Delicious Places to Eat in Florence, Italy

Pinterest Hidden Image

Our favorite spots offer mouthwatering meals and quick bites. Italy, especially Florence, holds a special place in our hearts for its unforgettable dishes and cherished memories. The food alone is reason enough to keep coming back, though we also explore other destinations due to limited vacation time.

Friends and family always ask for our top picks in Florence, so we’ve compiled a list to guide everyone through the city’s culinary treasures. So you can figure out where to eat in Florence.

During our recent visit in October 2022, we were shocked to discover that Florence has seen changes, with several new restaurants popping up. Securing reservations at our beloved restaurants has become essential in today’s bustling scene.

Despite these changes, we happily returned to our old favorites. Join us in exploring these spots and savoring some of Florence’s delicous eats. Please note that our list isn’t exhaustive; it includes only the places we genuinely enjoy.

blog featured image | places to eat in florence italyPin
See our top list of places to eat in Florence, Italy. From small bites to traditional Tuscan meals, explore our favorite restaurants in Florence.

This article highlights delightful quick bites and some of our preferred restaurants in Florence, offering the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Tuscan meal.

Places to Eat in Florence, Italy

Before we start this Tasty Itinerary, here are a few tips…

  • Make restaurant reservations ahead to secure a table.
  • Inquire about seasonal offerings and daily specials.
  • Consider trying the house wine, often a great value.
  • Take advantage of local seasonal specialties, like mushrooms.
  • Indulge in daily gelato, given the short time and uncertain future visits to Italy.

Restaurants in Florence We Love

This list includes our top Florence restaurants, ensuring a fantastic meal and providing a great starting point for your short visit.

Trattoria Sostanza

Pan fried crispy buttered chicken Pin
This is a double serving of the buttered chicken – hubby and I shared.

Two words: BUTTERED CHICKEN!

Melt-in-your-mouth buttered chicken. It sounds like a simple dish, but replicating it at home wouldn’t be as easy even after they give you the steps. It just doesn’t come out the same!

The chicken is pan-fried in this frothy, buttery sauce. The chicken comes out delicately crispy, and so tender that it melts in your mouth.

They are also known for their Florentine steak and artichoke pie.

We can’t visit Florence and not have Trattoria Sostanza one night for dinner. It is excellent! One of our favorite places to eat in Florence.

Pin

The family running Trattoria Sostanza is welcoming, and sometimes they’ll invite you into the back of the kitchen to demonstrate how they make their favorite dishes over an antique stove. Of course, after the pandemic, they may have changed that.

Don’t dare leave anything on your plate; they expect you to mangia-mangia! 

A meringue cake smothered with fresh wild raspberriesPin

Leave room for dessert! Their Meringue Wild Raspberry Cake is amazing.

Cash only.

Communal dining.

Reservations recommended.

Trattoria Sostanza | Via del Porcellana, 25/R, 50123 Firenze | Google Map It

Acquacotta Trattoria

peek inside acquacotta trattoria in florence italyPin
Peek inside Acquacotta Trattoria, the chef in the distance chatting to a customer.

The ambiance, the food, and the service make us feel like we are at nonna’s having a home-cooked dinner. 

We initially thought nonna was in the kitchen cooking, but then we found out it was a husband and wife operation. The wife is waitressing and running the front while the husband works his magic in the kitchen. 

They are an excellent duo, serving dishes that warm the soul after the first bite.

We were happy to be back here during this recent trip, leaving it for our last night, where we ate some of our favorite Tuscan dishes.

We started with some crostini al lardo and sliced Tuscan prosciutto DOP with truffle pecorino. Our second course was ribollita ( a Tuscan peasant soup) and tagliatelle with wild boar ragout. We shared the roasted chianti pork with the best-baked potatoes as an entree. And then we finished off with mille fiore for dessert, a favorite.

So happy we were recommended to eat here for the first time many years ago by our favorite B&B in Florence (sadly, now temporarily closed).

When we paid our bill, we promised we’d be back!

Reservations recommended.

Acquacotta Trattoria | Via dei Pilastri, 51/R, 50121 Firenze | Google Map It

Ristorante Del Fagioli

This cozy tavern is filled with locals and tourists feasting on traditional menu items like ribollita and Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

This Florence restaurant came highly recommended by many locals we met during our first trip for an authentic Bistecca alla Fiorentina experience

What makes a Florentine steak? A traditional Florentine steak comes from their local Chianina cattle (white cow). When you order the steak, they will bring the raw steak out and present it to you at your table for approval before they cook it in the kitchen.

