Last updated on July 22nd, 2024
Florence is home to some of the best food in Italy, showcasing amazing:
- locally raised beef
- winter greens
- sheep’s cheese
- seasonal produce
- cured meats
- pizza
- filling pasta dishes
Visiting Florence for the first time and having trouble deciding on a restaurant? I have been living in Florence since 2012 and with a Florentine husband by my side, I am confident in sharing the top restaurants you should try on your first trip to Florence no matter your agenda, location in the city, or dietary restrictions.
In this comprehensive guide, I will share the best of the best, the crème de la crème of restaurants to add to your itinerary. I will also include my favorite foods to order and if the restaurant is known for any particular dish.
Good To Know: Keep in mind that all these restaurants need to be pre-booked several nights in advance either via email, telephone or online.
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Map Of 15+ Restaurants to Try on Your First Trip to Florence
15+ Restaurants to Try on Your First Trip to Florence Quick Guide
| Restaurant in Florence | Address – Neighborhood | Best For | Famous For | What I Order |
| Trattoria Sergio Gozzi | Piazza di San Lorenzo, 8R (San Lorenzo) | Budget friendly travelers | Cheap first courses that change daily such as gnocchi or tortelli di patate | Coniglio arrostso (roasted rabbit) |
| Trattoria Sostanza | Via del Porcellana, 25/R (Santa Maria Novella) | Watching your food being prepared (open kitchen) | Pollo al burro (buttered chicken), tortino ai carciofi (artichoke omelette) | Buttered chicken and sauteed seasonal greens |
| Trattoria La Casalinga | Via dei Michelozzi, 9R (Santo Spirito) | Homestyle food | Chef’s special (change seasonally) | Zuppa di farro e fagioli (farro and cannellini bean soup) |
| Il Pizzaiolo | Via dei Macci, 113r (Sant’Ambrogio) | Pizza in Florence | Neapolitan – style pizza | Margherita con bufala |
| Trattoria 4 Leoni | Via dei Vellutini, 1r (Santo Spirito) | Lunch | Pranzo dell’artigiano & large salads | Tagliata di manzo (sliced steak on bed of arugula) |
| Trattoria del Carmine | Piazza del Carmine, 18 (San Frediano) | Families | Desserts | Panzanella (bread and summer vegetables salad) |
| 13 Gobbi | Via del Porcellana, 9R (Santa Maria Novella) | Large parties | Bistecca fiorentina | Grilled octopus |
| Il Latini | Via dei Palchetti, 6R (Santa Maria Novella) | Historic steakhouse | Bistecca fiorentina | bistecca fiorentina |
| Trattoria Cammillo | Borgo S. Jacopo, 57/r (Santo Spirito) | Fancy evening / Splurge | Chicken/shrimp curry and pasta con piselli (pasta with peas) | Pecorino con aceto balsamico (broiled pecorino cheese drizzled with balsamic) |
| Trattoria Mario | Via Rosina, 2r (San Lorenzo) | Half portions / trying and sharing new dishes | Trippa (stewed cow’s stomach) and peposo (beef stew) | Pollo arrosto (roasted chicken) |
| La Giostra | Borgo Pinti, 10/18R (Santa Croce) | People who can’t agree / Wine lovers | Bistecca fiorentina | Ossobuco (braised veal shanks) |
| Osteria Cinghiale Bianco | Borgo S. Jacopo, 43 (Santo Spirito) | Traditional Tuscan food | Cinghiale (wild boar) prepared many ways | Gnudi (spinach and ricotta dumplings) |
| Buco dell’Orafo | Via dei Girolami, 28/R (Historic District) | Romantic Evening | Bistecca fiorentina & offal | Ribollita |
| Cibrèo | Via Andrea del Verrocchio, 8r (Sant’Ambrogio) | Haute cuisine | Tasting menu | Multiple course menu |
| Pandemonio di Casa Brogi | Via del Leone, 50R (San Frediano) | Eating with the locals off the beaten path | Pane tostato, burro e acciughe (toasted bread with butter and anchovies), pollo fritto (fried chicken) | Fagioli all’olio con bottarga (white beans with shavings of roe) |
Look the Part: Check out these 5 Items Not to Wear When Dining Out in Italy and What to Wear to Dinner in Italy.
