TrattoriasElegant RestaurantsFancy RestaurantsLuxury RestaurantsPizzeriasGelaterias
Trattorias – Casual Restaurants
Acqua al 2
Via della Vigna Vecchia 40r
Since 1978 Acqua al 2 has offered most tasty dishes revisited and reinvented by chef and owner, who still looks after the recipes. Renowned are the tastes of various main courses (5 types of pastas and risottos), the beef fillet with balsamic vinegar or blueberry sauce, the chicken breast with various sauces, the focaccias filled with beef and the homemade desserts.
Open every day for dinner.
Buca Lapi
Via del Trebbio 1r
Buca Lapi is the oldest restaurant in Town. Born in 1880 in the cellars of “Palazzo Antinori,” still preserves traces of over a century of history thanks to a meticulous restoration. Frescoes decorate the first room that overlooks the open kitchen. The “Bistecca alla Buca Lapi” (T-bone steak Buca Lapi style) is definitely not to miss (order one to share), great with a portion of spinach or roast potatoes.
Impressive trolleys laden with cold entries and homemade desserts will roll frequently among the tables. The genuine taste of the main courses shows the great quality of the homemade pasta.
Open daily except Saturdays, both for lunch and dinner.
Buca Mario
Piazza degli Ottaviani 16r
This is one of the most esteemed Florentine family run restaurants. Faithful to local tradition, it proposes the true flavours of the Tuscan and Italian cuisine, thanks to five cooks who every day prepare the delicious dishes that compose the wide-ranging menu, such as: “Classic Ribollita”, “Pappa al Pomodoro (Tomato bread soup)”, “Purée of beans with spelt”, “Ossobuco (veal shanks) Florentine style with beans in tomato sauce”, and of course the classic Bistecca alla Fiorentina (T-bone steak) served with cannellini white beans and Tuscan olive oil. The restaurant offers a considerable selection of wines, for both connoisseurs and amateurs alike.
Open daily for dinner, on Saturday for lunch also.
Cammillo
Borgo San Jacopo 57r
This old fashioned charming family run restaurant never seems to change. The quality of food and service is still excellent, thanks to the authentic flavours enriched by the high quality of wine and oil from the proprietor’s farms. Cammillo is a simple, unpretentious place, but enormously and justifiably popular with locals as well as tourists. For a special treat, try the pecorino brulee glazed with balsamico – unusual and delicious!
Open from Thursday to Monday for lunch and dinner.
Gargani
Via del Moro 48r
This restaurant’s attractive menu and unusual frescoed decor combined with exposed brickwork are all part of its popular appeal. The Food is so wonderfully presented that it seems almost a shame to touch it, but worse still would be not to taste it at all. If in doubt what to go for, just try a bit of everything, but if you wish to taste the leading dish Garga is known for, order the “Pasta del Magnifico”, a supertasty plate of Spaghetti with heavy-cream and orange zest. At the end of your meal, do not miss the cheese cake.
Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.
I 13 Gobbi
Via del Porcellana 9r
It is located in a quiet street between Carraia Bridge and Santa Maria Novella Church. A small, busy and very atmospheric trattoria with delicious Tuscan cooking and some of the best pasta in the city. Make sure to have a reservation. It is a good mix of local flare and is friendly to tourists.They also have a lovely inner courtyard with some outside tables.
Open every day for lunch and dinner.
I 4 Leoni
Via de’Vellutini 1r/Piazza della Passera
The Trattoria dei Quattro Leoni, founded in 1550, is located in Piazza della Passera, a corner of the old Florence that you’re going to seek in vain on the map.
The menu, enriched day by day, will surprise you and give you a perfect example of the genuine Tuscan culinary tradition, starting from the delicious appetizers, such as bresaola and truffle oil, to the main courses-not to miss are the “fagotti” pasta with pear and pecorino cheese. A special mention to the incomparable desserts, such as the pear and chocolate cake , the apple pie and the unforgettable “Cantuccini di Prato” to dip into the Vin Santo. They also have outside tables placed on one side of the square.
Open daily from lunchtime to dinnertime.
Il Latini
Via de’Palchetti 6r
This Trattoria has been around since the early 1900s and has been run by several generations of the Latini family. It is the place where you have to go if you want to try a family meal and enjoy the Italian fun. Several rooms with shared tables (white tablecloths and proper table napkins); noisy, bustling and very popular with locals, especially at lunch. Good value and excellent food, with a great huge Florentine steak.
