The food in Florence is unmatched. You will leave wanting more, no doubt! Get ready to indulge in pizza, pasta, steak, risotto, gelato, pastries and everything in between. The prices are reasonable and it will fulfill all your Italian food dreams. The best thing to do in Florence is eat, so get ready!
What To Expect
Typically, breakfast is light with a hardy lunch and dinner. Breakfast in Italy is usually a cappuccino and a pastry. It is light, quick and can be on-the-go. You will not find many breakfast places that have large breakfasts to the American breakfast standard. Lunch is usually between 12-3pm and dinner from 7-10pm. Often times in between lunch and dinner restaurants will be closed, so plan accordingly. Expect sit down meals to take a while (1.5-2 hours) as it is leisurely and is viewed as a relaxing time with friends and family.
You will find lots of restaurants offering house wine. It is often a lot cheaper and can be just as good! I would opt for this option if you are on a budget or going for quantity. It's always good to give it a try because it is so cheap.
There are gelato places galore in Florence, so make sure to leave room! Gelato that stands up and is piled high is not as good quality-- be on the look out for this when choosing your gelato spot. For it to stand up it has to have more preservatives in it thus making the quality inferior.
Where to Stay
I have been to Florence on three different occasions. I stayed in this apartment twice with my family and stayed once at the Westin Excelsior with my mom. This apartment rental is a little bit of a splurge, but it is 100% worth it. It is so nice, adorable, well-located and the patio views are unmatched (pictured here)! It comfortably sleeps 6 and even the shower views are amazing. The Westin Excelsior was also incredible and a good option if you have less people. We like to use Marriot Bonvoy and got this hotel on points! There is no shortage of AirBnbs in Florence and is often a cheaper option than hotels. Be wary though, many AirBnbs in Florence (and throughout Europe) may not have elevators for your luggage.
I personally like staying in the Santa Croce neighborhood (which is where the apartment we rented was). It is slightly less touristy with a plethora of restaurants but it is easily walkable to the Duomo and other main attractions!
Breakfast
In general, any little café serving cappuccinos and pastries will fill the bill (in my opinion)! I would avoid the super touristy areas (mainly around the duomo) but otherwise most places will guarantee a good coffee and snack. I would just wander until you find a café that has seating and looks cute to hang out at, especially if you can get a patio seat on a nice day. Coffee everywhere here is so good. I always opt for a cappuccino and a croissant. Breakfast is quick and casual so you can save room for a big lunch and dinner.
If you are craving an American-style breakfast, this is the best spot to go to. They have great omelets and brunch at reasonable prices with many healthy options! It is a quick, casual eatery and will fulfill your breakfast cravings. I dream of the farmers omelet from here.
This quaint café has been named for having the best espresso in Florence. There are two locations and I visited the one on Via Dei Neri. The ambiance is cute and the service is quick. I will say it didn't necessarily stand out from other cappuccinos I had, but it was delicious nonetheless. I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, so I would go and try out the world renowned coffee yourself! We went mid-morning and it was not too busy.
Lunch
My family and I LOVE this place. We usually eat here at least twice a trip (shoutout to my friend Vince for the rec). The paninos are very cheap (about 5 euros), very filling and the house wine is also great. The owner, Pino, is very friendly and there is always plenty of seating. I can't recommend this place enough for a quick lunch stop in the Santa Croce neighborhood.
This is the most popular panini place in Florence and ~in my opinion~ extremely overrated. The line will be hundreds of people long and multiple blocks. At peak lunch hour, I would not wait in this line and waste your precious time in Florence. I think Pino's is even better than this place, and without the line. With that being said, it is popular for good reason and if you want to try it, I would go later between 8-10 pm and then you will have no line! It can make a good quick dinner or late night snack. It is very cheap, so without a line, it can be worth trying. (If you have a strong opinion against me claiming this is overrated, please debate me in the comments below!)
I love the Mercato Centrale. It is a super fun and bustling food hall (think like Chelsea market in NY or Pike's place in Seattle). It is a great lunch stop especially if you want something other than traditional Italian food. Here you can try everything from pasta to sushi to dumplings. It is a little more expensive than other lunch options, but still within reason. Outside the market is one of my favorite parts of Florence-- the leather markets! I enjoy coming here for lunch and then shopping after.