Food To Try In Florence For First Time Travelers
Florence serves up some of the best bread, street food, pasta, pizza and seasonal produce in all of Italy. Here are my top dishes and foods to try for first time travelers:
- Crostini neri – liver crostini
- Schiacciata – local flatbread
- Pappa al pomodoro – bread and tomato soup
- Ribollita – winter vegetable and bread soup
- Panzanella – bread and summer vegetable salad
- Pappardelle al sugo di cinghiale – ribbon egg noodles with wild boar sauce
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina – T-bone steak
- Fagioli all’uccelletto – white beans stewed in tomato sauce
- Cantuccini e Vin Santo – twice baked almond cookies with local sweet wine
- Schiacciata alla Fiorentina – light Carnival cake filled with pastry or chantilly cream
- Trippa – stewed cow’s stomach
- Lampredotto – cow’s stomach sandwich
To read a more detailed description of these foods and more check out
The Best Cheap Eats in Tuscany – 8 Unforgettable Tuscan Street Foods
Traditional Tuscan Food – A Local’s Tips on Food In Tuscany You Must Try
10 Foods You Must Try On Your First Visit To Florence (Italy)
Trattoria Sergio Gozzi
Piazza di San Lorenzo, 8R
Best For: Budget friendly meals
Trattoria Sergio Gozzi is my top pick for eating traditional Florentine and Tuscan food in Florence on a dime. This trattoria is easy going with a homey atmosphere characterized by their handwritten daily menu that is posted each day.
Each day, Trattoria Sergio offers a couple primi or first courses such as tortelli di patate, pici, and ribollita. Second courses include dishes such as strewed rabbit, roasted chicken, peposo and fried foods. Choosing the house wine ( by ¼, ½, or 1 liter) is the best way to keep the cost of eating down.
In the summer, they set up small tables outdoors in the busy Piazza di San Lorenzo, making it one of the best restaurants in Florence for people watching and soaking up the sun.
Good To Know: Sergio Gozzi is only open for lunch Monday – Saturday.
Trattoria Sostanza
Via del Porcellana, 25/R
Best For: Watching your food being prepared (open kitchen)
Trattoria Sostanza is considered the best restaurant in Florence by most, including us locals. The tiny restaurant has made a name for itself over the decades for serving up unique and reliable Tuscan cuisine, including the infamous bistecca fiorentina.
Other notable dishes include their pollo al burro or their buttered chicken and the tortino di carciofi, a type of artichoke omelet. My favorites are the sauteed greens, which are the absolute best I have ever had in my life, and perfectly simple pasta dishes like tortellini con sugo (tortellini with meat sauce).
They pride themselves on using the freshest ingredients prepared in simple ways, allowing the natural beauty of each flavor to shine without complicating things.
Good To Know: The famous buttered chicken is a must-try at Trattoria Sostanza. It is a huge serving though with two chicken breasts, plenty to share. Pair with the vegetables of the day, cannellini beans and their famous meringue cake with fresh berries for one of the best meals in the city.
Trattoria La Casalinga
Via dei Michelozzi, 9R
Best For: Homestyle family cooking
Trattoria La Casalinga is one of Florence’s classic trattorie with our beloved nonne or Grandmothers at the wheel. Yes, you will find a strapping young lad helping with all the chopping but it’s the Italian grandmas doing the heavy lifting (and the reason for amazing food!).
If you are a more adventurous eater, this may be the place for you as you will find plenty of interesting options such as trippa and liver.
Eating in Italy Basics: 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
How To Order Food In Italian
Il Pizzaiolo
Via dei Macci, 113r
Best For: Neapolitan-style pizza in Florence
The pizza and fried appetizers at Il Pizzaiolo located just next to the Sant’Ambrogio market can’t be beat. Loud and tightly packed with tables, expect chaos and noise but it’s worth it for the amazing pizza you are about to taste.
