Delicious Places to Eat in Florence, Italy

Looking for delicious places to eat in Florence, Italy? You’ll have a delicious meal or snack during your time in Florence at these mouthwatering spots.

Whenever Italy comes up in conversation, we always end up talking about all the amazing places to eat in Florence, Italy that has become our favorites. Some of the best dishes I’ve ever had are from Italy… especially in the city of Florence.

That’s one of the reasons why we always want to travel back to Italy. But with limited vacation time, we do try to travel to other places in the world.

Friends and family traveling to Itay always ask us… what are your favorite places to eat in Florence? So I’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite Florence eats for everyone to enjoy. We hope this list will help you eat your way through Firenze as we do every time we are there.

Who doesn’t love pasta? Or pizza? Or any dish prepared by Nonna? In this article, we cover delicious quick bites to eat as well as some of our favorite restaurants in Florence. You’ll wonder at a few of these if nonna is actually cooking in the back.

A few tips…

Always ask what’s in season. Usually what’s on special is what’s in season. We are in Florence during the mushroom season a lot of the time. The mushrooms they serve are incredible and nothing like what we would eat back home. So always recommend asking.

You can also read our list of Florence Italy foods you must add to your foodie bucket list.

While ordering a bottle of wine is nice. Don’t be afraid to try the house wine. It’s almost as good or better than the next expensive bottle of wine. Note that the wine will most likely be cheaper than a can of soda.

Have gelato every day because the time is short and you never know when the next time you’ll be in Italy.

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Places to Eat in Florence, Italy

-Restaurants in Florence We Love-

Trattoria Sostanza

Two words: BUTTERED CHICKEN!

Melt-in-your-mouth buttered chicken. It sounds like a simple dish, but the process they use to make it wouldn’t be as easy to replicate at home. The chicken is pan-fried in this frothy buttery sauce. The chicken comes out delicately crispy and it’s so tender that it melts in your mouth.

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

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

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! 

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

Trattoria Sostanza | Via del Porcellana, 25/R, 50123 Firenze | Google Map It | Tripadvisor
Cash only. Communal dining. Reservations recommended.

Acquacotta Trattoria

Italian comfort food at its finest and one of the best places to eat in Florence, Italy. The combination of the ambiance, the food, and the service makes me feel like I’m at nonna’s having a home-cooked meal here at Acquacotta Trattoria.

I initially thought nonna was in the kitchen cooking, but then I found out it’s a husband and wife operation. The wife is waitressing and running the front, while the husband works his magic in the kitchen. An excellent duo, serving dishes that warm the soul after the first bite.

Check to see if the wild boar is on the menu; it’s a local delicacy, and Acquacotta is the place to try it.

Acquacotta Trattoria | Via dei Pilastri, 51/R, 50121 Firenze | Google Map It | Tripadvisor
Reservations recommended.

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 out and present the cut of raw meat to your table for approval before they proceed to 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.

Del Fagioli | Corso dei Tintori, 47-red, 50122 Firenze | Google Map It | Tripadvisor
Cash only. Reservations recommended.

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco is a popular and busy Tuscan restaurant in Florence on the South Side of the river closer to Palazzo Pitti. A short 3-minute walk from Ponte Vecchio. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of a 13th-century tower. You will definitely get the feeling of the medieval vibes upon sitting down.

The literal translation of Cinghiale Bianco translates into White Boar.

They serve many typical Tuscan dishes all fantastically amazing and delicious. It will be hard to choose. We ate there during truffle season and literally tried everything with truffle on the menu, including the pecorino and truffle chicken breast. They aren’t stingy with the truffle either as you’ll find they shave them right onto your dish.

What I loved are the large communal tables you will chair with other patrons. The restaurant is bustling and full of happy locals and tourists. This is by far one of the best places to eat in Florence. You will definitely want to make a reservation ahead of time to eat here.

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

-Quick and Delicious Bites in Florence-

All’Antico Vinaio

Do you love savory sandwiches on homemade bread, local Italian cold cuts, and unique creamy sauces? Well, this is the place to grab one to-go.

There seems to always be a long line at All’Antico Vinaio but with reason. Don’t let the line scare you.

Sandwiches are made to order on fresh schiacciata bread. Order from their menu board, pick your own fillings, or be surprised and ask them to make you their favorite combination. All the meats and cheeses are hand-sliced.

Take your sandwiches to go, grab a bottle of wine with some plastic cups, and find a spot by the River Arno to enjoy it.

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

Gusta Pizza

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 and 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.

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

Mercato Centrale

The central market is the farmer’s market in the city of Firenze. You can do some local food shopping here to prepare back at your Airbnb or you can eat at a number of their food stands.

Make a stop at the family-owned Conti Tuscany Flavour to buy some of their 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.

The 2^nd floor of this market has a trendy food court with a number of food stands open until 12 AM. It’s a great place to try a variety of foods at great prices. You should absolutely try to visit if only to just 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) | Website

Perche No!

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, right?

We were introduced to Perche No! by Florence For Foodies (I highly recommend this food tour with Nat and Samanta). We had tried other gelato places before being introduced to Perche No! and 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 off your gelato with some Panna (whipped cream)!

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

Cafe Rivoire

Located 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 (whip cream). I personally couldn’t drink it all it was so rich, but it was definitely worth the many sips I did get to have.

Cafe Rivoire has been producing some of the finest Italian chocolates for 150 years. So it is worth the stop even if it’s just to purchase a few chocolates and have an espresso.

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

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

Don’t Miss the Wine! 

Florence is known for its Chianti. You can’t visit Italy without trying one of the many things they are known for. Order the house wine or ask your server what their favorite bottle is to discover a local favorite.

We discovered our favorite wine this way: Nipozzano Riserva. You can actually visit the Frescobaldi winery in Tuscany. 

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