Harry's Bar - Firenze

Leo Vadorini

"to Leo for a brave Martini"

Burt Lancaster wrote on Leo Valdorini’s memories book

In 1952 Enrico Mariotti was working on his "Boston Bar” project. His friend Cipriani persuaded him to use the name “Harry’s Bar”.
From then on the story began of one of the most renowned restaurants in Florence.
Among other things Harry’s Bar owes its reputation to the ability and the charm of the barman, Leo Valdorini, who was honoured with the Key of the City of San Francisco by Mayor Diane Feinstein, when the Century City Harry's was started.
Either noble personalities of Florence and celebrities from all over the world have eaten at least once at the Harry’s Bar of Florence. There are so many memories in the words of the most popular Barman of Florence! Charming stories of the past with celebrities like Paloma Picasso, Burt Lancaster, Margot Hemingway and Paul Newman, who left with Leo’s papillon, that he loved much, swapping it for his signed picture. Robin Williams who got a spot on his own shirt, so Leo gave him a T-shirt of Harry’s Bar, that he dressed all day. Many other celebrities ate at Harry’s Bar, Zeffirelli, and Elizabeth Taylor, whose husband did not allow anybody to take more than two pictures of her, and Chelsea Clinton, not to mention all the other celebrities who visited Harry’s bar.

Since 50 years Harry's Bar is on Lungarno Vespucci, and the characteristics that make it so special are still the same: being very attentive its guests and taking special care to the cuisine.