La Giostra

In 2017, I studied abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy, and just about died and went to pasta heaven! From January through May, I ate like a queen. I honestly have no idea how I afforded to eat out as much as I did. But it was worth every cent! As soon as I was confirmed into the Lorenzo de'Medici program, various friends of friends sent their recommendations and guides for Florence to me. I inherited a wealth of inside knowledge about Florence like the secret bakeries, wine windows, and where to find the cute bartenders. I referred to these guides religiously in the first few weeks of getting my footing before establishing my own favorites around the city and starting my own Florence food guide. There's no doubt in my mind that there are newer additions to the Florence restaurant scene since I was there in 2017. This is just a compilation of my favorite places in Florence from someone who lived there for 5 months! This food guide is like my original Google Doc bullet point list had a baby with my food Instagram, @my600lblife. I've removed any eateries that are no longer in business but kept all my original commentary from 20-year-old Maeve who apparently was only concerned a good deal. Some of them make me giggle and cringe a little but they're authentically me and it's just like my favorite saying, "If you're not cringing, you're not growing." I've included a lengthy list of tips for dining in Italy, a breakdown of the Italian courses and their English translation, and of course, my favorite (and not so favorite) restaurants in Florence including pasta, pizza, panino, caffe, aperitivo, gelato & more! Please tag me on any pictures on Instagram (@maevecutts) so I can live vicariously through your travels to Florence! As always, I'm happy to help you plan a custom itinerary for your trip to Florence! Just reach out to me directly (:

Spending some time in beautiful Florence? This is a complete list that provides you with a handful of options: accommodation, tourist attractions, shops, bars and restaurants - you’ll need no other guide, I promise! So…have a bite and a drink alongside Arno river and take home the most impressive bespoke souvenirs. The city is walkable and it blends art and history and romantic vibes all together and pretty soon you’ll find yourself in love. 💓 Must do - trips to picturesque towns located nearby: • San Gimignano: 1h away • Siena: 1h10 away • Volterra: 1h20 away Highlights: ⚜️ Il Giglio - giglio bottonato, is mainly known from the crest of the city of Florence. In the Florentine fleurs-de-lis, the stamens are always posed between the petals. This is also the emblem of the city and you shall see it depicted all over. 🍨 Gelato “crema fiorentina” - is the specific flavor of Florence, made with a simple combination of egg yolks, milk, and sugar. It is often flavored with chestnut honey, while another common addition includes crumbled amaretti cookies or almond liqueur. It is a neutral ice cream flavor with delicate pale-yellow color. 🍧 Affogato - a delightful and simple Italian dessert or beverage that combines two beloved elements: espresso and gelato or ice cream. The word "affogato" in Italian means "drowned," and that perfectly describes the preparation of this delicious treat. The basic affogato recipe involves pouring a hot, freshly brewed espresso over a scoop of cold gelato or ice cream. The hot espresso contrasts with the cold and creamy gelato, resulting in a harmonious and satisfying flavour combination. 🥩 Bistecca alla fiorentina - Italian steak made of young steer (vitellone) or heifer (scottona) that, combined with the specific preparation, makes it one of the most popular dishes of Tuscan cuisine. 🍷 "Buchette del vino" - or wine windows, are a peculiar feature of Florence. They are foot-high, dome-shaped holes in the thick, stone palazzi of the Renaissance city that six centuries ago were used to sell wine in a fiasco (glass bottle) without having to open a shop and avoid paying taxes. These wine windows also posed a useful anti-contagion way to sell wine during the epidemic of 1630-1633. At that time, the bubonic plague hit Florence hard, killing 12% of the city's population.

Explore this map, I made as the ultimate Italy guide, to get inspired and discover the places that will become the highlight of your next trip. Many of the places in this map will have helpful booking links and/or links to social media posts with more inside information. I see all my Guide Maps as perpetual works in progress and will do my best to add to and update them as my knowledge expands. Use my Klook promo: ACKUGARTE for 10% off for new users and 3% off for returning users.