A Local’s 10 Favorite Bakeries In Florence, Italy (For Sweet And Savory Treats!)

Last updated on June 22nd, 2024

Whether you are looking for the best schiacciata, panino, cookie, pastry or pizza in Florence, I have the absolute best bakeries to find them at.

No matter your hankerings, these top 10 bakeries in Florence serve it all including:

breakfast items
sweet pastry treats
cookies for merenda
whole cakes
schiacciata bread
and of course, the local pane toscano

In this comprehensive guide to eating baked goods in Florence, I will share my top ten bakeries in Florence based on living in Florence since 2012 and having four hungry kids to feed.

If you are downtown and need a quick recommendation on an excellent bakery nearby, reference my map or quick guide to find exactly what you need, no matter where you are in Florence.

If, however, you are looking for the best pastry, schiacciata sandwiches or panini specifically, read
Best Pastries in Florence
Best Schiacciata in Florence
7 Off The Hook Sandwich Shops In Florence

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Map Of Best Bakeries In Florence, Italy

Quick Guide To My Favorite Bakeries In Florence, Italy

Bakery Name In Florence	Address (Neighborhood)	Best For	Famous Monument or Attraction Close By
Forno Ghibellina	Via Ghibellina, 41r (Santa Croce/Sant’Ambrogio)	Breakfast in Florence, pre-made sandwiches and for visiting with kids	Santa Croce Church/ Casa Buonarroti
Forno Sartoni	Via dei Cerchi, 34R	Schiacciata and crostata	Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo
Cantinetta dei Verrazzano	Via dei Tavolini, 18r	Cantucci and small cookies or other bite size snacks for later	Bargello Museum
Antico Forno Giglio	Via Vincenzo Gioberti, 151R	Schiacciata and Carnival treats (January and February only)	Sant’Ambrogio Market
S.forno	Via Santa Monaca, 3r	Light lunch, croissants, bread and cakes	Cappella Brancacci
Le Botteghe de Il Fornaio	Via Sant’Agostino, 8	Pizza a taglio	Piazza Santo Spirito
Panificio Palatresi	Borgo Ognissanti, 102	Bread, cantuccini and schiacciata	Santa Maria Novella Basilica
Forno Becagli	Borgo Ognissanti, 92r	Regional cookies and Carnival treats	Museo Novecento / Ponte alla Carraia
Pugi	Scattered throughout the city center (most central location in San Marc)	Schiacciata & pizza a taglio	Piazza San Marco
La Pagnotta	Borgo la Croce, 109r	Pizzette, bread sticks, schiacciata all’uva	Sant’Ambrogio Market

What To Eat At Bakeries In Florence

Pastries on display in glass cases at Caffè Lietta in Florence, Italy.

At most bakeries in Florence you can find items that you will also see throughout Italy including a wide selection of bread, flatbreads, breakfast pastries, cookies, cakes, and pizza.

While visiting Florence, however, 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
Schiacciata – a flatbread similar to focaccia
Schiacciatine – individual Tuscan flatbreads studded with various toppings such as olives or tomatoes.
Pizzette – small, baby pizzas made with puff pastry. Ask for a small bag of them.
Pizza a taglio – pizza by the slice (but priced by the weight)
Cantuccini – twice baked almond cookies from Prato (make a great souvenir)
Brioche – 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)

If you are curious to know more about navigating dining in Italy, you may be interested in
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
A Visitor’s Guide To Eating In Italy

Forno Ghibellina

Storefront of Ghibellina bakery and coffee in Florence, Italy. White building with large windows and people sitting at tables inside.

Best For: Breakfast in Florence, pre-made sandwiches and kids.

Via Ghibellina, 41r

Forno Ghibellina has been around for a couple of decades, all the time growing and expanding (locally and worldwide!). What used to be a small hole in the wall catering to local residents is now considered one of the best bakeries in Florence with an ample indoor seating area.

Their recent renovation makes it possible to order from their bakery (choose from a wide selection of local breakfast pastries, croissants, savory items and chocolate chip bread) and coffee bar and enjoy your breakfast sitting down.

