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 specialties tend to be hearty and meaty. We give a few of our favorite spots for Italian and non-Italian restaurants and bars in town.
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
Trattoria la Casalinga
Via dei Michelozzi, 9/R, near Santo Spirito
Classic, inexpensive, basic, reliably good.
Borgo San Iacopo, 43r, 50125 Firenze FI
Delicious Tuscan favorites and highly recommended by Stanley Tucci!
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
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.
Trattoria 4 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.
Vico del Carmine
Via Pisana 40r, near Porta San Frediano
Southern Italian Style (spicier, richer)
Al solito posto
Piazza dei Nerli, 5
A great combo of classic pizzas and creative specialties
Vegetarian
Libreria Brac
Via dei Vagellai, 18/R
Bookshop with vegetarian brunch options
L’OV Osteria Vegetariana
Piazza del Carmine, 4R
Traditional regional dishes made vegetarian
Chinese
Su Guan
Via della Scala, 22/R
Il Gusto Dim Sum
Viale Fratelli Rosselli, 39r
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.
Caffetteria Delle Oblate
Via dell’ Oriuolo, 26
On top of the library with a great view of the Duomo.
Ditta Artigianale
Via dello Sprone, 5/R
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.
