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Eat & Drink

It goes without saying that Italian food is crazy delicious. Wine, gelato, pasta, and pizza are a good start but it’s also a varied cuisine, each region with its own specialties. Local Florentine specialities tend to be hearty and meaty. We give a few of our favorite spots for Italian and non-Italian restaurants and bars in town.
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Our Favorite Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Florence

Local Tuscan, not too spendy

Al Tranvai
Piazza Tasso 14r
Very old-school Tuscan. Lots of innards. Lots of history. Great fried artichokes.

I Brindellone
Piazza Piattellina, 10
Cheap, down-home

Casalinga
Via dei Michelozzi, 9/R, near Santo Spirito
Classic, inexpensive, basic, reliably good.

Trattoria dell’orto 
Via dell’Orto, 35A

L’arte di Dory
Via dei Serragli, 78R

Trattoria da Burde
Via Pistoiese, 154

Trattoria da Rocco
Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti

Sabatino
Via Pisana  2/R
Very basic, very down-home, an “institution”

Trattoria Le Mossacce
Via del Proconsolo, 55/R

A little spendier

Il Santo Bevitore
Via Santo Spirito, 64r

Perseus
Viale Don Giovanni Minzoni, 10/R

Culinaria De Gustibus
Piazza Tasso 13R
Slow food, Mediterranean. Innovative with high quality ingredients, charming atmosphere.

Quattro Leoni
Piazza della Passera, 1r, de’ Vellutini
Consistently good food. Nice atmosphere. Cute piazza.
Peposo beef. Fried artichokes.

Teatro del Sale
Via dei Macci 111, San Ambrosio
Theatre/restaurant. Very cool. Must reserve except for lunch, when there is no show.

 

 

Pizza

 

Pizzeria Antica Porta
Via Senese, 23
More unusual pizzas

Vico di Carmine
Via Pisana 40r, near Porta San Frediano
Southern Italian Style (spicier, richer)

Al solito posto
Via dei Camaldoli, 2r
A great combo of classic pizzas and creative specialties

Vegetarian

Fonderia Gastro Bistrot
Via della Fonderia, 61

Libreria Brac
Via dei Vagellai, 18/R

L’ov osteria
Piazza del Carmine, 4R

Su Guan 
Chinese
Via della Scala, 22/R

Chinese

Il Gusto Dim Sum 
Viale Fratelli Rosselli, 39r

Impressione Chongqing
Via Sant’Antonino, 34

Szechuan-style, hole in the wall, inexpensive, 
authentic.  

Japanese

En Cucina Casalinga Giapponese
Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 26r

Cafes for hanging out

La Cité
Borgo S. Frediano, 20/R

Florence’s “living room.” Cool, funky, relaxed, good for working, reading, meeting friends. 

Oblate
Via dell’ Oriuolo, 26
On top of the library with a great view of the Duomo.

Ditta Artigianale
Via dello Sprone, 5/R

Ristoro dell’Indiano

Piazzale dell’Indiano, 1

At the far end of the Cascine park from the center, part of an art center, with lovely outdoor area

Todo Modo
Via dei Fossi, 15/R

Fabulous bookstore with a cafe and restaurant within

Santarosa Bistrot
Lungarno di Santa Rosa, 50142 Firenze FI
Beautiful garden setting, great for a coffee, a drink in the evening, or high quality lunch or dinner.