14 Best Restaurants in Florence and What to Eat

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If you are planning a trip to Italy and Tuscany and are looking for the best restaurants in Florence, this article is for you. Florence is known for being not only beautiful but also a city where food is incredibly amazing; the typical dish is the Florentine steak (bistecca alla fiorentina), an iconic dish that is prepared using veal from the Val di Chiana but also Maremmana, Marchigiana and Romagnola veal slaughtered only at an age between 12 and 24 months.

Apart from the Florentine, other typical dishes are also eaten in Florence and the city is famous for offering lovers of good food truly unique experiences.

Best Restaurants in Florence

In this list of best restaurants in Florence we have included the places we know and recommend; obviously this is not an exhaustive list because it would be impossible to pull out but what we suggest is the ones that, for us, represent the best.

The list, which is not ordered according to any specific classification, does not take into account the price or rather takes it into account but does not take it as a primary measurement meter; therefore, it is not a list of places where you eat in Florence spending little or spending a lot but a list of restaurants in Florence where you eat well and where the quality is high in terms of food, regardless of the price.

Mercato Centrale

We had to start with the Mercato Central in recommending places to eat in Florence. It is a real institution in the city where on the ground floor there are stalls with typical products and local delicacies. Over all, the famous panino with lampredotto. The lampredotto is the abomasum of the cow and in Florence it is usually served inside a sandwich soaked in the cooking broth.

Address: Piazza del Mercato Centrale, Via dell’Ariento
Website: Mercato Centrale Firenze

Trattoria Mario

This trattoria is located in the center of Florence and it is literally stormed by locals and tourists at lunch and dinner. Prices are slightly lower than average (but only slightly) and the place is famous especially for the traditional Tuscan dishes prepared in a workmanlike manner and served as per tradition.

Address: Via Rosina, 2r

‘Ino

The Florentine tradition of sandwiches is very well known and ‘Ino is one of the most famous places in the city where you can taste typical bread accompanied by local cold cuts and cheeses. Cheap but above all really interesting and always offering unique combinations of flavors, which enhance the tradition in a truly excellent way.

Address: Via dei Georgofili, 3r/7r
Website: ‘Ino

All’Antico Vinaio

Still street food At the Antico Vinaio, a delicatessen where you can taste stuffed focaccia with the best traditional flavors. The specialties change almost every day and the queue outside, at all hours of the day and evening, is synonymous with goodness and quality.

Address: Via dei Neri, 74 R
Website: All’Antico Vinaio

Ora d’Aria

Marco Stabile’s Michelin-star restaurant offers a menu that changes seasonally, although some dishes are almost always present. Among these the famous Ultrapappa al pomodoro with basil ice cream and the baked pigeon with cibreo, a typical Tuscan product based on entrails. A la carte menu and tasting.

Address: via dei Georgofili 11r
Website: Ora D’Aria

La Buca dell’Orafo

Housed in an old palace from the 1200s, La Buca dell’Orafo is an evergreen among the restaurants of Florence. Typical Tuscan cuisine in compliance with the disciplinary of the typical Florentine cuisine. Try the Florentine and ribollita.

Address: Via dei Girolami, 28
Website: La Buca dell’Orafo

Trattoria Il Sostanza

Few typical dishes, few tables and a pleasant and traditional atmosphere: Trattoria Il Sostanza’s aim is to send guests home only if they are really satisfied. Tortellini in broth and buttered chicken are the house specialties.

Address: Via del Porcellana, 25/R

La Casalinga

Dedicated to those who love the typical cuisine and are not looking for a fashionable place, La Casalinga is the perfect place to eat typical dishes cooked in the classic manner in a relaxed and very old style environment. Try the mixed boiled meat with green and ribollita sauce.

Address: via Michelozzi
Website: La Casalinga

Trattoria dall’Oste

The Trattoria dall’Oste is famous for its meat and especially for the Florentine steak, with the meat that is selected only among the best producers and cooked in the traditional manner. All the dishes offered are typical and sometimes prepared with concessions to modernity. Try the black crostini.

Address: Via Luigi Alamanni, 3
Website: Trattoria dall’Oste

Da Burde

Da Burde is a historic trattoria in Florence opened in 1901, a classic and quite refined environment where you can taste typical cuisine prepared to perfection. Try the pasta and beans, pasta with escaped meat sauce (meatless vegetables) and leek cake.

Address: via Pistoiese, 154
Website: Da Burde

L’Antico Trippaio

This is not a restaurant but a famous kiosk where you can eat the panino with lampredotto and the Florentine tripe, all prepared according to the traditional recipe. You can eat standing up or sit at tables near the kiosk.