We were astonished but delighted all at the same time.

We paired our steak with sauteed white beans, spinach, and some of their house chianti. It is one of the best cuts of meat we’ve ever had. The meat is excellent, tender, and properly prepared. This is one of our favorite meals when we are in Firenze.

Cash only.

Reservations recommended.

Del Fagioli | Corso dei Tintori, 47-red, 50122 Firenze | Google Map It

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco

Just a short 3-minute walk from the South Side of Ponte Vecchio is Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, a popular and busy Tuscan restaurant.

Pin

The restaurant is located on the ground floor of a 14th-century tower. You will get the feeling of medieval vibes upon sitting down.

You also may recognize this restaurant from Stanley Tucci’s Search for Italy Tuscany episode. But we’ve loved this Osteria for over a decade, and just like Tucci, it’s one of our favorite places to eat in Florence. 

The literal translation of Cinghiale Bianco translates into White Boar.

They serve many typical Tuscan dishes, all very amazing and delicious. Choosing what to eat is always tricky because everything looks so good, and you’ll want one of everything.

During our most recent visit, we had a fantastic dinner. We had a plate of tagliolini with truffles, prepared perfectly with the pasta al dente, and the fresh truffles were fragrant, savory, and earthy in the dish’s simplicity. 

We also ordered the pappardelle with wild boar ragú always a standout dish here and a Tuscan favorite. It’s comfort in a plate. 

As an entree, we had to try their wild boar steak this time. The wine sauce reduction that this wild boar steak comes in is incredible. You’ll want to dip everything into this sauce.

For dessert, we had their cream puffs and the mascarpone cream with cat tongues, a thin buttery cookie. These cookies just reminded hubby of his childhood. 

The restaurant is bustling and full of happy locals and tourists. You will want to make a reservation ahead of time to eat here.

Reservations recommended.

If you can’t get into Cinghiale Bianco, check out their sister restaurant Osteria del Pavone. We couldn’t get in when we were there, but we heard great things about it.

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco | Borgo S. Jacopo, 43, 50125 Firenze | Google Map It

Tip: Download The Fork app before your trip to Italy. This is Europe’s version (works in 22 countries) of Open Table and Resy. You won’t find the restaurants listed in this post on this app, you’ll have to call to get reservations, as these are smaller restaurants. However, this app is helpful to get same-day reservations (or farther in advance) at other popular restaurants in Florence. We found a couple of excellent restaurants on The Fork during our travels in Italy.

Quick and Delicious Bites in Florence

Salumeria Verdi | Pino’s Sandwiches

Where to go for paninis? You’ll find Pino’s Sandwiches in Santa Croce, also known as Salumeria Verdi. 

Years ago, we’d walk into this local salumeria on an afternoon and enjoy a glass of wine with a platter of salumi or panini for a few bucks. We’d watch locals come in and out, order takeaway, or sit down with a glass of wine.

Today, you’ll find long lines for paninis, especially in the afternoon. But not as busy as the infamous All’Antico Vinaio. Locals still frequent Pino’s, and you will spot them dining inside or outdoors. 

As tourism has grown in the city of Rennaissance, so has the popularity of our favorite places to eat in Florence. However, Pino’s Sandwiches still serves delicious sandwiches for great prices. 

We suggest heading to Pino’s for paninis, where the salumeria is still a local favorite.

You can also order other things on the menu. They do not only sell panini.

Foodie Tip: Save room for gelato. Vivoli is just a short walk away from Pino’s.

Pinos Sandwiches | Via Giuseppe Verdi, 36R, 50122 Firenze | Google Map It

All’Antico Vinaio

Pin
There are 3 locations on one side of the street and another (not pictured) on the other.

In the heart of Florence, near the Uffizi, is All’Antico Vinaio. 

On this last trip, we didn’t return to have sandwiches here. We did witness how much they’ve grown in the past ten years. They have a total of 4 locations on the same street! Yes, all of them have long lines. 

They’ve become world famous. Expanding to New York City! 

The paninis at All’Antico Vinaio are next level. They are not just a sandwich, as some non-foodies may say. 

