9x where to eat in Florence
When traveling, it is always best to abide by the general rule ‘do as the locals do’ to guarantee yourself of the best experience. Which especially goes for the food on offer in your destination country. So mm, when in Italy, “do as the Italians do” does that mean wine, pizza & pasta all day? HELL YES. Lucky you. What is not to love about wood oven pizza’s, a truffle pasta or a juicy steak. With hundreds of good-looking (and smelling) restaurants around, we guess it’s safe to say that we probably didn’t even cover half of the amazing places to eat in Florence. That said, we sure tried and here are the best restaurants we can recommend to you!
Still need a place to stay in Florence?
1. La Buchetta
Pasta prepared in a cheese wheel (yes indeed, the entire thing) and after thoroughly stirred -absorbing as much cheese as possible- the portion is served on the spot and finished off with some freshly grated truffle. No wonder why restaurant La Buchetta ranks highly on TripAdvisor and is referred to as one of the best restaurants in the city. With the friendly staff and extensive wine menu to compliment your evening, a visit to La Buchetta should be on anyone’s itinerary.
For our dinner at La Bushetta, we paid a total of €81.50 ($95.7). Which included the pasta specialty, an entrecote, bread and good bottle of wine.
2. I Fratellini
When laying eyes on I Fratellini for the first time you instantly know that this is something precious. Perhaps one of the tiniest sandwich shops around, that also does not shy away from doubling as a bar, is tucked away in one the many side alleys in Florence. Easily overlooked by some, but a precious find to others. I Fratellini first opened its doors in 1875 and continues to serve guests with heavenly sandwiches and wine to this day. No matter which sandwich you choose, the price is set at €4 ($4.7). It’s tiny, it’s basic, but it’s perfect. Compliment your meal with a glass of wine for only €2 ($2.3), whilst having a chat with the friendly hosts.
3. Pizzeria iCamaldoli
Pizzeria iCamaldoli, located in the bustling center of Piazza del Mercato, is a small pizzeria with food and wine for incredibly decent prices considering its location. With a local bottle of wine (good wine) going for €8($9.3) and delicious pizza’s topped with fresh ingredients, this place is truly a little gem. The interior might be slightly different compared to the rest of their Italian neighbors but don’t let that fool you. Sometimes good things come unexpectedly, which especially goes for Pizzeria iCamaldoli, serving us the best pizza we had during our trip.
For a late lunch at Pizzeria iCamaldoli we paid a total of €38 ($44.4). This included a bottle of wine, beer, a bottle of water and two pizza’s.
4. La Posta
A stone’s throw away from the Florence cathedral, in a surprisingly cozy alley, lies restaurant La Posta. Drawing immediate attention with its intimate outdoor terrace, which is heated at night, this is the perfect place to give the local celebrity a try: the steak Florentine. Meat with a side of meat; is what to expect if this is your first time ordering the juicy steak. The steak Florentine is signature to the Firenze region and therefore available as a specialty at most restaurants. Keep in mind that the steak Florentine can only be ordered by the kilogram (starting at a minimum kg), so it’s quite the bite. Adding to the experience, the meat, once prepared according to your wishes, is cut directly in front of you at the table.
For our dinner at La Posta we paid a total of €109 ($128). This dinner included the steak Florentine (€60), a pasta, bottle of wine, bottle of water and a shared dessert.
5. Trattoria Zà Zà
In the heart of the city, you’ll find Trattoria Zà Zà. Due to its location and the good recommendations the restaurant receives scattered online, it’s no wonder this place thrives on tourism. The waiters speak perfect English and the service is fast and efficient. Their interior is what keeps the vibes of the restaurant warm and cozy. And, not to forget of course, the food is excellent. Every item we ordered of the menu was cooked to perfection. If possible, try to make a reservation on forehand, because Trattoria Zà Zà is popular with tourists and locals alike, it would be a shame if you miss out on a table at this lovely restaurant.
Price of our dinner at ZaZa for two:
€70 ($82,2). Which included another steak Florentine (for 1 pax this time), a truffle pasta, bottle of water, beer and several soda’s. For more information click
here.
6. El Gato E La Fulpe
So, if we would have known that the Tiramisu would come out like that, and tasted the way it did, we would have probably skipped dinner altogether and just ordered ten of those. But, luckily we didn’t. Because we came to this cute authentic Italian restaurant, which is mostly visited by locals, for the pasta. Cooked perfectly al dente and with a large variety on the menu; this definitely is the place to visit for all pasta lovers (and tiramisu lovers for that matter, hehe).
For dinner for two, we paid €45 ($52.8) which included a truffle pasta, beef specialty, bottle of water, tiramisu and coffee.
7. Cornelius Pizzeria
Cornelius Pizzeria is a great spot to enjoy a pizza in the mid-day summer heat. Offering a small outdoor terrace that faces the sun for the largest part of the day, They have a diverse menu on display but we advise you to opt for the yummy wood oven pizza’s. After all, it is a pizza place. Furthermore we ordered a decanter of wine, whilst enjoying the sun on the terrace, but frankly, we have no clue why we did this. Decanters are hardly ever a wise choice, so don’t make the same mistake and go with a bottled wine instead. That said, the pizza is great!
8. Konnubio
The stylish restaurant & wine bar Konnubio will catch anyone’s eye just walking sheer past it. Catching a glimpse of the inside is enough to see that the interior reflects one of the few modern takes on Italian restaurants in Florence. But, once inside, the glimpse you’ve got is nothing compared to what you get to see. From the green tiled bar to the sun-infused dining area surrounded with green leaves; this has to be one of the prettiest restaurants in Florence. Konnubio operates four different concepts throughout the day at set times and is closed in between. Starting with a breakfast experience, healthy lunch from 12:00 until 15:00 and finishing off with a fine dining menu and cocktail bar in the evening.
9. All’ Antico Vinaio
Okay, gigantic queues in front of restaurants can only mean one thing right? The food must be extraordinary. What about a gigantic queue outside of a sandwich shop? Well, that’s a first, but 100% what you’ll encounter when going for a visit to All’ Antico Vinaio. These sandwiches have become such a phenomenon that All’ Antico Vinaio now has three different locations, all across from each other, all with an equally long queue. But don’t let the queue scare you, it isn’t without a reason that these sandwiches are so popular. Plus they have become accustomed to working fast and you’ll be out of there in no time. With a sandwich, the sheer size of a pizza for solely €5 ($5,8) a piece, make sure not to plan this stop as an in-between snack.
For more information on locations visit www.allanticovinaio.com
*All prices as of 11 July ’18, in EURO and US dollar, converted on xe.com
what is it going to cost you 