Forno Ghibellina is one of my go-to spots with kids because the quality is unbeatable for the price and Davide, the owner, couldn’t be more generous and kind. My favorite items are the bread are pane a otto ceriali (brown bread with 8 different grains), il pangioccioli (bread rolls with chocolate chips), and their schiacciata con lievito madre (sourdough schiacciata).

Don’t Miss: The forno has excellent panettone and pandoro for sale in December. If you buy one, make sure you know how to cut panettone and how to cut pandoro.

Forno Sartoni

Glass door and windows show inside bakery in Florence. Baked goods on display behind glass. Tow people eat at bar area on left.

Best For: Schiacciata and crostata

Via dei Cerchi, 34R

Forno Sartoni is definitely not something that will catch your eye if you don’t know about it. Tucked away in the dark side streets of the Historic District in Florence lies this small (almost dingy looking) bakery.

But don’t judge it by the outside. Inside, you will be marvelous by the trays on trays of local Tuscan favorites like crostata, cantuccini, canestrelli, occhio di bue and brutti ma buoni.

There is also a wide selection of savory treats to choose from including individual schiacciatine, pizza, and pizzette.

Cantinetta dei Verrazzano

Entrance to a bakery in Florence, Italy. Chianti Classico flags with black roosters fly in front of the entrance and the glass doorway is flanked by green bushes.

Best For: Cantucci and small cookies or other bite size snacks for later

Via dei Tavolini, 18r

From its name cantinetta, you might think this is a wine bar in Florence and it is, in part. They have a restaurant with a great wine selection but what I come here for is their baked goods.

Its prime location is what makes me come back time and again with my kids when I am downtown in the Historic District. There are only a few (this and Forno Sartoni) located next to the main monuments in Florence and I can assure you that if you are in Florence with kids, you will need to mark these on your map.

La Cantinetta dei Verrazzano has a wide selection of baked goods, sweet and salty that are reliable and hold up well for stowing away in your bag. The prices are a bit higher than other bakeries but it’s the convenience and quality you are paying for.

Antico Forno Giglio

Hand holds up bread in front of entrance to a bakery in Florence, Italy.

Best For: Schiacciata and Carnival treats (January and February only)

Via Vincenzo Gioberti, 151R

Antico Forno Giglio is known to have the best schiacciata in all of Florence and I cannot deny this. In my opinion, they must use a large amount of lard because it’s so good, so salty and so moist. Nothing that good can come from just olive oil, no matter how local it is.

And not only. This bakery in the residential neighborhood of Piazza Beccaria on the outskirts of Florence also sells some of the best baked goods, Carnival treats and breads made from ancient grains or grani antichi.

Unlike other bakeries, you need to take a number when you arrive to hold your spot in line. I suggest you get the schiacciata (try the regular all’olio or opt of the variation filled with walnuts or olives) but if you happen to be around during Carnival, don’t miss the cenci or frittelle.

S.forno

Child smiles while sitting on stool at wooden table. Pastries on the table. Refrigerator with drinks on right. — *My son and I having breakfast pastries at S.forno in San Frediano, Florence*

Best For: Light lunch, croissants, bread and cakes

Via Santa Monaca, 3r

S.forno is my all time favorite bakery in Florence. Unfortunately, i don’t get there much because I live on the other side of the city but it’s amazing and I look for any chance to come for breakfast, a light lunch or to buy a cake.

They have a small seating section with a daily lunch and breakfast menu (choose from soup, quiche, sandwiches, breakfast bowls, granola, etc). Or you can order their baked goods (traditional and international options like brownies) and sit down with a self-serve coffee or organic juice and rest your legs.

They also have a well curated gostronomia section with artisan food products for sale which make great souvenirs and gifts. Read more about the best food gifts from Florence and the best food gifts from Tuscany.

Good To Know: Lo S.forno is just next door to some of the best gelato in Florence at Sbrino.

Le Botteghe de Il Fornaio

Entrance to bakery in Italy. Man waiting in line to order.

