You might not necessarily think of heading to an Irish pub in Florence. But you might be surprised to learn that the city hosts a whole bunch of different options that are more than worth stopping by and having a taste of some amazing Guinness.

One of these pubs is The Fiddler’s Elbow, located near the church of Santa Maria Novella and the train station. It can be overwhelming choosing the best place to sit down with a pint and to enjoy some music, but the location of The Fiddler’s Elbow and its relaxed setting makes it one of the best places to sit back and enjoy.

Guinness flows at The Fiddler's Elbow — Photo courtesy of Nico Kaiser

Established as one of the first Irish pubs in Florence (They claim to be the first.) in 1990, The Fiddler’s Elbow soon became a popular spot within the city, inspiring other pubs to make a quick appearance throughout the city.

They serve up all of the brews you would expect, including Harp and Carlsberg. So when you’re craving something familiar, you should think about ordering up a pint and sitting outside in some of their delightful seating.

It’s also the perfect place to meet up with some of your friends. The pool table and darts provided make the experience all the more fun for customers, and the back room provides an intimate setting even though there is plenty of room for numerous guests.

If by chance you find yourself bored in Florence, taking a walk around the area of the beautiful Santa Maria Novella church and throughout that neighborhood after some time at the pub is definitely a reason to visit.

Another reason to take a break and pull up a chair is the open mic night every Thursday. Though it’s open to everyone, it tends to draw some great local talent and makes the pub come alive. It starts later in the evening, so feel free to enjoy a fabulous dinner at one of the local restaurants before heading over.

The Fiddler's Elbow is also a prime location to check out some of the soccer games during the season: there’s nothing like watching the game amongst a bunch of football fanatics.

The pub is open from 12 p.m. until 2 a.m. every day of the week, though the best days to stop by are on Thursday and Saturday, when you get some wonderful musicians flocking to the pub in order to impress and a crowd eager to listen.

Also, think about stopping by some of their sister pubs in locations like Rome and Dublin.