Walking into the Shake Café is like walking into a foodie’s dream filled with fresh fruit, vegetables, and baked goods. The smell of baked goods welcomes your senses as your eyes land on countless displays of sweets labeled “vegetarian” and “vegan friendly”.
Offering 11 juices, 10 smoothies, and 19 wraps, sandwiches, and salads combined, you can find a meal for just about any craving. Shake also has a gelato, baked goods, and fresh fruit station, so come in hungry and ready for a flavor extravaganza.
Right outside of Santa Maria Novella cathedral, Shake is not your typical Italian café. The options cater not only to vegans and vegetarians, but to those who wish to stay healthy while traveling.
Studying abroad in Italy for a month has been a killer for my diet. I have indulged in one too many bowls of pasta, and before I found this café, was content with just having hearty Italian dishes for each meal of the day. After discovering Shake, I have actively tried to incorporate it to my diet when I decide to eat out. At least one healthier meal a day can make all the difference, and this café proves that healthy doesn’t have to be synonymous with bland.
Rachel Porter, a 20 year old student studying abroad in Florence, agrees it has played a large role in helping her stay healthy.
“Shake Café is a quick and convenient little place to grab a coffee or a clean snack before class. It makes it easy to stay healthy in Florence,”she raves. “Of course there are healthy options in other restaurants, but on the go snack shops usually don't offer healthy options like Shake does.”
Don’t get me wrong, food plays a huge role in experiencing a country’s culture. Gaining a few pounds on vacation is not a sin and should not be frowned upon. But, knowing your healthy food options, is always key. When visiting Italy, it can feel almost impossible to maintain a balanced diet. The country’s love affair with all things carbs does not necessarily help tourists stay heathy. Croissants, pizza, pasta, flatbreads, tiramisu, cannolis, cappuccinos. Gotta try them all, right?
Shake helps keep health in the formula. Indulging in Italy’s cuisine does not have to be the end of the world as your diet knows it when you can have the same ingredients used in typical Italian dishes but without grease and excess carbs.
Menu
The café is set on providing clean food options. Their juices are named after their benefits, such as the detox, boost, and morning cleanse. Each juice has ingredients that target a different area all the while maintaining a great taste. You can also add elixir shots to your drink for 3 extra euros. Elixir shot options are ginger root, turmeric with lemon, cayenne pepper, or all three combined. Elixir shots add a boost of micronutrients to your beverage all while maintaining a great taste.
The restaurant’s 11 smoothie options also shake up the game by embodying the intersection of health and indulgence. Some smoothies, like the juices, are also named after their specific purpose. Choose from Energy, Potassium, and Work Out, or go for their other exciting flavors like the Aloe Vera or Matcha Green. The ingredients to some smoothies may be a bit taboo for some, but come in with an open mind you just might discover that avocado is your new favorite smoothie ingredient. My all time favorite and recommendation if you are on the go is the Work Out smoothie. Made with blueberries, bananas, protein powder, and peanut butter, it’s a great meal replacement that keeps me full for when I’m on the run exploring the wonderful city of Florence.
According to their website, wraps at Shake Café are served from 11am to 3pm. With 6 to choose from, you can expect a taste of the mediterranean with their Calimera wrap (Aubergine, feta, cucumber, tomato, onion, olives) or a twist on traditional Italian cuisine with their Novella wrap (Bresaola, parmesan, rocket, balsamic vinegar). Shake’s sandwiches and salads are served all day, with every ingredient you can think of that can possibly go on a sandwich or salad: ham, tuna, mushroom sauce, avocado, apple, orange, yoghurt, olives. This is truly an eclectic menu, but a good one at that.
Another must try is their bakery and gelateria. Shake offers traditional gelato flavors, vegan croissants, homemade cookies and cake, and fresh fruit. They are also famous for their mango gelato, and I can attest to its popularity. Their gelato is creamy yet firm, so it will keep you refreshed for longer without all the melting and stickiness that often comes with gelato.
The small café does its part in making sure it serves the freshest food possible. Their promise is to change their ingredients with the seasons, and only choose their fruits and veggies from close by producers.
Ambiance
Upbeat music blares in the background of the café and you can’t help but feel like you’ve just walked into a small smoothie stand at the beach. The lively ambiance is one of the reasons why I continue to come back during my month long stay in Florence, apart from the food of course. The workers are warm and welcoming, adding a familiar and homely feel to the establishment.
Shake’s dedication to staying green shows in their decor. The establishment is open concept, and the natural light that filters through hits the small and unique pots of grass they hung up on their wall. It is modern and light, offering a clean feel that matches their food.
Cruelty Free
It is important to stress that Shake Café is vegetarian and vegan friendly, which is almost like a breath of fresh air to the community of non-meat eaters who are often forgotten in regular restaurants. The Shake Café begs to differ. Croissants, wraps, sandwiches, and salads all come in vegan options, so there is truly something for everyone!