Last updated on February 5th, 2025
Florence may be home to the famous bistecca fiorentina and schiacciata bread but did you know it’s also one of Italy’s best cities to eat a pastry in?
I am actually more of a savory girl at heart but living in Florence since 2012 has turned me onto pastries more than I ever thought possible. Florentine pastries had me at my first taste of budino di riso as a tourist over 20 years ago and today, I am still ordering it.
So, wouldn’t you like to know where my favorite pastry shops in Florence are? After years of sampling pastries in Florence and eating some of the best breakfast in the city – I’m happy to share my picks!
Read on to learn about the best pastry shops in Florence, including their specialties, what I like to order, and the top pastries you should try in Florence.
Keep in mind that many of my recommendations are also some of my favorite bakeries in Florence, serving up a wide selection of savory treats as well as pastry and dessert.
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Map Of The Best Pastry Shops In Florence, Italy
Best Pastry Shops In Florence, Italy Quick Guide
Pastry Shop Name | Address (Neighborhood) | Best For | What I Like To Order |
Nencioni | Via Pietrapiana, 24/r (Santa Croce / Sant’Ambrogio) | Loud, busy, authentic Italian bar experience | Savory pastry (my favorite is with artichokes but there are several varieties) |
Caffè Lietta | Piazza della Libertà, 6/7/8 Rosso (Piazza della Libertà) | Off the beaten track / eating outdoors | Individual sweet tortine |
Vivoli | Via Isola delle Stinche, 7r (Santa Croce) | Breakfast with the locals and gelato for breakfast! | Bomboloni, budino di riso |
S.forno | Via Santa Monaca, 3r (Santo Spirito) | A wide selection and artisan food souvenirs and gifts | Flan pastry (a croissant dough baked pastry cream served in squares) |
Bottega della Pasticceria | Lungarno Francesco Ferrucci, 9c Rosso (Piazza Ferrucci) | Leisurely breakfast in Florence | Cornetto alla crema |
Forno Ghibellina | Via Ghibellina, 41r (Santa Croce/Sant’Ambrogio) | Wide selection of breads, pastry, schiacciata, cookies and coffee | Pan gioccioli |
Pasticceria Dolci e Dolcezze | Piazza Cesare Beccaria, 8/R (Piazza Beccaria / Sant’Ambrogio) | Breakfast standing with a cappuccino | Individual fruit tarts |
Antico Forno Giglio | Via Vincenzo Gioberti, 151R (Piazza Beccaria) | Schiacciata, carnival sweets | Schiacciata |
Pank the Bulangeria | Mercato Centrale, Piazza del Mercato Centrale (San Lorenzo) | Baguette / French pastry | Pain au chocolat or croque monsieur |
Eating in Italy Pro Tips: Be sure to read How To Order Food In Italian, Tipping In Italy – When & How Much From A Local, What Is A Coperto? All About Italy’s Cover Charge, and A Visitor’s Guide To Eating In Italy.
What To Eat At Bakeries In Florence
Pastry shops in Florence serve a wide selection of goods including items that you can find in any region in Italy.
While visiting Florence, consider trying these regional specialties that you may not find outside of Tuscany:
- Schiacciata All’Uva – a sweet flatbread made with grapes in September and October
- Cantuccini – twice baked almond cookies from Prato (these make a great food souvenir from Florence or elsewhere in Tuscany)
- Cornetto – breakfast pastry
- Budino di Riso – rice pudding baked in a short crust pastry.
- Sfogliatine – a sweet and crispy breakfast pastry
- Ramerino – a roll flavored with raisins and rosemary
- Schiacciata alla fiorentina – a light, airy cake served for Carnevale (sometimes with pastry cream or chantilly cream)
- Ricciarelli – gluten-free almond cookies
- Bomboloni – donuts covered in sugar
- Torta di mela – apple cake
- Frittelle – fried dough balls for Carnival
- Torta di Semolino e cioccolato – chocolate and semolina flour tart
- Torta della Nonna – short crust pastry pie filled with pastry cream
And with all this pastry, you might need a good cup of coffee to go with it. Read all about Best Coffee In Florence – A Florentine Local’s Guide To The Best Cafés In Florence.
Nencioni
Best For: Loud, busy, authentic Italian bar experience
Via Pietrapiana, 24/r
Nencioni makes some of the best pastry in Florence in the Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood. But be forewarned of how crazy and loud it can be. Nencioni is no secret to locals making it a busy hub for breakfast and some of the best coffee in Florence in the morning.
