Florence is Tuscan cooking at its source: towering bistecca alla fiorentina, slow-simmered lampredotto from a street cart, hearty ribollita, and olive-oil-soaked schiacciata sandwiches. These are reliable, well-loved picks across price points, from communal-table trattorie to the central market and the city's best cocktail bars. Save the ones you like and slot them into your days.
Where to Eat in Florence
1Must visit
Restaurant4.6
All'Antico Vinaio
Florence's most famous panino: overflowing schiacciata with premium cured meats and truffle cream, worth every minute of the queue.
Centro Storico
2Must visit
Restaurant4.5
Trattoria Mario
A no-frills communal-table trattoria serving Florentine classics since 1953. Lunch only, no reservations, pure local soul.
San Lorenzo
3Must visit
Restaurant4.7
Trattoria Sostanza
A historic trattoria unchanged since 1869, famous for its butter chicken breast and artichoke omelette. Book ahead.
Santa Maria Novella
4
Restaurant4.3
Mercato Centrale Food Hall
An upstairs food hall under a 19th-century iron roof, with artisan stalls for pasta, Chianina beef, lampredotto, and gelato.
San Lorenzo
5
Market4.4
Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio
Florence's most authentic local market, with a beloved cheap trattoria inside where market workers eat alongside regulars.
Santa Croce
6
Cafe4.4
Ditta Artigianale
The city's specialty-coffee pioneer: single-origin espresso, pour-overs, and excellent brunch in a stylish industrial space.
Santa Croce
7
Bar4.5
Mad Souls & Spirits
An inventive Oltrarno cocktail bar with a seasonal menu of house infusions and unusual Italian botanicals.
Centro Storico
8
Bar4.3
La Cite Libreria Cafe
A bookshop, cafe, and bar hybrid in bohemian Oltrarno, with live jazz and a laid-back creative crowd.
Oltrarno
9
Bar4.4
Todo Modo
An independent bookshop with an atmospheric basement wine bar pouring curated natural wines.
Centro Storico
FAQ
- What food is Florence famous for?
- Tuscan classics: bistecca alla fiorentina (a thick, rare T-bone from Chianina cattle, meant to share), lampredotto (a slow-cooked tripe sandwich, the city's iconic street food), ribollita (a bread-and-bean soup), pappa al pomodoro, and schiacciata sandwiches.
- Where can I try lampredotto in Florence?
- Look for a trippaio (tripe cart) around the markets, including Mercato Centrale and Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio. It is the city's true street food, a slow-cooked tripe sandwich served with salsa verde, and costs only a few euros.
- Do Florence trattorie take cards?
- Most sit-down restaurants and the market food hall do, but some old-school trattorie, market stalls, and street carts are cash-only or cash-preferred. Carry a little cash, especially for lunch spots like Trattoria Mario.
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