The Ultimate Food Guide to Florence
My Tips
- Don’t buy gelato from places where it’s piled high like a mountain, you want it to be flat
- Always ask the waiter their favorite dish or what they recommend
- The house wine is the cheapest and actually tends to be a decent wine. A general rule of thumb is to order red if you’re eating meat and white if you're eating fish!
- In Italy, it's normal that there's an additional water or bread charge. Tap water typically isn't really drunk in Italy but bottled water is relatively inexpensive. You'll just need to clarify still or sparkling (naturale is still water and frizzante is sparkling water)
- Similarly, tax and service charge are already included in your bill so no need to leave an additional tip
- You'll definitely want to make reservations! Some places will have online reservation systems but other places are more old-school and you'll just need to call
- Enjoy your coffee standing up at a the bar just like the locals do! Cafes and coffee shops are like bars in Italy
- Pizza is usually eaten with a knife and fork
- Pasta is usually eaten as a first course and not an entree! (see below for a breakdown of Italian courses)
- Florentines eat their steak very, very rare. Some say that's how you're supposed to eat it but I'd specify how you want it cooked if you're picky about that!
- Italians (and Europeans in general) eat much later than Americans! Normal dinner time is around 8:00 pm
Italian Courses
You do not have to make every meal a 10-course extravaganza! Only order each course if you're really hungry for it as leaving lots of food on your plate is often considered rude. Here's a breakdown and translation of the Italian word in English with examples:
Aperitivo: appetizer (a glass of bubbly, small snacks think olives or nuts)
Antipasti: starter (charcuterie platter or bruschetta)
Primi: first course (you're probably thinking we've already had two courses how could this be the first course. usually its where the first HOT dish is served. think lots pasta, risotto, soup, etc. these typically do not contain any meat)
Secondi: second course (this is your main or your entree where you'll typically have meat or seafood)
Contorini: side dishes (vegetables like caponata or potatoes; usually served with secondi)
Insalata: salad (if your contorni didn't have a lot of leafy greens you could always order an additional salad to accompany your secondi)
Formaggi e Frutta: cheese and fruits (you typically have cheese as a starter in other culture but in Europe you usually will have regional cheeses and fruit as the meal comes to an end)
Dolce: dessert (tiramisu, cannoli, sorbetto, etc.)
Caffe: espresso (usually served a the end of the meal, you can obviously opt out of these too!)
Digestivo: alcoholic drink (round out your meal with limoncello or grappa which apparently helps with digestion! It's usually customary to sip on them instead of drinking the whole thing like a shot)
Italian Restaurants
INDEFINITE PASTABILITIES
This is hands down one of the best meals I've ever had in my life! I love this place so much. La Giostra is such a vibe with twinkly lights, dimly lit, and the kindest servers. I can only imagine how annoying a group of 10+ girls wanting separate checks was but they did it with a smile! They are known for their pear ravioli and balsamic steak, and I think I managed to find someone to split both with me each time I went. A must-visit in my opinion.
Acqua Al 2 is a famous Florentine steakhouse with two slightly obscure specialties. To me it was one of those restaurants that you go to once to try their famous dish for others this was a go-to spot. Balsamic Steak is somewhat popular across Tuscany but the Blueberry Steak felt like a stretch. But to no one's surprise, it was actually really tasty and the place was packed.
This is one of those meals that I still dream of religiously. I was recommended to try their four-cheese truffle gnocchi and that's exactly what I ordered. It was very rich, very creamy, and very cheesy but seriously so so good. This restaurant is right off the Piazza Santo Spirito which was a great excuse to take a trip across the river and explore a different neighborhood.
Il Profeta is a family-run restaurant that has a signature dish that everyone raves about somewhat randomly named after John Travolta. I totally understand why he licked his plate clean though this was so tasty.
Just WOW. This Rigatoni alla Vodka is served in a huge clear bowl. I honestly think we all ordered this dish. It's that good.
ONE OF MY HOT TAKES
Trattoria ZaZa has a huge patio which can be appealing for large groups but I personally wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. The food and service both weren't great and it was on the pricier side.