There are only a couple small tables and a small counter for standing room. The majority of the space is taken over by pastry cases filled with amazing pastries (both sweet and savory!), small, bite size beignets, individual cakes, large cakes and seasonal specialties such as frittelle and schiacciata alla fiorentina.
If you come here, be prepared to enjoy your breakfast standing side by side the locals (it’s still pretty undiscovered by tourists and is just far enough out of the city center to keep tourists at bay).
I highly suggest you read Italian Breakfast – A Traveler’s Guide To Breakfast In Italy, How To Order Food In Italian – Phrases, Tips & Guides From A Local and A Visitor’s Guide To Eating In Italy – Italian Food Etiquette 101 (How To Order + My Tips) to help navigate the Italian breakfast scene.
Caffè Lietta
Best For: Off the beaten track / eating outdoors
Piazza della Libertà, 6/7/8 Rosso
Caffè Lietta is outside the city center on the viale or large traffic ring that encompasses downtown Florence but is well worth a visit if you are on the Northern end of the city..
This French-like bar and cafe has ample seating both indoors and outdoors, making it my top pick for travelers looking to sit down for some people watching outdoors or have a leisurely snack, lunch, breakfast or coffee.
The cafe is most famous for being the birthplace of the Negroni cocktail but after recent renovations and investments, it’s now a favorite among locals for their pastry, especially the individually sized short pastry crust tarts with any number of fillings.
Good To Know: Caffè Lietta also serves very quick lunches geared towards business folks, students and residents at great prices. Choose from a daily special menu with both first and second courses.
Vivoli
Best For: Breakfast with the locals and gelato for breakfast!
Via Isola delle Stinche, 7r
You may have heard of Vivoli being famous for their gelato but they are also a very good pastry shop as well serving up the best budino di riso in Florence. Come here early for a wide selection of tasty Tuscan pastries including bomboloni (donuts) and sfogliatine.
They even have some excellent cakes for purchase if you are celebrating a special occasion in Florence. I may be biased as I actually had my wedding cake made by Vivoli and had their gelato at my wedding but many locals agree with me on this one.
Gelato For Breakfast: If you come after 10:00 am, Vivoli starts to fill its gelato counter with the daily flavors. Don’t be afraid to get a crema gelato with your coffee, known as an affogato, you won’t be the only one doing it!
S.forno
Best For: A wide selection and artisan goods
Via Santa Monaca, 3r
S.forno was originally born as a simple bakery but soon invested in fine pastry, ultimately making them one of the best pastry shops in Florence.
They have a small seating section with a daily lunch and breakfast menu but what I come here for is the baked goods. You can find Tuscan classic options but also French style croissants and flan pastries, American cookies and brownies and seasonal and holiday treats.
They also have a well curated gastronomia section with artisan food products for sale which make great souvenirs and gifts. For more on gifts, read Food Souvenirs & Gifts from Florence and Food Souvenirs & Gifts from Tuscany.
Good To Know: Lo S.forno is my absolute favorite bakery to order pandoro or panettone for the Christmas holiday in Florence. If you buy one, make sure you know how to cut panettone and how to cut pandoro.
Bottega della Pasticceria
Best For: Leisurely breakfast in Florence
Lungarno Francesco Ferrucci, 9c Rosso
Bottega della Pasticceria is run by Simone, a born and raised Florentine whose dream it was to own his own bakery. After years of managing high end restaurants and bars (including the Uffizi Cafe which he still manages) he was finally able to realize his dream and boy, did he do a good job.
Modern and chic, this bakery and bar is one of the best on the southside of Florence overlooking the Arno river. Come and order some of the best pastry, breakfast items, cakes and even savory sandwiches and eat it upstairs in the balcony dining room.
I always get the cornetto con crema (croissant with pastry cream) but all three of my kids swear by his bomboloni or donuts.
Good To Know: Bottega della Pasticceria has an amazing selection of chocolates, wines, and other gift items to bring home with you as souvenirs or gifts.
Forno Ghibellina
Best For: Breakfast in Florence, pre-made sandwiches and kids.