My favorite pizza to order is the margherita with mozzarella, served with a large mozzarella di bufala right in the middle.
Trattoria 4 Leoni
Via dei Vellutini, 1r
Best For: lunch & large salads
Trattoria 4 Leoni is an elegant restaurant located in Piazza della Passera (Oltrarno), one of the smallest and cutest squares in all the city. With ample seating indoors and out, this restaurant is best known for their refined Tuscan cuisine.
Here you can expect to find the most refined of all the Tuscan dishes available such as the best cuts of meat served on beds of arugula and wedges of lemon. Alternatively, they have a unique salad menu, a refreshing change to the normal Tuscan fair.
I recommend Trattoria 4 Leoni in particular for lunch because they have what is called a pranzo dell’artigiano (the artisan’s lunch), which is a set price one course meal with wine, water and coffee included. Served only at a large communal table in the back room, this is a little secret for local workers looking to eat on a dime. Most tourists don’t opt for this choice because they don’t know about it but I highly suggest you do!
Trattoria del Carmine
Piazza del Carmine, 18
Best For: Families
Trattoria del Carmine embodies the art of traditional Florentine cuisine with attention to local and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is simple yet elegant, slightly more upscale than other trattorie but perfect for families.
The menu at Trattoria del Carmine changes periodically to reflect the season but it’s varied enough to provide plenty of options for all kinds of preferences and dietary restrictions including traditional vegan dishes such as panzanella, ribollita, and pappa al pomodoro.
Their desserts are also quite good, just another reason to bring your kids!
To learn more about eating out with Florence with kids, read
Where To Get A Quick Bite With Kids In Florence
Where To Eat With Kids In Florence
Trattoria 13 Gobbi
Via del Porcellana, 9R
Best For: Large Parties
Trattoria 13 Gobbi is one of the best spots to eat bistecca fiorentina or if you love grilled meats (they do offer some seafood options as well). This large restaurant has indoor seating only but the rooms are large enough to accommodate big parties making it ideal for celebrations, birthday dinners or large family trips to Florence.
Their menu is long with ample options to satisfy any guest including vegetarians and gluten-free diets. To read more about eating with dietary restrictions in Florence read Eating Vegan and Vegetarian in Florence and Eating Gluten-Free in Florence.
Il Latini
Via dei Palchetti, 6R
Best For: Bistecca fiorentina
Latini is THE place my family goes in Florence for bistecca fiorentina. What I love is the feeling of home you get when you sit down. Dotted with small, medium and a large communicable table, the dining room is warming and welcoming.
Although Il Latini is best known for their bistecca fiorentina, they offer a wide variety of classic Tuscan dishes such as crostini neri and ribollita.
Good To Know: Il Latini also has a pre-set five course menu, which includes the t-bone steak, should you prefer to put yourself in the hands of Il Latini!
Trattoria Cammillo
Borgo S. Jacopo, 57/r
Best For: Fancy dinner out (splurge)
Trattoria Cammillo is one of the most popular restaurants in Florence for people who are looking to spend an elegant and sophisticated night out. Currently managed by the same family who founded Cammillo in 1945, its claim to fame lies within the same dishes it has been serving for decades.
Famous for their one of a kind currys served with mango chutney (which you can purchase to bring home with you as a souvenir or gift), their pasta with peas, and their grilled pecorino cheese with balsamic vinegar, just to name a few.
Other classics include lasagne, ribollita, classic bistecca, beef filet and tiramisù. The prices aren’t outrageous but they are definitely significantly higher compared to a typical trattoria in Tuscany.
Trattoria Mario
Via Rosina, 2r
Best For: Half portions / trying and sharing new dishes
This tiny trattoria located just off of the Central Market has been serving budget friendly meals to locals forever in a homey, family-style seating dining room. The menu changes daily.
What most people don’t know about Trattoria Mario, however, is that you can order half portions of many of their dishes, making it one of the best ways to sample several dishes without wasting food or breaking the bank.
