Where to Eat in Florence: The Ultimate Florence Food Guide
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Whether you prefer to stick to Italian classics like pizza Margherita, or you’d rather indulge in a mix of local and global flavors, there are so many incredible restaurants, cafés and gelaterias in Florence!
I spent over four months exploring Florence’s mouth-watering food scene, searching for the most delectable dishes in the Renaissance capital of Italy!
I’ve compiled a HUGE list of the best restaurants in Florence, my favorite sandwich shops, and must-visit gelaterias from when I spent a semester studying Art History! Enjoy eating your way around Florence!
Where to Eat in Florence: My Top Picks!
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Florence Bakeries and Cafés: Where to Get Breakfast in Florence
The typical Italian breakfast usually consists of a small pastry and a cappuccino! Not many places offer the classic “American spread” – eggs, bacon, french toast, pancakes, etc – except for Rooster Café (one of my favorite brunch spots in Florence for a classic American breakfast). However, there are many incredible Tuscan alternatives that offer fresh pastries and the best coffee you’ll ever drink!
Here’s my list of the best cafés, bakeries and brunch spots in Florence!
Pasticceria Nencioni
Recommended by my Italian Professor, Pasticceria Nencioni takes the cake (or should I say, makes the cake!)! This local pasticceria is just on the outskirts of the heart of Florence. Near Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, a short walk from where my homestay was, Pasticceria Nencioni is a local bakery serving delectable pastries!
La Caffetteria delle Oblate
I had a friend who loved to find comfy cafes to read and study at when we lived in Florence. She recommended I visit this place and I fell in love with every part of it! Biblioteca delle Oblate and La Caffetteria delle Oblate are the best places to study or relax. I really enjoyed sipping a cappuccino and eating a pastry while I stared at the incredible Duomo from a window in La Caffetteria delle Oblate.
Rivarno Café
Rivarno Café is a great place to stop for a quick Italian breakfast! Located near Piazza Santa Maria Novella, Rivarno Café offers traditional Italian breakfast pastries and select “American classics” like breakfast wraps.
Leonardo Pasticceria
Leonardo Pasticceria is a quaint Florentine bakery near Mercato Sant’Ambrogio and Casa Buonarroti with a big selection of cornetti (Italian croissant!). My Italian Professor brought our class here and it was hugely popular between myself and my classmates!
Vecchio Forno
I stumbled upon this Florentine bakery when my train to Milan got delayed and I needed to find a place to grab a pastry and a cappuccino. Vecchio Forno, near the train station, serves delicious pastries! I loved the fruit tart!
Rooster Café
Looking for a classic American-style breakfast? Large portions, eggs and bacon, fruit smoothies, that is? Rooster Café is the BEST American-style breakfast place in Florence. Italians don’t emphasize large breakfasts, but would rather drink a hot cappuccino and eat a small pastry. But we Americans love our big breakfasts!
I visited Rooster Café twice when I lived in Florence, both times ordering the chicken and waffles…which were to die for! They also have a big selection of smoothies and cocktails, whatever you fancy!
Best Local Restaurants in Florence: From Tuscan Eateries to MY FAVORITE Hidden Gems
When in Florence, do what the Florentines do and indulge in delectably fresh Italian food! When I wasn’t at my homestay enjoying home-cooked meals made fresh by my host mom, I was out exploring Florence’s many local restaurants!
Here’s a list of my favorite local restaurants in Florence!
Tuscan Gems: Where to Get Italian Food In Florence
Simbiosi
A homey restaurant that specializes in organic pasta and wine! I visited this charming restaurant on my first week in Florence and I loved the homemade organic pasta and extensive wine selection!
Francesco Vini
A fancy restaurant located near Piazza Santa Croce with homemade pasta and wine from the restaurant’s own cellar! This restaurant is more expensive than other trattorie, but is worth it for the fresh pasta and great outdoor seating! I visited Francesco Vini on my lunch break in between my classes and I really enjoyed the fresh pasta!
Cibrèo
This small restaurant has been voted one of the best restaurants in Florence for many years. Located in my favorite part of Florence, Sant’Ambrogio, Cibrèo serves a multitude of small, delectable dishes. Make reservations in advance! This local restaurant is popular!
Trattoria Zà Zà
My list wouldn’t be complete without one of the best restaurants in Florence!. Tourists from all over the world come to Florence to eat at Trattoria Zà Zà! This restaurant gets very busy, so I highly recommend you book reservations in advance! Trattoria Zà Zà offers a large pasta menu, delectable second courses, such as chicken, fish and Florentine steak, and a wide variety of Italian wines. If you like seafood, the spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams) is TO DIE FOR! Enjoy this fan favorite, I certainly did!
