Where to eat in Florence

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If you are planning a visit to Florence and want to try the local cuisine, you’re in the right place!

In this article, we will present our personal recommendations on some of the best restaurants in Florence. We have divided them by area, so you can choose the right place to taste the delicacies of the city. In particular, we will explore the neighborhoods of Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo, San Frediano and Santo Spirito, San Niccolò, and the center between Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce, where you will find some of the most  welcoming restaurants in Florence. Are you ready to discover the flavors of Florence? Put on your apron and join us on this culinary adventure!

Santa Maria Novella

Let’s start with our favorite neighborhood, Santa Maria Novella, which is not by chance where our Bed & Breakfast is located!

Just a few steps away from the central station of Florence, SMN, and the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, there are several restaurants and trattorias that showcase Tuscan cuisine.

Here are our recommended choices for you:

  1. L’Osteria Di Giovanni
  2. Il Latini
    • Address: Via dei Palchetti, 6r
    • Web Site: latinifirenze.com 
    • Telephone: +39 055210916
  3. Trattoria Marione
  4. La Grotta Di Leo
    • Address: Via della Scala, 41/43r
    • Web Site: lagrottadileo.it
    • Telephone: +39 055219265

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo is a vibrant and lively neighborhood, with numerous restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops that make it an ideal place to explore the daily life of Florence!

The neighborhood is located just a few steps from the Santa Maria Novella train station and takes its name from the Basilica of San Lorenzo, one of the most important churches in the city.

At the heart of the San Lorenzo neighborhood is the Mercato Centrale di Firenze, a popular place where you can find and purchase many local food products of all kinds.

Here are our top choices for you:

  1. Trattoria ZàZà
    • Address: Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26r
    • Web Site: trattoriazaza.it
    • Telephone: +39 055215411
  2. Trattoria Mario
  1. Trattoria Da Guido
  2. Mercato Centrale

Let’s talk a bit about the Mercato Centrale! On the ground floor, every morning there is a food market that offers a unique experience: numerous stalls displaying fresh and high-quality products, from meats to fish, to typical Tuscan cuisine. A real delight for the senses!

Mercato Centrale is not just that: on the first floor, there is an incredible space with a lively and welcoming atmosphere. Here you can find numerous fast food stalls, each with its own cuisine and specialties, to satisfy every palate and culinary desire. Whether for lunch or dinner, this space will introduce you to surprising and tasty dishes that will make your visit to the Mercato Centrale even more unforgettable. What are you waiting for? Come and discover this magical and delicious place in Florence!

Signoria’s Square

If you are looking for an authentic culinary experience in Florence, you cannot miss the “schiacciaterie” near Piazza della Signoria.

This neighborhood, located in the heart of the historic center of Florence, is known for its traditional “schiacciate”, a kind of sandwich made with flour, oil, and salt, filled with a wide range of fresh and tasty ingredients. These “schiacciaterie” are popular among locals and tourists looking for a quick but delicious meal, and offer a wide selection of “schiacciate” with ham, cheese, vegetables, and more.

With their central location and their cozy and informal atmosphere, the “schiacciaterie” near Piazza della Signoria are a great option for a quick lunch or snack on the go.

Florentine “schiacciate” are a great choice for lunch and we recommend enjoying them with a glass of red wine.

Here are our top picks for you:

  1. All’Antico Vinaio
  1. La Prosciutteria di Firenze
  1. I Fratellini
    • Address: Via dei Cimatori, 38r
    • Telephone: +39 0552396096
  2. I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti

Sant’Ambrogio

We now move to the easternmost neighborhood of the center of Florence, where the second largest food market in Florence after the Mercato Centrale is located.

Sant’Ambrogio is one of the most authentic and lively neighborhoods in Florence, and there is no better way to discover it than through its restaurants and trattorias. Here, food is the absolute protagonist, with a fresh and high-quality food market that offers a wide range of local products. Near the market, there are numerous trattorias and restaurants that offer typical Tuscan dishes, prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients and presented in a creative and tasty way.