LITTLE HOLE IN THE WALL SPOTS
I stumbled upon this GEM of a restaurant with my cousin when he came to visit for 10 days. Even though chicken and eggplant parmigiana are technically more American-Italian dishes than Italian-Italian dishes, I think we both still think back to how phenomenal the food was here.
NICER ESTABLISHMENTS: SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Sabatini is a traditional Italian restaurant with a gazillion courses! You always think, "I'm so full, I don't have room for anything else," and then the next course is brought out and you suddenly have an appetite again. They rolled out this huge profiterole pyramid on a cart for dessert it was to die for.
My grandparents traveled over from Ireland to visit me in Florence for a few days and we went to Golden View for dinner one evening. Golden View is known for its spectacular view of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River. I was a little skeptical that the view was worth it but the food wasn't to match and I couldn't have been more wrong. To this day, it's one of my favorite memories with my grandparents.
FAMILY-STYLE RESTAURANTS: GOOD FOR GROUPS
When we were studying abroad, we did a lot of large group dinners with our friends and roommates. These were often you pay a set price say €20 to €25 for a 4-course meal and wine. In comparison to the other hundreds of restaurants in Florence, these were never top tier but it was still good food and a fun night out!
Pizza Places
If you haven't already been able to tell, I'm more of a pasta gal than a pizza gal but I love the pizza from Gusta Pizza. We went a handful of times and it's an absolute must if you're in Florence for a few days. It's more of a casual take-out or self-serve eat-at-a-free-table kind of place from what I remember.
The Mercato Centrale (Central Market) is such a fun experience and there's truly something for everyone here. You can shop for traditional produce or handcrafted artisan goods, dine at various restaurants, have a glass of wine (or three), and even take a cooking class! The pizza here is unreal though! I highly recommend you visit at least once although I have a feeling you'll be tempted to go back.
Panino Shops
My mouth is literally salivating thinking about a panino from Pino's. This place was right down the street from our apartment and I got it frequently! Pino is SO nice. He's always behind the counter helping with orders or running the cash register.
This is one recommendation where I'd like to make a redaction to my previous commentary. All'Antico Vinaio is definitely the most popular sandwich spot in Florence but not the best, in my opinion. I highly recommend getting it at least once to see for yourself. It's so flavorful and their truffle cream is to die for. In my experience, the workers were always a little rude and the line was always long.
Cafes and Brunch Spots
Cafes in Italy are more coffee bars than quiet shops with ample seating. There will be no doubt a local coffee bar close to where you stay and I highly recommend building that into your morning routine like a local. It will be crowded and you may have to be a bit pushy to put your order in but this is where you'll get the best quality coffee and Italian pastries. See my note above in the My Tips section on ordering cappuccinos.
My friends and I were obsessed with La Vespe Cafe. This place was always packed with us and every other American studying abroad in Florence. But it was always worth the wait. There aren't really "brunch" spots in Florence or Itlay in general but this one was great even if it wasn't authentically Italian. It was owned and founded by an American, and they handmake their hot sauce. If you're studying abroad and looking for a good breakfast sandwich on a bagel - Le Vespe is your place!
Aperitivo
Apertivo is an Italian specialty where you pay between 8 and 10 euro for a drink and you get unlimited food with it. You usually go for Aperitivo between 6:00 and 8:00 pm.
Although most people will go to Golden View for a more formal dinner (see it also above in the nicer establishment section), they also offer a great Aperitivo option! A tad more expensive than usual Aperitivos but you’re paying for views of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno.
All Other Restaurants
My fiance always jokes that I have 3 main food groups - pasta, cheese, and butter, so it's hard to imagine that I needed a break from 24/7 pasta living. Here are a few of my non-Italian restaurants but as you can see there aren't a whole bunch!
We came here a few times as it was super close to our apartment. We also watched the super bowl here!
I loved this place! We honestly went very often because it was so cheap but very substantial!
I tried this place when they were just a small stall at the Mercato Centrale. It looks like they've got their own separate space now!
This was our late-night kebab place right by our apartment. We became friends with Alam who worked there every single night.
& last but definitely not least, Gelato!
I feel like Venchi sort of has a bad reputation because it's right next to the Duomo which is usually code for a tourist trap. I really don't care what anyone says because their Nutella-y, hazelnutty gelato is my favorite ever.
You made it to the end, congratulations and buon appetito! 😊
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