Arà
Ever heard of Arancini? Arancini are fried Sicilian delicacies consisting of rice, stuffed with meat or vegetables, and fried in bread crumbs. They are delicious! Arà serves this Sicilian staple. Don’t miss it.
Ristorante Quinoa
Pizza, pasta, pastries all have one thing in common: gluten. For those of us who might be traveling to Italy, but have gluten intolerances, Ristorante Quinoa is the place to dine. Everything on the menu is gluten free, and certified delicious! The restaurant is located in a quaint courtyard with lots of shade and a great dining environment. Ristorante Quinoa is the one of the best gluten-free restaurants in Florence!
Trattoria Pallottino
Beauty and the Bucket List Gold Medal goes to Trattoria Pallottino! This local favorite is my TOP FAVORITE restaurant in Florence. Why? Spicy spaghetti (arrabbiata)! This dish single-handedly takes the cake for the best meal I had in Florence when I studied abroad. I dream about Trattoria Pallottino’s spaghetti arrabbiata!
Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio
Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio is a traditional Florentine market open Monday through Saturday! Try coccoli, a fried Italian “bread”, with stracchino and prosciutto!
If you want to explore Florence’s local market scene in depth, I highly recommend booking a guided food tour in Florence!
Here’s my top pick!
Mercato Centrale
Florence’s premier food hall, Mercato Centrale, is located just a short walk from San Lorenzo. Here you can find all types of cuisines: fresh pizza and pasta, Asian food, American food, seafood and many more choices! Mercato Centrale is a great place to meet people and gather with friends!
Florence’s Best Panini
INO Panino
You’ve definitely heard the Italian word panini which translates to “sandwiches”! INO is a small panino shop with an expansive selection of meat and wine. This sandwich shop was recommended by one of my Art History professors. I LOVED the sandwiches so much, I returned to this sandwich shop frequently! INO Panino’s central location outside the Uffizi Gallery makes it a great place to stop for lunch after visiting Florence’s biggest museum. Prosciutto anyone?
Un Caffé
The local University students love Un Caffè. Why? Because sandwiches are only FOUR euros (as of 2022)! This hole-in-the-wall cafe is one of my top FAVORITE places to grab a sandwich in Florence. The cafe has great, local vibes due to its proximity to local schools nearby! Un Caffé is one of the BEST cheap eats in Florence!
All’Antico Vinaio
This is perhaps the most “thumbs-up”-ed place to eat in Florence. With two locations, All’Antico Vinaio is the most reviewed panini shop in all of Florence. During peak season, the line can stretch all across Florence! If you are willing to wait in line (for up to two hours in peak season!), the sandwich is AMAZING. Whether or not it’s worth the hype is up to you and how long you are willing to wait for a panini! Looking for the next best thing? Pino’s panini near Santa Croce gives All’Antico Vinaio a run for its money. I like Pino’s the best!
Pino’s Sandwiches –Salumeria Verdi
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Pino’s is the best! The man – Pino, that is – runs his own wine tasting and even cuts the cured sandwich meat himself! Who wouldn’t want to meet the master of panini and Italian wine? I found this place on my last week of study abroad in Florence and I WISH I had found it sooner. The bresaola and arugula sandwich is TO. DIE. FOR.
Panini Toscani
Another one of Florence’s popular panini shops, and one of the best quick places to eat in Florence near the Duomo! A great, quick bite if you are hanging out around Piazza del Duomo! I really enjoyed grabbing a sandwich from Panini Toscani and sitting outside the Duomo after class!
The Best Pizza in Florence
Gustapizza
A popular pizza restaurant just across the Ponte Vecchio. Tourists, locals and Guy Fieri love this place (yes, Guy Fieri has been there!). Gustapizza is incredibly popular amongst locals and travelers. Expect to wait in line for this delicious pizza! Believe me, it is WORTH it!
Pizza Napoli 1955
Beauty and the Bucket List Honorable Mention! This is one of THE BEST pizza places in Florence. Naples is the birthplace of pizza, and Pizza Napoli 1955 in Florence masters the art of pizza, Neapolitan-style. They even shape their pizza like hearts! How romantic! Located near the famous All’Antico Vinaio, Florence’s most famous panini place, Pizza Napoli 1955 is truly some of the best pizza I’ve ever had.
Where to Try Florentine Steak in Florence, Italy
La Giostra
This restaurant is a MUST TRY in Florence! A little more expensive than a traditional trattoria, La Giostra offers a selection of delicious Italian food plated beautifully. This restaurant is great for date night or great for anyone who wants to try a Florentine steak. When I studied abroad, I rarely splurged on a fancy meal, instead opting for budget friendly trattorie or local sandwich shops. However, the one time I did splurge on a fancy meal it was at La Giostra! I LOVED my experience at La Giostra – I swear, it was one of the BEST steaks I’ve ever had!