Via Ghibellina, 41r
Forno Ghibellina has been around for quite some time but like S.forno, it was born to serve the local neighborhood. It got a lot of traction and blew up (they now have several locations in Florence and worldwide) with a new indoor seating area with plenty of space to leisurely enjoy your coffee and pastry or sandwich for lunch.
My favorite pastry to buy is the pangioccioli (bread rolls with chocolate chips). For something savory, I always choose their schiacciata con lievito madre (sourdough schiacciata).
Forno Ghibellina is also my top pick for kids because they have really fun frosting decorated cookies with characters from movies and books (chalk full of sugar, of course!).
Healthy Choices: The Forno Ghibellina has a wide range of whole wheat breads (including my favorite brown bread called otto ceriali) and baked cenci instead of fried ones.
Pasticceria Dolci e Dolcezze
Best For: Breakfast standing with a cappuccino
Piazza Cesare Beccaria, 8/R
Pasticceria Dolci e Dolcezze has some of the best pastry and coffee in the Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood I have ever had in Florence.
What I like most is their dedication to natural ingredients that are sourced locally. You won’t find sugar here but rather, honey to sweeten your coffee. The pastry is refined and extravagant (think small tartlets, flakey, buttery croissants, teacakes, etc) in an elegant and unique setting.
It’s quite small with standing room only and be prepared to wait 5 min for your cappuccino if there are people already being served.
Good To Know: Dolci e Dolcezze also has some savory lunch items and made to order cakes for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day.
Antico Forno Giglio
Best For: Schiacciata, carnival sweets
Via Vincenzo Gioberti, 151R
Antico Forno Giglio is most famous for the best schiacciata in Florence but they are also very good at pastry. I think the best pastry items are the ones they make for Carnival like schiacciata alla fiornetine, frittelle and cenci but I can guarantee you there is a line out the door no matter what time of the year you go.
Unlike other bakeries where you will just have to stand in a blob of people (this is what Italians call a line), here you take a number to hold your spot.
Good To Know: Schiacciata in general is best consumed the same day it’s made. This is especially true of the schiacciata at the Antico Forno Giglio. Buy a slab and eat it right away!
Forno in the Mercato Centrale (Upstairs)
Best For: Baguette / French pastry
Mercato Centrale, Piazza del Mercato Centrale
Some of the best French-style pastry in Florence is on the upper level at the Mercato Centrale in Florence. Pastry Chef David Bedu is well trained in the likes of bread making, gourmet pastry and both Italian and French baking traditions.
He uses local flours, farina di grani antichi (ancient grain flours) and alternatives for special diets. You will find the best baguette in the city here as well as amazing gourmet pastries such as pain au chocolat, tarts, pizza, sandwiches, quiches and more.
Visiting the upper level of the Mercato Centrale is a must for foodies in Florence. Be sure to carve out a visit to the Central Market, especially if you are traveling with folks who want different things to eat. The unique formula of the Central Market allows each individual to order at a different food stand and then sit together at large communal tables. If you want schiacciata but your friend wants a burger (or handmade pasta, pizza, a steak, Chinese, cheese or charcuterie platters!), this is the place for you.
Be Prepared: Read 5 Food Markets In Florence, Italy – A Local’s Favorite Things To Eat And Buy, 10 Rules For Shopping At Markets In Italy – Getting The Best Prices As A Tourist In Italy, and How To Shop At Markets In Italy + A Local’s Favorite Markets To Visit On Your Next Trip.
Spending Time in Florence? Make the most of your time eating and drinking in bella Firenze!:
Best Pizza in Florence
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Best Dairy-Free Gelato in Florence
Best Coffee In Florence
10 Foods You Must Try On Your First Visit To Florence
The Best Cheap Eats in Tuscany
Eating Vegan and Vegetarian in Florence
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Where to Eat on Your First Visit to Florence
My Favorite Places to Eat Bistecca Fiorentina in Florence
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Coolest Bars in Florence
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My Favorite Wine Bars (Enoteche) in Florence
Wines to Try in Tuscany
Where to Find Florence’s Best Schiacciata
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Food Markets in Florence
Where to Find Florence’s Best Pastries
Best Bakeries in Florence
Eating Gluten-Free in Florence
Where to Have Apericena in Florence
Where to Get Takeout in Florence
Where Locals Eat in Florence
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Where to Buy Specialty Food Items and Gifts in Florence
Where to Eat with Kids in Florence
Where to Get a Quick Bite with Kids in Florence
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