Open every day for lunch and dinner except Monday.
Il Parione
Via del Parione 74-76r
Housed in a palace of the XVI century, Parione restaurant blends what is considered a particular historic – artistic atmosphere. The chef combines with great ability the excellence of the classic dishes from the tuscan cuisine with the refined rules of today’s moderne cuisine. Located just a short walk from the hotel, it is the ideal place for a refreshing meal after a shopping marathon through the boutiques of Via Tornabuoni.
Open every day for lunch and dinner.
Il Santo Bevitore
Via di Santo Spirito 66r
Just a few steps from the Antica Torre, in one of the tiny streets around Santo Spirito Church, you will find this lively restaurant, which offers an atmosphere that is refined and sparkling at the same time. Boards of entries and rich salads will delight you while waiting for the fanciful main dishes, such as the pumpkin soup with raw shrimp and toasted almonds. The staff are helpful, attentive and knowledgable. Their enoteca a few meters down the street is a great place to wait for your table with any number of wonderful wines and snacks. Reservations are a must.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
La Giostra
Borgo Pinti 12r
Prince Kuntz Asburgo Lorena welcomes you to his enchanted place where you will be spoiled by his two twin sons. A glass of excellent Valdobbiadene Prosecco accompained by a generous assortment of starters is offered by the house to begin. The menu is refined: brie and artichoke parcels, “tagliolini” (noodles) with truffles and porcini mushrooms, gnocchi with spinach and ricotta cheese; the main courses are equally as imaginative and exquisite. Busy at lunch, intimate and cozy for dinner. Run with a great savoir faire and competence.
Open every day for lunch and dinner.
Mamma Gina
Borgo San Jacopo 62r
Right after stepping into this local trattoria, you will be immediately given a cheerful welcome by one of the waiters that run the restaurant in the most professional and friendly way. The ability they have to make you feel at home is due to the long years they’ve worked together. This will contribute to make you experience a wonderful dinner in a real Florentine house. The menu reflects the genuineness of Mamma Gina’s recipes and the tasty flavours of the Tuscan cuisine. Great professionality at reasonable price!
Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco
Borgo San Jacopo 43r
This typical Tuscan style Osteria features a rural decor, with stone walls decorated with the traditional ceramic jugs. The owners will help you choose among the tempting dishes coming from the most ancient and authentic tradition of the Tuscan cuisine, such as: “Ribollita”, “Pappa al Pomodoro”(tomato bread soup), and the classic Bistecca alla Fiorentina(T-bone Steak) ecc… The restaurant offers moreover a very fine selection of wines.
Open daily for dinner; on Saturday and Sunday also open for lunch.
Osteria delle Belle Donne
Via delle Belle Donne 16r
The name of this place, Italian translation of “The Inn of Pretty Women” (it is also the name of the narrow street where it is located), has been kept from the brothel that was housed in the building and that was closed after a law in 1966. It is the ideal place to enjoy an intimate dinner or a relaxing lunch. The strong point of this Osteria is the simplicity of the dishes and the carefulness in preparing and presenting them.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Touch Florence
Via di Mezzo 42r
The restaurant’s “ philosophy is to give a ‘touch’ of freshness to the traditional Tuscan cuisine, and to emphasize the excitement of simplicity in each dish. The leading concept focuses on the importance of seasonal and local ingredients. The interactive ‘touch’ menu enables the ability to update the plates according to the daily availability and to insure the highest quality ingredients. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Cucina Torchicoda – Osteria
Via Torta 5 r
The tavern Cooking Torcicoda is offers a rich menu of traditional Tuscan and Italian, such as fettuccine Cacio e Pepe o la classica pappa al pomodoro (tomato bread soup). There are more contemporary choices as hambruger 250 gr. with homemade sesame bread and the classic T-born steaks with Irish Angus meat or Chianina meat.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Informal but Elegant Restaurants
Cantinetta Antinori
Piazza Antinori 3/Via Tornabuoni
This restaurant is located in the XIV century Palace belonging to the Antinori family, one of the 3 top wine producers in Tuscany. It is an attractive place, elegant and classy, which also offers a well provided wine bar where you can taste the renowned “house” wines. The menu proposes the disse of the Tuscan tradition, prepared with the typical local products, that come in a part from the Antinori properties in Tuscany and Umbria. The restaurant also has an excellent wine cellar, with a wide selection.