Ristorante Natalino
Ristorante Natalino is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Florence. I visited for the Florentine steak, which was exceptional. The pasta here is also very delicious and unique!
Best Locals Spots for Aperitivo in Florence
What is aperitivo?
Originally derived from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open”, the Italian tradition of aperitivo is a “before-dinner” drink “to open” one’s stomach for dinner. In other words, aperitivo is basically Italian “happy hour”. Usually occurring at the end of the work day (or for me, after my Art History classes), aperitivo is the chance to enjoy an Aperol Spritz (or some alcoholic equivalent) and relax with a cocktail before dinner.
Here are some of my favorite local bars to enjoy aperitivo!
Bulli e Balene
Count on me to find cheap cocktails in Florence! Bulli e Balene is a social bar located just across the Arno River. Aperol spritz? I’ll take two!
MangiaFoco
A wine bar? Yes please! Thinking about stopping for aperitivo? This is the place to go. MangiaFoco has a large selection of wine, sure to please even the most knowledgeable connoisseur!
The BOX
A hip, cocktail bar with an abundance of aperol spritz! Located on one of my favorite streets in Florence, Borgo Pinti, this is the place to go for aperitivo!
Best Gelato in Florence: Recommendations from a “Local”
Let’s face it, when you decided to book that trip to Italy, you probably had gelato on the brain. I know I did when I booked my flight to Florence!
How is gelato different from ice cream?
Gelato is a creamy, slow-churned Italian dessert – one of the most loved desserts around the world! Compared to ice cream which contains heavy fat content, gelato usually has a higher proportion of milk and a lower proportion of cream and eggs. The slow-churn process incorporates less air into gelato making it much creamier and denser than regular ice cream.
When classes ended, I would always reward myself with a sweet treat! Here’s a list of my favorite gelaterias in Florence!
Where to get gelato in Florence…
Perchè No!
Hands down, the best gelato in the historic city center of Florence! Located in Centro Storico just steps away from Piazza della Signoria, this gelateria was one of my favorites in the heart of Florence.
Badiani
A gourmet gelateria recommended by one of my study abroad professors. The second location – Gelateria Pasticceria Badiani, just off the beaten path – has a big collection of artisanal gelato and pastries, and is worth walking outside of the city center for!
Cantina del Gelato
Located on Borgo la Croce, this gelateria is a local favorite!
Gelateria de’Medici
Gelateria de’Medici was located near my homestay. Oftentimes I would wander here for a pre-dinner gelato!
Venchi
I discovered Venchi when exploring Venice and I loved the gelato so much! With locations all over Italy, Venchi is not hard to find. The gelato is nothing short of delicious!
Global Cuisines to Try in Florence: Where to Eat When You Want Something Other Than Italian
There comes a point on vacation when you’re tired of eating the same cuisine over and over, even if the meals are incredibly delicious! When I studied Art History in Florence, I LOVED indulging in Italian cuisine. Pizza, pasta, gelato – I ate it all. But at a certain point, I REALLY wanted Indian food.
We’ve all been there. Not only did I eat my way around Florence’s local Italian restaurants, I also ate a lot of incredible global cuisines in Florence!
Here’s a list of my favorite global cuisines in Florence!
GiaoGiao
Chinese street food and boba…who could want anything else? I visited this restaurant everyday after my art history courses because the boba is AMAZING. I love finding boba tea when I travel the world. If you are looking for global cuisine (sick of pasta?), GiaoGiao is the next best thing. Who knew? Chinese food in Italy!
Royal India
There are times when I travel when I crave food other than the local cuisine. Indian food happened to be one of my frequent, “non-local cuisine” cravings when I lived in Florence! Of course, I had to find Indian food when I lived in Florence! I stumbled upon Royal India walking home from the train station, looking for anything but pasta. This restaurant is five out of five stars – a delicious alternative to the local Italian cuisine!
L’Areperia
It’s hard to believe that Latin cuisine made its way to Italy! Nevertheless, Venezuelan cuisine takes on Florence! L’Areperia is a great place to find traditional Venezuelan arepas and delicious plates when you want something other than pasta.
BoMo
Sometimes we crave dumplings and bao…more than the average person. BoMo is the place to get your fix of dumplings and bao! This small restaurant is also located on Borgo La Croce, one of my favorite streets in Florence. This area is largely local so many of these restaurants are local favorites!
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