Savor the Flavor: A Foodie's Guide to Dining in Florence, Italy
Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is a city that will enchant you not just with its art and history, but also with its incredible culinary scene. From the simple, hearty Tuscan classics to the more refined gourmet experiences, there's something to tantalize every taste bud. Let's dive into the delicious world of dining in Florence!
Tuscan Treasures: What to Expect
Expect to indulge in fresh, seasonal ingredients, hearty portions, and a focus on simplicity. Some must-try dishes include:
Bistecca Fiorentina: This Florentine T-bone steak is a culinary masterpiece.
Pappardelle al Cinghiale: Rich, flavorful pasta with wild boar sauce.
Ribollita: A hearty Tuscan soup made with bread, vegetables, and beans.
Gelato: Indulge in the creamy, authentic Italian gelato.
Tipping in Florence: A Quick Guide
While tipping is not customary in Italy as it is in many other countries, it's always appreciated for exceptional service. A small tip of 5-10% is sufficient if you were particularly pleased with your dining experience. However, it's important to note that service charges are often included in the bill, so be sure to check before leaving additional gratuity. A simple way to show your appreciation is by rounding up the bill to the nearest euro.
Reservations: Plan Ahead
While many casual trattorias don't require reservations, it's always a good idea to book in advance, especially for popular restaurants or during peak tourist season. Use the FORK app for advance reservations or contact the restaurant directly. Many restaurants in Florence close on Mondays, so plan accordingly.
Wine Windows: A Florentine Gem
One of the unique charms of Florence is its "wine windows." These tiny openings in the walls of wine shops allow you to grab a quick glass of wine without stepping inside. It's a perfect way to enjoy a local tipple while exploring the city. Our favorites are:
Cantina dei Pucci
A popular restaurant in a 16th-century building near the Duomo. Some say the wine window is the main attraction, and you might have to line up. Cantina dei Pucci offers a curated wine list by the glass, which you can buy through their buchetta.
Il Latini
A Michelin-starred restaurant that's known for its traditional Florentine food and wine windows. Some diners enjoy a glass of wine while waiting for their table.
Babae
A wine window that hosts "L'ora della Buchetta" every evening from 7–8 PM, where they hand out glasses of wine to the street.
Where to Find the Best Bites
Florence is brimming with fantastic eateries, but here are a few of our top recommendations to get you started. As travel advisors, we are lucky enough to experience these restaurants ourselves but we also get amazing feedback from the clients we send to Florence!
Osteria Cinghiale Bianco - Specializes in offering typical Tuscan cuisine with local products. This place on the Oltrarno, a block from the Ponte Vecchio, is always packed in the evenings, with good reason. Its excellent Tuscan cuisine is complemented by an intimate yet unpretentious atmosphere. Don't miss the strozzapreti (literally "priest chokers"), light and delicate spinach dumplings, or the homemade pappardelle egg noodles in wild boar sauce (the cinghiale of the restaurant's name). Desserts are all homemade.
Torcicoda Via Torta - In the heart of Florence, down the street from Piazza Santa Croce you'll find Cucina Torcicoda, a mix of Mediterranean cuisine, pizza and an extensive wine list.
Antico Fattore - Cooking according to the Florentine tradition. They cook only with the best-selected, local, local, and seasonal ingredients. The dish proposals maximize the typical Florentine and Tuscan specialties while respecting ancient tradition.
Four Leoni - Tuscan specialties & regional wines served in a rustic-chic dining room with exposed brick.
Ristorante Bocadama - Located in Piazza Santa Croce, this is real Tuscan and other regional Italian food in a great setting, with prompt, efficient, and friendly service. In season you can dine al fresco too. Some of the favorites are the lasagna, pasta & fagioli, and spaghetti carbonara. Everything is homemade from quality ingredients. At dinner, the kitchen staff and menu change, and you will find some more refined cooking. Make sure to have one of their special desserts - either tiramisu or the pear and chocolate cake!
Ristorante Buca Lapi dal 1880 - Florence’s oldest restaurant opened 140+ years ago in the cellars of the magnificent Palazzo Antinori, down a few steep steps on the right-hand side of the palace. ‘Buca’ means ‘hole’ and Buca Lapi is a bovine shrine. Their bistecca alla fiorentina is considered by many to be the best in town. Duck, tripe, and wild boar are on the menu too, but here, beef is King!
