Named after a Leonardo Sciascia novel — itself a reference to a Pirandello play — Todo Modo declares its allegiances before you cross the threshold. This is Florence's literary living room: an independent bookshop doubling as wine bar and cafe, where the shelves hold curated Italian and international titles, the wine list favours small Tuscan producers, and the calendar fills with readings and discussions that draw the city's writers, translators, and university crowd. The space is warmly lit and deliberately unhurried, designed for the person who wants to read for two hours over a single glass of Chianti without being asked to order again. No piazza views, no historic pedigree — just books, wine, and the quiet conviction that those two things belong together.
Location
Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Map
Insider Intel
A glass of wine from the Tuscan-heavy list — ask the staff for a recommendation, as the selection rotates and they know it well. Coffee is good but secondary to the wine. Pair with whatever the kitchen offers as a light plate. The real order is time: settle into a corner with a book and let the afternoon dissolve.
Late afternoon into evening, when the bookshop atmosphere deepens and the wine list comes into its own. Check the events calendar before visiting — a reading or discussion transforms the space entirely. Weekday afternoons are quietest for browsing and reading.
Via dei Fossi 15r, Santa Maria Novella. A 5-minute walk from Piazza Santa Maria Novella or Ponte alla Carraia. Wine by the glass 5-8 EUR, coffee 2-3 EUR. Cards accepted. The bookshop side is worth browsing even if you do not read Italian — the art, photography, and English-language sections are well curated. Events are often in Italian but occasionally bilingual. A genuine piece of intellectual Florence that most visitors walk past.