FOOD AND FUN IN FLORENCE, ITALY
RESTAURANTS
PERSEUS
Viale Don Giovanni Minzoni, 10/R
Tel. 055 588226
It is famous for Bistecca alla fiorentina (excellent quality). Be sure to do some research on the Bistecca alla fiorentina (it is only cooked RARE and it is frowned upon to ask for it to be cooked any other way).
Zone: Piazza della libertà
4 LEONI
Via de’ Vellutini, 1r | Piazza della Passera
Tel. 055/218562
It is known for Bistecca alla fiorentina – Steak Florentine-style.
Zone: Ponte Vecchio
HOSTARIA DEL BRICCO
Via San Niccolò 8R
Very good food, pleasant service and good prices.
Tel. 055 2345037
Zone: San Niccolò (walkable from Ponte Vecchio)
IL MERCATO CENTRALE
Via dell’Ariento, 50123
http://www.mercatocentrale.it/en/mercato-centrale-florence/
This is a closed marketplace where you can shop for Italian food products, but it also has many different places to eat for lunch and/or dinner (very good food opportunities in an informal setting). Worth exploring.
Zone: Duomo (San Lorenzo market area)
EATALY
Via de’ Martelli, 22
Eataly is a gourmet chain linked to the Slow Food movement that sells high quality regional Italian food products, but it also has a restaurant that is worth trying for lunch or dinner.
Zone: Duomo
IL FAGIOLI
CORSO DEI TINTORI, 47/R
055 244 285
ZONE: SANTA CROCE
OSTERIA DE’ BENCI
VIA DE BENCI 10/13 – FIRENZE (FI)
Tel. 055/2344923
They used to make great tortelli di patate (potato ravioli similar to perogi).
Zone: Santa Croce.
Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino
Piazza della Passera, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Tel. 055 215969
This place specializes in lampredotto (a type of tripe that is normally sold in sandwiches on the street). This osteria takes lampredotto to a higher level by doing ravioli with lampredotto (very good) and meatballs of lampredotto (very good).
Zone: Ponte Vecchio/Santo Spirito
RISTORANTE I LATINI
6R Via Palchetti
Florence 055-210-916
Must reserve! Turisty, but worth the wait.
Zone: Train Station
NEAPOLITAN-STYLE PIZZERIAS
SANTA LUCIA
Via Ponte alle Mosse 102
Tel. 055.353255
Not sure if its still there, but great pizza.
Zone: Train Station
Il Pizzaiuolo
Via dei Macci 113/r.
Tel. 055 241 171.
Zone: Santa Croce.
DELIS IN THE CENTER
SALUMERIA VERDI
Via Verdi, 36/r
Great inexpensive place to have a quick lunch. No seats, just stools.
They make great pasta at lunchtime, but larger section of all sorts of local food. Sometimes large lines…
Zone: Santa Croce.
PUGI
Piazza S. Marco, 10
Has the best schiacciata (Florentine Focaccia) in town. No place to sit, but you should at least get the schiacciata as a snack or a quick lunch.
Zone: Piazza San Marco
I DUE FRATELLINI
Via dei Cimatori, 38/red
It is literally a ‘hole in the wall’ in the historic center of town that makes amazing, simple sandwiches and serves great wines by the glass. You stand and eat.
Zone: Duomo
Aperitivi
“Florentine wine bars know how to lure customers: free food. And we’re not talking beer nuts. The aperitivi, as the bar food is known, may include cheese ravioli, seafood risotto, crisp artichoke salad, grilled vegetables and tomato bruschetta. For the price of a glass of vino rosso (about 5 to 8 euros), you can eat like a duke at the cavelike cantina of Fuori Porta (Via del Monte alle Croci, 10r; 39-055-234-2483; www.fuoriporta.it) or under the stars on the roof of Rifrullo (Via San Niccolò, 55r; 39-055-234-2621). For more action, you might head to La Dolce Vita (Piazza del Carmine; 39-055-284-595; http://new.dolcevitafirenze.it/) and order a spritz (Aperol and prosecco) or a negroni (Campari, vermouth and gin). It’s the favorite spot of locals who are serious about their eating, drinking and merrymaking.”
(From NyTimes – “36 hours in Florence” – http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/travel/03hours.html)
SESTO ON ARNO
Piazza Ognissanti, 3, 50123 Firenze, Italy
Fantastic View of Florence, Great Place for an Aperitivo!
http://www.sestoonarno.com/
Zone: Piazza Santa Maria Novella
OIBÒ
Borgo Dei Greci, 1, 50122, Florence
Pleasant aperitivo in front of Santa Croce Church.
Zone: Santa Croce
LOGGIA DEGLI ALBIZI
Borgo Albizi, 39 Rosso, Florence
Inexpensive aperitivo.
Zone: Between Santa Croce and Piazza della Signoria
Kitsch
Viale Antonio Gramsci, 1/5 R
Tel. 055 234 3890
It’s a good place for an Apericena (offers lots of good food when you order a drink).
Zone: Piazza Beccaria (not far from Santa Croce)
GELATO
VIVOLI
Via delle Stinche, 7
Best ice cream ever!
Zone: Santa Croce
GELATERIA CARABÈ
Via Ricasoli 60 – Firenze
Tel. 055.289476
Here they make authentic ‘granita’ (or Italian ice). Try the almond flavored ice. Ice cream is good too. They should have cannoli too.
Zone: Piazza San Marco.
CAFFÈ
Bottega di Pasticceria
Lungarno Francesco Ferrucci 9C Rosso
Tel. 055.6580313
This is a new, amazing place for pastries (but they also do aperitivi). You should definitely check it out for breakfast if you love coffee and pastries.
Zone: Ponte S. Niccolò
HIDDEN GEMS
IL CAFFÈ DEL VERONE
Museo degli Innocenti, Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, 13
This is a great new caffè that is part of Museo degli Innocenti (but no charge to enter). It has a great view of the Duomo (so worth it!).
Zone: Piazza Santissima Annunziata
LA RINASCENTE (DEPARTMENT STORE)
Piazza della Repubblica, 50123 Firenze
On the roof there is a caffè that has a wonderful view of Florence.
SESTO ON ARNO
Piazza Ognissanti, 3, 50123 Firenze, Italy
Fantastic View of Florence, Great Place for an Aperitivo! Worth getting a drink and having an aperitivo!
http://www.sestoonarno.com/
Zone: Piazza Santa Maria Novella
BIBLIOTECA DELLE OBLATE
Via dell’ Oriuolo, 24, 50122 Firenze
A public library that has a caffè with amazing views of Florence.
Zone: Duomo
Shopping!
COIN (in via Calzaiuoli)
La Rinascente (in Piazza della Repubblica)
TOURIST APPS
RICK STEVES IN EUROPE (Iphone and Android)
There are free walking tours for Florence and other cities.
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-europe
USEFUL INFORMATION
• Be sure to reserve tickets ahead of time for museums such as the Uffizi so that you can avoid waiting on long lines.
• Italians use Trip Advisor (not Yelp) – you should do the same in Italy.