Il Locale - Creative Tuscan dining and inventive cocktails are served in a Renaissance palazzo that boasts a 13th-century basement atop ancient Roman foundations. This lavish venue contains multiple dining rooms, both upstairs and in the cellars. The vibe is fabulously jaw-dropping, the crowd sophisticated, and the food refined and contemporary.
La Giostra -When Hapsburg prince Dimitri d'Asburgo Lorena, owner and chef of La Giostra, passed away in 2008, his son Soldano took over and kept the restaurant going with its signature hospitality. Start with a complimentary antipasto plate and a flute of spumante, before diving into a creative menu that features homemade pasta and a wiener schnitzel so big it hangs off the sides of the plate! Finish with the rich Viennese Sachertorte, prepared according to an old Hapsburg family recipe.
L'Osteria di Giovanni - The Latinis are one of Florence’s historic restaurant dynasties. A Renaissance building on a side street not far from the river houses their always-crowded restaurant. Come here for traditional Tuscan dishes tweaked with new flavor combinations, as well as bistecca fiorentina cooked to perfection. Or order the squab stuffed with chard and sausage and you’ll take home the hand-painted plate it's served on!
Cantinetta Antinori - Wine bar and restaurant managed by the Antinori family in their Renaissance palace at the Duomo end of Via Tornabuoni. They have been making wine since 1385. Savor locally produced wine, olive oil, and goat cheese, along with other Tuscan dishes, in the small but elegant restaurant.
Il Latini -Even though the place is usually packed with tourists, it's still a favorite of Florentine residents and offers communal-style dining at its best. Tuscan meats are a specialty, and no one makes pappa al pomodoro better!
Il Santo Bevitore - A very serious-looking wine bar on the Oltrarno that doubles as a restaurant. Expect inventive dishes like grilled tuna belly with broccoli, orange, and fried capers, or wild duck with Jerusalem artichokes and grapes. The great wine cellar includes some reasonably priced bottles
La Bussola - This neighborhood trattoria, whose name means "the compass," is not far from Piazza della Repubblica. Excellent grilled, stuffed squid, tuna, and other fish dishes, as well as grilled meats. Up front is a more casual section serving delicious wood-fired oven pizzas.
Trattoria Angiolino - This traditional trattoria on the south side of the river not far from the Ponte Vecchio has been dishing up delicious Florentine food since 1952. Service is friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable, while the menu offers all the local favorites: bread soups like ribollita and pappa al pomodoro, fried artichokes in season, and a perfectly-grilled bistecca alla fiorentina.
Paoli - The oldest restaurant in FlorenceIn the setting of a highly evocative location, renovated in the early decades of the 1900s in “pure fourteenth-century style”, the centennial history of Paoli Restaurant took place, starting from 1827. Paoli Restaurant preserves the taste and emotions of the tradition of Tuscan cuisine.
Gastone - A contemporary restaurant in the heart of the historic center of Florence. An experience for taste, a constantly evolving proposal of fresh and selected top-quality fish. A journey that originates in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea and arrives in our kitchens, where you will find classic fish cuisine with clean flavors that respect the product.
Buca San Giovanni - Established in 1882, the Restaurant proudly joins the Association of the Historical Sites of Italy. Many important people showed up at the "Buca" such as the Prince of Bulgaria for his bachelor party in the '30ies and the U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Even now, here - under the ancient vaults - you may have the pleasure of sitting next to cinema and sports celebrities, enjoying the warm atmosphere and the excellent Tuscan food.
Osteria Vini E Vecchi Sapori - The carefully chosen menu at Vini e Vecchi Sapori honors the diverse culinary traditions of Tuscany. A wide selection of foods with a strong historical foundation that are painstakingly prepared are what patrons may anticipate. Starters may be bruschetta with ripe tomatoes, basil, and extra-virgin olive oil drizzled over it, or a creamy Tuscan bean soup. Both would be delicious starts to the main course. Next, this restaurant has the menu’s main courses, which feature tried-and-true favorites. Something like the robust soup of vegetables and bread, ribollita, or the soft steak, bistecca alla Fiorentina, which is grilled to perfection and seasoned with just salt, pepper, and maybe a touch of rosemary. easonal vegetables sautéed in olive oil or roasted potatoes go well with these main courses, making for a well-rounded and satisfying meal. Offerings for individuals who enjoy seafood could include something like acqua pazza, a tasty fish stew full of herbs, garlic, and tomatoes. Guests are given desserts that highlight regional flavors to cap off the meal, such cantuccini paired with Vin Santo, a traditional sweet wine from Tuscany. Vini e Vecchi Sapori’s menu guarantees that every dish takes guests on a gastronomic voyage through the heart of Tuscany with its emphasis on authenticity and premium ingredients. This place exudes genuineness in every angle, guaranteeing that guests receive more than just a delicious dinner but also an engaging experience. This place is a favorite among those looking for authentic dishes in a cozy atmosphere because of its uncompromising dedication to tradition, which allows customers to experience the essence of Tuscan culture in every meal.
