paradise for your credit card.
In the same street there are Gucci and Miu Miu
There are no good reasons to miss them.
Walking onto Piazza della Repubblica, you will see the multistore La Rinascente , an excellent place if you have no time and need to buy lingerie, jeans, clothes, make-up (Armani, Burberry, Diesel, DKNY, Ethic, K Kark Lagerfeld, Belstaff, Calvin Klein, etc.).
It is also an ideal place for presents in case you’re looking for something nice to use in the kitchen (top floor).
In addiction, don’t miss the Coffee shop on the roof top.
Right in front of its windows, there is the Hugo Boss store, recently renovated, and now not for man only (thanks God!).
This shop is at the corner with Via degli Speziali: take the left and in this small street you will find an interesting, very trendy shoes shop Calvani, expensive but the quality is excellent. Man and woman.
From this small street you can enter in Via de’ Calzaioli, where shops like Yamamay, Nannini, Coin are located…. TO BE CONTINUED I love shopping in Florence 2 !
Shopping
March 29, 2009
Looking for clothes in Florence? I love Giorgia Atelier shop for its gracious hats, too (not only in winter!!), and the colored bags, silk scarfes…
Not too expensive, friendly service.
On your way to go to the San Lorenzo market and the Duomo sqare. Just a few steps from our B&B.
Giorgia Atelier
Via de’ Ginori, corner Via Guelfa
closed Mon. morning