Address: Piazza de’ Cimatori
Website: L’Antico Trippaio

Trattoria La Gratella

Impeccable service and a family atmosphere, at La Gratella you can eat outside the classic sightseeing tours and the Florentine is really first class, cooked and served on the grill so that it remains warm.

Address: Via Guelfa, 81
Website: Trattoria La Gratella

Trattoria I’Raddi

I’Raddi offers a varied menu with traditional dishes that mix with new combinations. Three menus in total, the Tuscan, the Italian and the revisited: in all three cases, local and seasonal ingredients make the difference.

Address: via D’Ardiglione, 47
Website: Trattoria I’Raddi

Enoteca Pinchiorri

Pinchiorri is the most famous name in Florence: 3 Michelin Stars and an expensive but certainly unique experience. Found since 1973 in a historic building behind Santa Croce, it is open only for dinner and requires formal clothing with mandatory jacket for men.

Address: Via Ghibellina, 87
Website: Enoteca Pinchiorri

What to Eat in Florence

Typical Tuscan cuisine finds fertile soil in Florence: in fact, the city of Florence is famous for its food and wine culture and above all for its desire to maintain firm roots, enhancing local ingredients and their seasonality and above all without ever forgetting tradition.

If you are in town and are looking for what to eat in Florence, here is the list of unmissable.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina

A Chianina or Fassona breed beef steak of at least 1.2 kg. It is at least 5 cm high and is always served with bone, cooked on the grill over high heat for about 3-4 minutes per side; it is never served well done but always extremely rare.

Ribollita

Bread and vegetable soup that is boiled twice, is a real must of the culinary tradition of Florence and Tuscany.

Lampredotto

Abomasum (one of the four stomachs of a bovine), tomato, onion, celery, parsley all boiled and served in a sandwich soaked with the cooking broth.

Schiacciata alla Fiorentina

Eggs, sugar, flour, orange peel: a typical dessert of the Carnival period, to be eaten alone or accompanied by chantilly cream or whipped cream.

Pappa al pomodoro

Stale Tuscan bread, tomato, garlic, basil, extra virgin olive oil: a very simple and very tasty dish.

Trippa

Stomach of bovine, celery, tomato, pepper and parmesan served in terracotta bowls and very hot.

Crespelle alla Fiorentina

Very thin crepes filled with ricotta and spinach and seasoned with very creamy béchamel.

Gelato

Ice cream was born in Florence by Bernardo Buontalenti and the butcher Ruggeri, who lived at the court of Catherine de Medici, in the sixteenth century. That’s why when in Florence, one has to eat at least one gelato choosing the “artisanal” one.

Things to See in Florence

After telling you where to eat in Florence and what to eat, here is the list with the things to see in Florence, the ones you really do not want to miss.

Piazza del Duomo

The symbolic square of Florence, overlooked by the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery and Brunelleschi’s Dome. All sites can be visited by purchasing a combined ticket.

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is one of the most beautiful views of Florence, especially in the evening when the lights begin to light up and the area becomes colored.

Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio

The heart of the civil power of Florence, it still houses government offices. Michelangelo created and positioned the David in front of the Palazzo Vecchio to symbolize the power of the Florentine Republic in contrast to the tyranny of the Medici.

Palazzo Pitti and Giardino di Boboli

The residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany is also the largest monumental green area in the city.

Museo degli Uffizi

The Museum par excellence, which houses works by the great Florentine artists but not only, including Leonardo, Cimabue, Caravaggio, Giotto, Raphael, Mantegna, Tiziano and Botticelli.

The Uffizi is one of the most visited museums in Italy, with over 1.5 million visitors every year and long queues at the entrance. During the high season and in general the weekend and morning the number of visitors is higher so we advise you to buy the ticket to visit the Museum of Offices in advance online; buy priority tickets for the Uffizi which will allow you to skip the line and enter the Florence Uffizi immediately.

Galleria dell’Accademia

Another museum dedicated to Florentine and other artists, famous because it houses the original David by Michelangelo, a statue of over 5 meters of Carrara marble. Buy tickets to see Michelangelo’s David.

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is an example of Florentine and Tuscan art and inside it contains interesting and famous paintings including the Crucifix painted by Giotto and Masaccio’s Trinity.

Piazzale Michelangelo

The most famous panoramic viewing point in Florence, mandatory destination for those in the city.

Now you’re all set: if you’re looking for the best restaurants in Florence, the foods to eat and the things to see we got you covered.

If you’ve eaten somewhere on this list of the best restaurants in Florence and loved it, share it with the hashtag #thefoodellers.