My best tip is to get here when it opens at noon. There might already be a line but believe me, as a loyal patron since 2008 when I first came to Florence on my own and ate several meals here solo, it’s worth it.
Good To Know: Trattoria Mario is only open for lunch except for Thursday and Friday at dinner. To learn more about what time dinner is in Italy, read What Time Do Italians Eat Dinner? + Dinner Info From A Local Living In Italy.
La Giostra
Borgo Pinti, 10/18R
Best For: People who can’t agree / Wine lovers
La Giostra is one of Florence’s most famous restaurants for bistecca fiorentina but also has one of the largest menus (without compromising quality!) and an excellent wine list.
The general atmosphere is elegant, also ideal for a romantic evening out. The menu is made up of a wide selection of both Tuscan and Italian food, making it easy to find something for everyone, especially for people craving different things.
Good To Know: La Giostra is an expensive restaurant and reservations should be made at least a week in advance
Osteria Cinghiale Bianco
Borgo S. Jacopo, 43
Best For: Traditional Tuscan food
Osteria Cinghiale Bianco is another very popular restaurant in Florence known for their wide selection of carefully prepared wild boar dishes (hence its name: the white boar). If you aren’t a fan of cinghiale, don’t worry, they have plenty of other Tuscan dishes such as gnudi (seasonal ricotta dumplings with spinach) and steaks.
And because they are dedicated to serving traditional Tuscan cuisine, you can be sure there are plenty of vegan and veggie options as well. Their menu does change seasonally so double check to be sure the current menu fits your dietary restrictions before booking.
Buca dell’Orafo
Via dei Girolami, 28/R
Best For: Romantic Evening
I choose Buca dell’Orafo as the best restaurant in Florence for a romantic evening because of its intimate dining room located in a dark but cozy basement.
Particularly known for their bistecca and offal (availability determined by the day of the week and local butchers), there are plenty of reliable Tuscan dishes to fill you up. I always order the ribollita (only made in the winter) and their selection of pecorino cheese is top notch.
If you are looking to dine where the locals do, this isn’t the spot. Over the years, Buca dell’Orafo has become so well known that locals don’t really come here anymore (unless looking to fix their offal hankering).
What To Drink: Looking for what to drink with your food in Florence? Check out Where to Try Wine in Florence.
Cibrèo
Via Andrea del Verrocchio, 8r
Best For: Haute cuisine
Cibrèo is actually a conglomerate of eateries in the Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood all focused on using Tuscan cuisine as their baseline for inspiration and contemporary innovation with seasonal, local flavors and produce at the foreground.
Cibrèo is the main restaurant, the most expensive and most beautiful of them all, with a sophisticated menu and cocktail list. Despite the simplicity of traditional Tuscan cuisine, Cibrèo is anything but, as it uses basic dishes as inspiration to bring innovation to the table.
Choose to order à la carte or opt for their tasting menu, which is what I have done in the past.
Good To Know: If the price point of the Cibrèo restaurant is too high for you, consider the Cibrèo Trattoria, located right next door, offering a more simplified and less expensive version of the restaurant menu.
Pandemonio di Casa Brogi
Via del Leone, 50R
Best For: Eating with the locals off the beaten path
Pandemonio di Casa Brogi is my top pick for first time travelers to Florence who would like to get off the beaten path and have a meal side-by-side with the locals.
Pandemonio serves up some of the more unique Tuscan dishes in Florence. Take, for example, their spin on the popular fagioli all’olio. At Pandemonio, the chef adds a fine grating of bottarga, dried fish roe, giving it a depth of flavor and righteousness that cannot be replicated.
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 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
Best Rooftop Bars in Florence
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Where to Eat on Your First Visit to Florence
My Favorite Places to Eat Bistecca Fiorentina in Florence
Where to Have Brunch in Florence
Coolest Bars in Florence
International Restaurants in Florence
My Favorite Wine Bars (Enoteche) in Florence
Wines to Try in Tuscany
Where to Find Florence’s Best Schiacciata
Florence’s Best Panini
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
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Where to Get a Quick Bite with Kids in Florence
Traditional Tuscan Food