Open Monday to Tuesday for lunch and dinner.
Golden View Open Bar
Via dei Bardi 58r
The Restaurant offers an unmatched view of the Ponte Vecchio and the Torre di Arnolfo, with the Galleria degli Uffizi on the right and the Corridoio Vasariano opposite the Arno river. It is the ideal place for a romantic dinner. Suffused candle light and delicatessen accompanied with live Jazz. A unique view in the heart of Florence! The Restaurant consists of three dining rooms. The menu ranges from the typical Tuscan cuisine to the lighter Mediterranean one, based on fresh fish dishes. You will find the Pappa al pomodoro (Tuscan tomato soup), the Ribollita (Tuscan vegetable soup) and the Florentine Beefsteak, as well as Spaghetti allo scoglio (Seafood Spaghetti), Risotto con gamberi e ramerino (Shrimp and Rosemary Risotto), Tonno alla Taormina (Taormina Tunafish) and Bocconcini di cernia alla birra rossa (Morsels of Grouper in red beer sauce). Golden View hosts a permanent art exhibit of European artists with special links to Florence.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Il Cibreo
Via de’ Macci 118r
Lots of reviewers agree that this is the best real “Florentine in Florence”. This restaurant bases its success on a bright review of the local cuisine, pulling out its flavours, fragrances and intuitions and revealing its lightness by softening its sharpnesses. You will not find pasta on the menu, but you will be delighted by the soups, such as the fish puree, the polenta with mixed herbs and the ricotta cheese and potato flan. A special mention goes to the winelist, that pays a special attention to the Tuscan products and also features a good selection of spirits.
Open Tuesday to Saturday both for lunch and dinner.
Ristorante Olio
Via di Santo Spirito 4
Just across the bridge in the antique area of San Frediano. A cozy restaurant where you can have a quick working lunch or an intimate dinner. The staff will be happy to suggest the most delicious dishes of the Tuscan tradition, assuring a unique sensorial experience, in a setting where the elegance and atmosphere are emphasized by the refined interior decorations. It is also a gastronomic atelier; stop by for a quick bite or purchase bakery goods and fresh products choosing among a wide selection of Tuscan specialties.
Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, on Monday only for dinner.
Fancy Restaurants
Lungarno 23
Lungarno Torrigiani 23
The menu of this stylish restaurant is mainly represented by the hamburgers, made with the best quality meat in Tuscany: Chianina. Served with French fries, homemade sesame sandwiches and salad, they connect in a wonderful way the rapidity of the most typical American meal with the Italian genuinity.
Open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner; on Sunday for lunch only.
Osteria dell’Olio
Piazza dell’Olio 10r
If you’ve spent the whole day touring around Florence and you’re looking for a quiet spot that’s not far from the tourist attractions, the Osteria dell’Olio is the perfect place. Piazza dell’Olio is located just behind the Baptistery and it’s so small that you’ll immediately forget the noisy crowds at the Duomo. The ambience is elegant but not pretentious, perfect for a business lunch or for an intimate dinner. Beyond the typical Florentine dishes, you’ll find a big variety of fish and seafood choices, as well as a vast selection of wines from all over Italy.
Open daily from 12 to 24.
Luxury Restaurants
Borgo San Jacopo
Via Borgo San Jacopo 62R (Restaurant at Lungarno Hotels)
The gourmet restaurant Borgo San Jacopo in Florence is at the heart of the exclusive Hotel Lungarno, just a few steps away from Antica Torre. Delight in the most stunning views of the river Arno and the warm and welcoming atmosphere, where the experienced Chef Beatrice Segoni invites you to savor her fresh and original interpretations of distinguished Tuscan and Italian cuisine. Always ensuring the best possible quality in this luxury restaurant in Florence, every menu is based on the purest of local ingredients personally selected. Indulge in Tuscan meats and cheeses, the freshest fish and vegetables, as well as our extraordinary wine list consisting of over 500 prestigious labels.
Open every day for lunch, Tuesday to Monday for dinner.
