A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Restaurants in Florence, Italy

Florence is one of my favorite food cities in the world. But it’s also one of the most tourist-trapped cities in Italy. This ultimate foodie guide covers all of the best restaurants in Florence!

From old-school osterias serving ricotta gnudi and ribollita to schiacciata sandwich shops and local market stalls, the best Florentine food is found in neighborhoods that most visitors never venture into. They’re certainly not sitting in the shadows of the Duomo.

Florentine food is rustic, seasonal, and rooted in the region’s cucina povera (peasant food) traditions. So no, you don’t need to splurge to eat exceptionally well here. (Save that for Rome’s best restaurants instead.)

But you do need a plan. Reservations. A knack for spotting tourist traps and running the other way. And an understanding that Florentine cuisine is very specific. You’re here to eat bistecca alla Fiorentina, pappa al pomodoro, and fresh pappardelle with wild boar ragù. Not Neapolitan pizza, spaghetti alla carbonara, or arancini.

So, where to eat in Florence? I’m glad you asked, because this is serious stuff!

My personal Florence itinerary always revolves around finding the very best places in the city. So allow me to share my findings…

From natural wine bars in Santo Spirito to traditional trattorias in Sant’Ambrogio, consider this your guide to where to eat and drink in Florence – and what to order when you get there.

Buon appetito. 

Want to eat and drink your way through Florentine culture? If you ask me, these two food and wine experiences are essential. 

Florence Food & Drink Tour

This walking Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour of Oltrarno is my #1 non-negotiable!

With your guide, you’ll eat your way through Oltrarno (Florence’s lively, foodie neighborhood), stopping at six different bars and restaurants to try all kinds of Florentine specialties.

You’ll even knock on an original Florentine wine window!

From Chianti Classico, Bianco Toscana, and classic negronis to local cheeses, ricotta gnudi, wild boar stew, and so much more, this was one of the best food tours I’ve ever taken. The wine and cocktails just keep flowing, and the food is fabulous.

Book your walking food and drink tour of Oltrarno here!

Chianti Wine Tour

If you love wine, don’t miss this Chianti Wine & Cheese Safari experience.

During this full-day tour, you’ll hop into a 4X4 and venture through Chianti’s rolling hills, visiting historic wine estates and beautiful Renaissance-era villas along the way. You’ll sample an incredible lineup of Tuscan wines, from Chianti Classico to Super Tuscan to sparkling rosé. (By my count, we sampled 13 different wines!)

In between wine tastings, you’ll feast on Tuscan specialties like cheeses, cured meats, olive oils, black truffle ravioli, and wild boar pappardelle. It’s equal parts wine tasting, foodie experience, and scenic countryside adventure – and one of my all-time favorite Florence day trips.

Book your full-day Chianti wine-tasting adventure here!

Best Traditional Restaurants in Florence

Wondering where to eat in Florence for a real Tuscan meal? These authentic Florentine trattorias serve rich traditional dishes that haven’t changed much in decades.

Expect handwritten menus, cozy atmospheres, and generous portions of classics like peposo, fresh pici and pappardelle pasta dishes, Florentine steak, and hearty vegetable sides.

Cibrèo Trattoria (Il Cibrèino)

I’ll cut the suspense. This is my favorite restaurant in Florence. 

Opened in 1979, next door to his fine-dining-style Cibrèo Ristorante, Cibrèo Trattoria (lovingly nicknamed Il Cibrèino) was Chef Fabio Picchi’s way of making his food accessible to everyone. More than just another osteria, it captures the spirit of Florentine dining: cozy interiors, genuinely warm service, and time-honored recipes crafted in rhythm with the seasons.

During our recent visit, I was shocked that we were the only travelers in the dining room. This trattoria is still very much a local hideaway in the middle of Sant’Ambrogio – and I hope it stays that way.

Guided by organic Tuscan ingredients, the menu changes often. My husband and I loved the white bean and cavolo nero stew, delicate ricotta flan with ragù (sooo delicious!), and the iconic chicken and ricotta meatballs in tomato sauce. Best of all was the thinly sliced roast beef served in its rich white wine broth. And for good measure, we also ordered daily sides of cinnamon-spiked purple cabbage and mashed potatoes. What a lunch.

The service is also above and beyond! When our waitress heard I wanted to try a dish my husband didn’t, she surprised me with a complimentary half-portion…

It was a chilled salad of boiled beef and chicken dressed with olive oil, sweet-and-sour onions and celery, candied fruit, and mustard butter. I know, it sounds unusual… But it was the best thing I ate in Florence that trip. 

Please, for your own sake, don’t skip Il Cibrèino.

• Neighborhood: Sant’Ambrogio
• Price: €€
• Reservations: Essential, book online

Ristorante del Fagioli

If I had to choose the best restaurant in Florence for bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak), this would be it. 

Opened in 1966, Ristorante del Fagioli is one of Florence’s greatest trattorias. The open kitchen, menus written in Italian only, and lively atmosphere tell you exactly what you’re in for: typical Tuscan cooking done exceptionally well.

During our dinner, we shared a bottle of Pinot Nero from San Gimignano, a panzanella salad, to-die-for penne strascicate (Tuscan-style penne al ragù), a succulent 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) Florentine steak, and half-portions of Tuscan white beans, farmer-style stewed potatoes, and green beans. By the end, we were stuffed full of one of the best Florentine meals. Period.

Reservations are essential, and there’s no online booking system. Call ahead (or ask your hotel receptionist to do it for you!) and come hungry. Cash only!