This is probably my favorite pizza in Florence and a great dinner or lunch option. It is super casual and affordable pizza joint. The pizza is amazing and they will even make it heart shaped! It is a no frills spot if you are looking for a meal that is non-eventful. It is in Santa Croce and right near All’antico Vinaio (if you go there for a panini and decide the line is too long, this is your spot). I dream of this pizza!
Dinner
I went here for the first time on my most recent Florence trip and it is one of my new favorites! It is definitely a hidden gem and a bit off the beaten path. The ambiance was very cute and cozy. The service was impeccable with the owner even spent a decent amount of time with us. I tried the pasta tasing menu, which was 14 euro for 5 different pastas of the chef's choice. It was so fun and not to mention a ton of food. I would highly recommend this place for pasta, wine, and ambiance!
The first time my family and I dined here it was one of the most fun experiences ever, and we have been back two more times since. The owner, Giuseppe, is an absolute hoot and our night ended with us drinking lots of limoncello and grappa with him and the waiter. I have had pizza, pasta, gnocchi and everything in between here - none of it disappoints. It is a larger and slightly more busy restaurant than some of the other mom-and-pop places, but the food quality is just as incredible. The menu is very extensive for whatever you are craving and the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. I would recommend a reservation.
If you love truffle this is a great place for you! There is an entire extensive truffle menu and at decent prices. Aside from truffle, their menu is massive, with choices for everyone. It is a pretty large restaurant with plenty of seating for big groups and the line usually goes by fast.
If you are looking to try the famous Florentine steak, this is your spot! Florentine steaks are a specific cut of Chianina cattle. It is also prepared in a specific way and tends to be more rare. Most restaurants won't let you specify if you want it more cooked, so if you don't like your meat more on the rare side, this may not be for you. The steak is massive and can easily be shared between 3-4 people with other side dishes. It is a delicious protein meal aside from the regularly scheduled pizza and pasta meals!
Gnocchi connoisseurs, this is your spot. I haven't been here in a while, since it was closed on my last trip for the holidays, but I still remember my meal here! It is quite a small restaurant, therefore I would recommend making a reservation. Their gnocchi is cheese baked in the dish and it is so wonderful my mouth waters just thinking about it. They serve other things besides gnocchi, but that is their specialty.
Not my absolute favorite place in Florence, but still a solid spot for dinner! It is cozy in a cool old building that was remodeled into the dining room. The house pizza and appetizers were great! I would recommend making a reservation, especially if you are a group more than 2. This is a great spot if you are looking for a casual eatery in the city center.
Gelato
Even though I have not been here before, I wanted to include it because so many people have recommended it to me! Unfortunately on both my last trips, since they were around the holidays, this spot was closed. I hope to visit it one day and I am sure it will be amazing!
Bars
There are plenty of clubs in Florence if that is your scene, but I tend to have wine with dinner and opt for casual bars or wine at home so I don't ruin the day after!
If you are looking for a fun Irish pub with affordable drinks, this is your spot! It is centrally located not too far from the Duomo and they often have Karaoke too. It is a great place to meet other people, spend time with friends or have some laughs after karaoke. The staff is always super friendly too!
Sesto on Arno (Westin rooftop bar)
Seston on Arno is part of the Westin Excelsior and has amazing rooftop views! Similar to most rooftops, you will be paying for the view and thus cocktails are very overpriced. I would come for one drink to take in the view and then leave for a more affordable spot. If you are traveling on a budget, I don't recommend coming here. Shameless plug: I once ran into James Franco here, so it is a very popular and a higher end bar to visit.
Gluten Free in Italy:
Many people, including myself, who are gluten-free in the US are able to eat gluten in Europe due to the way they process wheat differently. In the US, I strictly eat gluten free and still battle stomach issues whereas here I eat tons of gluten no problem (which is also why I love Italy so much)! If you are celiac, I wouldn't risk trying this, but if you have gluten intolerance you could give small amounts a try here and see if your stomach can handle it. Being able to eat gluten (and quiet frankly, anything) without issues makes trying all the different foods so much more enjoyable. If you need to stick to a GF diet, many restaurants are accommodating and provide options as well. Even my mom who is way more sensitive than me, is able to eat small amounts of gluten in Italy without issue.
Shoutout to all my friends that have studied abroad and visited over the years that have lead me to my favorite restaurants. There are so many places to eat in Florence, so drop your favorites in the comments below! The food here will not disappoint.
My instant guide to Florence:
Commentaires