“One Clemson, coming right up!” are not exactly the words you expect to hear as you walk down Borgo degli Albizi, right in the heart of Florence, Italy. The oddly familiar American words come from a bartender inside The Lion’s Fountain, a small hole-in-the-wall Irish pub. Well, more like a portal to an American college town bar, if you want to truly get the gist of it.
“Lion’s,” as its regulars call it, offers a home away from home to American college students studying abroad in Florence, and an American dream oasis to young locals craving some good ole American tunes. As soon as you walk in, it’s hard to believe you're in the city where the Renaissance was born. Is this the same town where artistic geniuses like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci once roamed the streets? Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl blares in the background as the bartender continues calling out “Ohio State!”, “Fordham!”
Why is this dude calling out American college names? You may ask yourself. The answer lies in the shot menu posted right at the entrance to Lion’s. Over 200 shots are on the menu, all named after American universities.
“Each shot is something a student has ordered here. Every time someone new comes in from a college we don't have on the menu, we add their special shot order,” says the tall and cheery American bartender who was calling out the shot names before. He prefers to remain anonymous.
“The list has been growing for as long as I can remember. It’s hard to remember each and every shot, but I definitely know them all,” he says with a wink, as he turns around to take another order. “Two Stanfords, you got it!”
Home Away from Home
As you can probably guess, Lion’s Fountain is catered not only to young adults looking for a good time, but to Florence’s flourishing population of study abroad students. Feeling homesick is common among American college students who are in programs ranging from one to a few months, and having a familiar place to go to where one can fit in can significantly help ease homesickness.
“I come here on nights where I just need to feel like I’m back in Iowa,” says Bailey, a senior from Iowa State. She is studying abroad in Italy until June, and says the atmosphere at Lion’s has become a safe place for her.
“After spending my days exploring Florence, a place I don't even know the language of, I feel a sigh of relief walking into Lion’s and hearing American accents. Don’t get me wrong, I live for the Italian culture and language. I love being in Florence. But it can get overwhelming, and thats where a few hours at Lion’s helps,” she says, motioning around the pub as if she grew up there.
Kyle Stuzan, visiting from Florida State University, says he loves going to Lion’s for the food.
“Do you know how hard it is to find chicken wings and fries in Florence?” he jokingly asks, reaching over for a napkin after setting down a meatless wing. “I love pizza and pasta and wine, but sometimes I just need a bud light and some wings.”
And indeed, Kyle continued enjoying his wings. Lion’s food menu (which is about 1/10th the size of their shot menu) also includes burgers, chili cheese fries, mozzarella sticks (probably the most Italian their cuisine gets), and tacos. If you’re in the mood to go all out, visit Lion’s on a Tuesday night for bottomless €0.35 chicken wings.
Why limit fun to the weekend?
Most nightlife places are only open on Fridays and Saturdays, but that is not the case at Lion’s. You can visit the pub any day of the week, and you can bet each night will offer something different. Weekday nights will never be boring as long as this pub is open for business.
Mondays are “Dollar$ Night,” where the theme is paying for your drinks with dollar bills. If you came to Europe and noticed you forgot to exchange a few bucks for euros, say no more.
Tuesdays, as I mentioned, are wing nights. Wednesdays are Mexican and Karaoke nights, where you can enjoy €1.5 tacos, € 5 margaritas, and a bucket of Coronas for €18. You can then proceed to give the crowd your best Mariah Carey impersonation at the Karaoke stage.
“Every time I gather up the courage to sing karaoke at Lion’s, I end up having a blast and making a new friend on stage. After coming here a few nights in a row, I can honestly say the people here are like my family,” shares Kristen Young from Fordham University. That’s another thing about coming to this lively pub, the faces all become familiar after a few nights.
“It really is a community of people who love to have fun. Just like the college bars back in the States, you are bound to run into someone you know. The only difference is we are all thousands of miles away from home, so instead of it being annoying, it’s just awesome” says Young.
Thursdays are live music nights, starting at 10:30pm. If you’re into American football, the pub also plays NFL games every Sunday night at 7 PM.
Something for everyone
Lion’s Fountain takes prides in calling itself one of the oldest Irish pubs in Florence. Since 1995, the pub has opened at 10am and closes at 3am. It remains popular 23 years later because it caters to Florence’s different crowds. For instance, its music is eclectic. You get an even mix of pop, rock ’n’ roll and country without being overwhelmed. It also plays a variety of sports on its many TVs. Whether it be the Champions League Final, the Golf BMW Championship, or the NBA playoffs, you can bet something will always be offered for you at Lion’s.
Next time you’re in Florence, and are looking to dine-in, drink and sing karaoke, or watch American football, make sure to stop by Lion’s. Only then will you understand their promise: “The Lion’s Fountain is not just a pub…It’s a lifestyle!”