Of course, if you want a plain sandwich with just salumi and formaggio, you can have that elsewhere for cheaper. What makes their sandwiches unique are all the extra fillings they put inside them.

Sandwich from All'antico Vinaio • Our Favorite Places to Eat in Florence Italy • TastyItinerary.comPin

Their paninis at All’Antico Vinao are big! They are savory, decadent sandwiches with local Italian cold cuts and unique creamy sauces on bread. And they are not shy in smearing those sauces on the sandwiches.

Order from their menu board, pick your own fillings or be surprised and ask them to make you their favorite combination.

Take your sandwiches and walk down by the River Arno to enjoy them.

You should try one of their sandwiches at least once to see if the hype is worth it. We believe it is, but we ran out of time on this last visit.

All’Antico Vinaio | Via dei Neri, 76 R, 50122 Firenze | Google Map It

Gusta Pizza

Pizza with tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, basil and chunks of parmesanPin

You can’t visit Italy and not have at least a taste of pizza. Gusta Pizza is one of the best places for a quick and delicious pizza near Palazzo Pitti.

Gusta Pizza has also been featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Guy Fieri was not wrong about this place; it quickly became one of our favorite eats of Florence, Italy, too! 

Order a classic Margherita and sprinkle on some of their special hot sauce to spice it up. Any of their combinations will satisfy any pizza lover.

Cash Only.

Gusta Pizza | Via Maggio, 46r, 50125 Firenze | Google Map It

Mercato Centrale

The central market is the farmer’s market in the city of Firenze. You can do local food shopping here to prepare back at your vacation rental with a kitchen or eat at several of their food stands.

Stop at the family-owned Conti Tuscany Flavour to buy truffle honey or aged balsamic.

Then stop by da Nerbone, a food stand that’s been there as long as the market, and try a bollito (a boiled beef sandwich) with salsa verde.

da Nerbone Bolliot sandwich at the Mercato Centrale in Florence, ItalyPin
da Nerbone Bolliot sandwich at the Mercato Centrale

The 2nd floor of this market has a trendy food court with many food stands open until 12 AM. It’s a great place to try various foods at great prices. You should try to visit if only to look around. See where the locals shop. Learn about their traditional local foods.

Mercato Centrale | Piazza del Mercato Centrale, Via dell’Ariento | Google Map It

Perche No!

Pistachio gelato topped with whip creamPin
tip: if the pistachio gelato looks neon green, it is not freshly homemade.

When you’re in Florence, you must have some GELATO! We can’t have a list of our favorite eats of Florence without mentioning gelato.

We were introduced to Perche No! on a food tour in Florence during our first visit many years ago. We have tried other gelato places before being introduced to Perche No! I can say this is one of the best in town. All the gelato is made fresh, in-house daily.

Don’t forget to top your gelato with some Panna (whipped cream)!

Perche No! | Via dei Tavolini, 19r, 50122 Firenze | Google Map It

Cafe Rivoire

hot chocolate with whip cream with a batton cookie on topPin

Right across from the copy of Michelangelo’s David in Piazza Della Signoria, you will find one of the best hot chocolates in Florence at Cafe Rivoire. The hot chocolate is thick, rich, smooth, and creamy. Make sure to ask for panna (whipped cream). I couldn’t drink it all. It was so rich, but it was worth the many sips I did get to have.

Cafe Rivoire has produced some of the finest Italian chocolates for 150 years. So it is worth the stop, even to purchase a few chocolates and have an espresso.

Our favorite thing to do is sit outside the cafe, order some hot chocolate and espresso, and admire the main square, Piazza della Signoria.

Cafe Rivoire | P.za della Signoria, 5/R, 50122 Firenze | Google Map It

Don’t Miss: Inspiring Quotes About Italy – Your Next Foodie Destination


We wish you the best time in Florence with many delicious eats.

In advance of your trip to Florence, don’t miss these related articles:

Pin

Kathy Ava

Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

10 Comments

    1. Thanks so much! I didn’t mention wine a whole lot and you just proved my theory… that most people know to drink the wine when in Italy! 😉

  1. I simply adore Italian food, everything about it. Thank you for sharing and ”Perché no uno gelato?” for the first day of summer? I’ll take your advice and try that pizza too first chance I get. Very nicely put and described great tips. Thanks again