Best For: Pizza a taglio

Via Sant’Agostino, 8

Le Botteghe de Il Forno is my top pick if you are looking for a pizza by the slice on the go (or to pack in your bag for later) in the Santo Spirito neighborhood.

This bakery actually has three locations in Florence but the one in Santo Spirito is the only one I have been to.

Although I usually come here for the pizza, I notice a lot of older folks who buy there bread here. In fact, they have a wide selection, all made with local ingredients and flours.

Panificio Palatresi

Front entrance of Palatresi bakery in Florence, Italy. Window display has biscotti and other baked goods.

Best For: Bread, cantuccini and schiacciata

Borgo Ognissanti, 102

Open since the 1950s, this neighborhood bakery serves up some of the best sweet and savory specialties that Florence has to offer. It’s not unsimilar to Forno Becagli (see below) in terms of dedication to Tuscan classics but what they do particularly well in is pre-packaged goodies as well.

While you pick up a strisca (strip) of schiacciata or a brioche, check out their bags of pre-packaged cookies like cantuccini to bring home with you or keep in your bag for when hunger strikes (talking to all you parents traveling with kids out there!).

Tip: If you find a line here, head down to Forno Becagli for a similar selection.

Forno Becagli

Best For: Regional cookies and carnival treats

Borgo Ognissanti, 92r

Forno Becagli is one of Florence’s most beloved neighborhood bakeries still catering primarily to local residents, just down the street from Forno Palatresi Luigi. The bakers are Florentine so brush up on your Italian (their market is not tourism!). But trust me, to order cakes, cookies and carnival treats, it’s easy to get by.

Their window is always showcasing the season be it schiacciata all’uva (which is very famous), schiacciata fiorentina, cenci, frittelle, or ricciarelli.

Like most residential bakeries, the good stuff goes fast as most people stop in to buy their bread for the day before they go into the office. I suggest you do the same!

Pugi

Best For: Schiacciata & pizza a taglio

Piazza San Marco, 9/b & Via San Gallo 62/r most central locations with locations in Via G.Orsini 63-65, Via Anton Francesco Doni 10, and Viale Edmondo de Amicis 49 on the outskirts of Florence.

Pugi is one of Florence’s oldest bakeries and has remained famous for their schiacciata in particular. Choose from their regular schiacciata all’olio (with olive oil) or opt for more hearty toppings such as onions, zucchini, tomatoes and roasted vegetables.

Pugi also makes very good carnival treats to sample and a wide variety of breads made with all kinds of different flours from Tuscany and beyond!

La Pagnotta

Man with red backpack looks into glass entrance of a bakery in Italy. There are breads on display in glass cases.

Best For: Pizzette, bread sticks, schiacciata all’uva

Borgo la Croce, 109r

La Pagnotta is just around the corner from the Sant’Ambrogio open air food market in Florence most famous for their schiacciata all’uva sold only during the grape harvest in September and October.

Gluten-Free Travelers: La Pagnotta also has gluten-free bread and baked goods for sale.

Here you will find a ton of traditional Tuscan favorites such as pane toscano, brioche, budino di riso, pizza and other favorites such as grissini. No matter what you are looking for you will find it at La Pagnotta.

The only thing to mention is that because there is one of the most popular local neighborhood bakeries, it does sell out quickly and serves a lot of children before schools starts. Get there in the morning for the best selection.

Good To Know: Some of the best coffee in Florence is at La Ditta Artigianale, just across the piazza.

Tips For Visiting Bakeries In Florence

Get there early for the best selection
Many bakeries will make hot donuts called bomboloni (filled with pastry cream) and ciambelloni (plain) around 4:00/4:30 when school gets out for an afternoon snack for kids (after a filling school lunch). There is nothing better.
Try to avoid the before and after school rush (unless you are looking for a hot donut) between 7:30-8:30 am and 4:00-5:00 pm.
Some bakeries can make you a sandwich to order with cured meats and cheese and bread of your choice.
Most often, bakery purchases are small so have some cash on hand (most don’t really like you to pay with cards just for a couple of euros). If you buy something larger like a cake, a card is just fine.