Recommended for dinner.

Here are our top picks:

  1. Gilda Bistrot
    • Address: Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 40r
    • Web Site: gildabistrot.it
    • Telephone: +39 0552343885
  1. Cibreo Trattoria
    • Address: Via Andrea del Verrocchio, 5r
    • Web Site: cibreo.com
    • Telephone: +39 0552341100
  1. Teatro del Sale

San Frediano and Santo Spirito

If you’re looking for a cozy and informal evening in a bohemian setting, head over to the neighborhoods of San Frediano and Santo Spirito on the west side of the Arno river, or “di là d’arno” as they say in Florence.

These neighborhoods are the realm of Tuscan flavors, with numerous trattorias and restaurants specializing in traditional dishes. The comfortable and familiar atmosphere of the neighborhoods, with their colorful alleys and charming squares, is perfect for a relaxing and tasty evening with friends and family. Here you can immerse yourself in the culture and history of the city, tasting the authentic flavors of Tuscan cuisine.

Here are our top picks:

  1. Trattoria La Casalinga
  2. Trattoria 4 Leoni
    • Address: Via dei Vellutini, 1r
    • Telephone: +39 055218562
  1. Trattoria Sant’Agostino
  1. I’Brindellone
    • Address: Piazza Piattellina, 10
    • Web Site: ibrindellone.it
    • Telephone: +39055217879
  2. Antico Ristoro Di Cambi
  1. Il Guscio
    • Address: Via dell’Orto, 49
    • Web Site: ilguscio.it
    • Telephone: +39 055224421

San Niccolò

To conclude this review of the central neighborhoods of Florence, we stay on the west bank of the Arno River and move to San Niccolò.

This neighborhood is characterized by a beautiful panoramic view of the city and the surrounding hills, making it perfect for a romantic stroll or to enjoy a breathtaking sunset from the nearby Piazzale Michelangelo.

San Niccolò is not just a scenic spot: here you can find some of the best trattorias and restaurants in the city, with a familiar and welcoming atmosphere that will make you feel at home. The neighborhood is full of historic and traditional places, where you can taste typical Tuscan and Italian dishes, prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients.

Furthermore, the restaurants and trattorias in San Niccolò are often frequented by locals themselves, which is always a great guarantee of quality.

After a romantic walk to Piazzale Michelangelo, we suggest you descend for dinner in one of the restaurants in San Niccolò, where the family warmth and welcoming atmosphere will win you over. In short, San Niccolò is the ideal neighborhood for an unforgettable evening of good food, romance, and relaxation.

Here are our top picks:

  1. Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolò
  2. Hosteria del Bricco
  1. Piazzetta San Niccolò
    • Address: Via di S. Niccolò, 33r
    • Telephone: +39 0552026854
  1. Enoteca Fuori Porta 
    • Address: Via del Monte alle Croci, 10
    • Web Site: fuoriporta.it
    • Telephone: +39 0552342483

In short, Florence is a city full of gastronomic treasures, and each neighborhood has something unique to offer. From the most popular trattorias in San Lorenzo to the schiacciaterie of Piazza della Signoria, from the most bohemian and typical places of Santo Spirito to the osterias of San Niccolò, each neighborhood will offer you a unique and unforgettable culinary experience.

We are sure that, thanks to our guide, you have discovered what we believe are the most characteristic restaurants in Florence, but we want to emphasize that this list is only a starting point. There are many other wonderful places to discover, and each visitor to the city will have their own list of culinary preferences and discoveries. In any case, we hope this article has inspired you to discover the beauty and delicious cuisine of Florence.

We can’t wait to see you enjoy the dishes of the city in one of its many restaurants, osterias, or trattorias.

Buon appetito!

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Bed and breakfast Marbò Florence

Street Alamanni 25 , Florence,  Italy

P.iva: 06992880481

CIN: IT048017B4RICHMLPT

CIN: IT048017B42AIK8T93

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