Enoteca Pinchiorri
Via Ghibellina 87
3 Michelin stars, it is still considered the top restaurant in town. Refined and elegant (the dress code requires jacket and tie), part of the Relais and Chateaux, it offers an extremely sophisticated atmosphere with an excellent service. The food is more international than local, with many influences coming from the nouvelle cuisine. Its cellar is famous all over the world (as also the prices are…). It is undiscussly an experience. Bookings well in advance are essential.
Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday.
Hostaria Bibendum
Via de’Pescioni 2 (Restaurant at Helvetia & Bristol Hotel)
Hostaria Bibendum Restaurant is the special meeting point of a highly select international clientele attracted by the historical setting and the allure of a Tuscan cuisine that has been wonderfully revisited by Chef Enzo Pettè. Innovative and creative, the dishes he crafts are served with style and grace by the dining room staff. This contemporary culinary atelier has two distinct dining ambiences: an indoor dining room with its warm orange hues and the more glamorous patio-lounge on the grand Piazza Strozzi. Either one offers a truly delightful setting in which to enjoy a sophisticated business lunch or a romantic candlelight dinner for just the two of you.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
La Loggia
Piazzale Michelangelo 1
If you wish to dine looking over this charming city, La Loggia at Piazzale Michelangelo is certainly the best place for a romantic dinner with a breathtaking view of Florence. In summer you can eat outside under the loggia or in the garden. You will find on the menu the most tempting dishes coming from the tradition of the Italian regions, such as the Tuscan “pici” and the “gnocchi” with red chicory and provola cheese from Veneto, as well as fresh fish from the market and delicious desserts.
Open every day for lunch and dinner.
La Loggia
Via Doccia 4, Fiesole (Restaurant at Villa San Michele Hotel)
In Fiesole with its stunning panoramic terrace. The restaurant is part of the Villa San Michele 5 stars hotel, built in a 15th century convent.
In late spring and summer, the grand, arched terrace of The Loggia is the perfect place for a relaxing lunch or dinner in the warm sunshine, while in early spring and autumn the magnificent rooms inside—Chiostro (cloister) and Cenacolo—are unique, historic settings in which to enjoy sumptuous dishes.
Relax and linger over Tuscan specialities and fresh Italian wines, beautifully prepared by Chef Attilio di Fabrizio and his team. Definitely an experience for a special event.
Open every day for lunch and dinner.
Pizzerias
Borgo Antico
Piazza Santo Spirito 6r
Located in Santo Spirito Square, this is one of the most lively restaurant of the Oltrarno. The pizza and wine are plentiful, delicious, resonably priced and served by a pleasant young staff with extremely welcoming manners.
Open every day for lunch and dinner.
Gustapizza
Via Maggio 46r
Just one block from the Santa Trinita Bridge, a cozy pizza place where you will taste the real Pizza Napoletana. Only a dozen options to choose among, but with the most genuine ingredients. As they only have a few tables, you may choose to take your pizza to go and eat it out on the Piazza Santo Spirito, shich is just a few steps away. Casual atmosphere and friendly staff + paper plates and plastic cutlery = great fun!
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 11pm.
Le Antiche Carrozze
Piazza Santa Trinita/Borgo SS Apostoli
This is both a typical Florentine Trattoria and Pizzeria. Located in the small square just opposite the hotel, it is the ideal place for a quick lunch or a snack. It is open nonstop from lunchtime to dinnertime. Its various menu changes seasonally, in order to guarantee the best quality!
Open every day from 12 to 11pm.
Gelaterias
Santa Trinita
Piazza de’ Frescobaldi 11-12r
Just across the bridge from the hotel, this is a workshop where you will find a great artisanal ice cream, chocolates, cakes and various products from the Italian tradition.
La Carraia
Piazza Nazario Sauro 25r
Just across Carraia bridge, a small place where you will taste the most genuine flavours of the real Italian gelato. Delicious cakes as well!
Vivoli
Via Isola delle Stinche 7r
This is the oldest Gelateria in Florence, and still the most popular one! Since the early 1900s, the recipes are prepared with the fresh seasonal products coming from the daily market. A legend among the Florentines is the rice cream.
Grom
Via delle Oche 24r
You will find this gelateria in all the main Italian cities, and you are always going to trust the good quality of the craft made Italian Gelato.
Perchè no
Via dei Tavolini 19r
This place is a must for gelato lovers. Don’t miss it if you also like to try some new original flavours, which are made fresh every day. One of their highlights is the pistachio.