Francesco Vini - Elegance, tradition, and quality remain the principles that have made Francesco Vini famous. You can find the usual principles in the dishes that the restaurant offers, such as fresh pasta, the best meats, and the most delicious desserts, respecting the tradition of Tuscan cuisine. So today they are specialists in Florentine steak and with an irrepressible passion for wines, mainly typical Tuscan wines such as Chianti Classico, Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, fine wines which are now stored in the cellars, renovated in the 14th century by the family Peruzzi in the ruins of the Roman amphitheater, thus creating a wine list that offers more than one hundred labels, for connoisseurs and simple lovers, the wine will accompany any restaurant dish in the best way.
Regina Bistecca - Nowadays offering something different in the 140-year-old building that was once the antiquarian bookseller Gonnelli, the objective was to preserve and maintain the unique atmosphere of a historical place in which to offer a gratifying experience merging food, art, and history. As well as steak, the fifth quarter is also revered. Tripe, nerves, and stomach do a good job supporting the “Regina” Queen. Even the “Florentine fish” is present on the menu. Cod, anchovies, cuttlefish, and salacche appear according to the seasons. Of course, we have several types of hamburgers and meatballs, a large selection of vegetable sides…and ‘dulcis in fundo’… there is an elegant dessert trolley with homemade cakes that harks back to another time. The past meets the present at Regina Bistecca, whose name is a nod to the writer D’Annunzio’s laudatory exclamation at being served a Florentine steak on one of his visits to the city in the early 1900s: “This is not just a steak, this is the Queen of steaks!”
Enoteca Pitta Gola e Cantina - Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina is the dream made real of Edoardo Fioravanti, Manuele Giovanelli, and Zeno Fioravanti. With their passion for wines and the traditions of winemaking, they created a place where they can share that passion with others. The menu consists of traditional and also modern Italian cuisine made from fresh, local ingredients. Enjoy the local cheeses and charcuterie with our hand-selected wines and a stunning view of the Medici’s Pitti Palace. Let the team recommend a dish created to compliment their wines and your experience at Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina. A truly unforgettable dining experience awaits you.
Osteria dell Enoteca - A refined Tuscan menu prepared with fresh, local ingredients brought to you by Chef Nicola Chiappi, paired with their carefully curated wine selection. The Osteria has a carefully curated wine selection by the four owners. Following in the footsteps of the Enoteca, it features traditional Italian producers, mainly small production, and each bottle that they themselves would enjoy. As opposed to having a traditional written wine list they prefer a more intimate conversation with each of our guests. We’ll accompany you to our Wine Wall where we can talk about your preferences and assist you in selecting the perfect bottle for you.
Osteria della Pasta e Fagioli - Since 1975, the discovery of the flavors and aromas of the lands of Puglia starts from the delicious and rich buffet of typical products. The first courses are carefully prepared using artisanal pasta, and fresh top-quality products. To rediscover the true flavors of our tradition, in the daily preparation of sauces they use exclusively Apulian extra virgin olive oil and long hours of cooking. The meticulous care in the preparation and the use of always fresh products add unique taste and aromas to simply unforgettable dishes. The mainly beef and horse meat comes from the best farms, the delivery of the goods is daily and the grilling over an open fire enhances its qualities. The meats are purchased and carefully selected in order to offer the customers the best the market offers. The selection of wines from the Apulian vineyards goes well with the culinary offerings.
Remember, the best way to experience Florentine cuisine is to embrace spontaneity and explore. Don't be afraid to step off the beaten path and discover hidden gems. If you would like some expert assistance planning your meals… or trip to Florence, just submit a request on this site and we will be happy to oblige!
Buon appetito!