• Neighborhood: Santa Croce (Historic Center)
• Price: €€
• Reservations: Essential, book by phone or in-person

MADDY’S NOTES: If you want to try bistecca alla Fiorentina, know that it’s served rare. Like, blue. If that’s not your thing, don’t order it. True Florentine restaurants won’t cook it any other way. Often, there are other cuts of steak on the menu that can be cooked to your liking instead. Also, Florentine steaks are enormous. We ordered the smallest one available (1.4 kg, or 3.1 lb), and it was a lot, considering everything else we ordered.

MADDY’S TIP: If you can’t get a reservation at Del Fagioli, try Il Latini for steak. The food at this historic trattoria is authentic and delicious, the prices are fair, and the service is some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere in Italy. Another excellent (though slightly more refined) option for Florentine steak is L’Osteria di Giovanni. Both take reservations online.

I’Brindellone

I’Brindellone is another excellent choice for a proper Florentine dinner in a lively, local neighborhood. Tucked away in San Frediano, you’ll love this long-running trattoria’s generous portions, rustic atmosphere (with lots of Florentine sports memorabilia), and reliably delicious, slow-cooked Tuscan food.

I loved the peposo and fagioli here! But the bistecca alla Fiorentina is also very popular.

Arrive hungry, make a reservation (or arrive before opening to snag a spot), and expect Florentine comfort food done right.

• Neighborhood: San Frediano (Oltrarno)
• Price: €
• Reservations: Recommended, book by phone

Trattoria La Casalinga

Rustic, bustling, budget-friendly, and unapologetically traditional, Trattoria La Casalinga has been one of Oltrarno’s go-to spots for classic home-style Tuscan cooking since 1963. 

Expect large portions, simple preparations, quick service, and a dining room filled with Florentines and in-the-know travelers. The mixed crostini, pappardelle di sugo di cinghiale, and potato gnocchi with gorgonzola and walnuts are all simple but perfect!

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €
• Reservations: Recommended, book online

MADDY’S TIPS: As I mentioned, Santo Spirito is one of the best foodie neighborhoods in Florence. One of my other favorites is Osteria Santo Spirito (reservations by WhatsApp).

Best Schiacciata Sandwich Shops in Florence

Wondering where to eat in Florence on a budget? Some of the best restaurants in Florence (or shall I say sandwich shops?) cost under €10 per person!

You can’t leave without trying a schiacciata sandwich. (If you don’t already know schiacciata is the local flatbread – similar to focaccia.)

I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti

I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti strikes the perfect middle ground between Florence’s ultra-famous schiacciata sandwich spots and its hidden gems.

This tiny shop’s panini are made with high-quality ingredients and are delicious enough to queue up for (just not for too long!). During my last lunchtime visit, I only waited about fifteen minutes. 

Pictured above are the “Suicida” with porchetta, sundried tomatoes, spicy sauce, and arugula, and the “Invidiosa” with sbriciolona salame, gorgonzola cream, fresh zucchini, and arugula. So yummy – and equally budget-friendly!

• Neighborhood: Santa Croce (Historic Center)
• Price: €

Retrobottega

If you’re looking for an excellent schiacciata sandwich without committing to a ridiculous queue, head to Retrobottega. Compared to the other sandwich shops on my list, it flies completely under the radar. But it’s just as delicious.

My favorite so far is the Pork ’N’ Love, with Porchetta di Ariccia IGP, truffled pecorino cheese, a purée of yellow pumpkin, potato, and ginger, fresh salad, and homemade green sauce, all tucked inside delicious focaccia from Montespertoli.

• Neighborhood: Santa Croce (Historic Center)
• Price: €

MADDY’S TIP: Retrobottega is also a fab spot to grab a to-go negroni before wandering over to Piazza della Signoria for a little people-watching.

All’Antico Vinaio

I couldn’t leave the most famous sandwich shop in Italy (and possibly the world) off this list of the best restaurants in Florence – even if it is overrated.

All’Antico Vinaio always has an hour-long line out the door around mealtimes. But is it worth it? No. It most definitely is not. Don’t get me wrong, their schiacciata sandwiches are good… if you only have to queue for 10 minutes. 

If it’s your first time in Florence and you feel like you can’t miss All’Antico Vinaio, then go before it opens at 10 AM (9:45 AM will do) and line up. 

My personal favorite is La Favalosa, filled with salame toscana, pecorino cream, artichoke cream, and spicy eggplant.

• Neighborhoods: Santa Croce (Historic Center) and San Marco (Historic Center)
• Price: €

MADDY’S NOTE: The San Marco location is right next to the meeting point for the Skip-the-Line David & Accademia Guided Tour (which I highly recommend booking!). This location is less busy than the original in Santa Croce, so it can be a great option before or after seeing David.

Best Lampredotto Sandwich Shops in Florence

Are you brave enough to try lampredotto?

Lampredotto is the fourth and final stomach of a cow, slow-cooked in an aromatic broth, chopped, and stuffed into a crusty bread roll, typically topped with herbaceous salsa verde. A perfect example of Florentine cucina povera.

Da Nerbone

If you’re on a mission to try the best lampredotto in Florence, then Da Nerbone belongs on your list. Located on the ground floor of Mercato Centrale, this is probably Florence’s most iconic food stall, serving locals and market workers since 1872.

Though if that’s not your thing (I get it… me neither), you can order a more approachable version called panino bollito (tender boiled beef, dipped in broth), or even just a panino porchetta. 

• Neighborhood: San Lorenzo (Historic Center)
• Price: €

Tripperia Sergio Pollini

Pollini is one of Florence’s most iconic lampredotto stands, located across from the ancient Sant’Ambrogio church.

These days, it’s become incredibly popular, so you’ll probably spot the line of hungry neighbors and tourists before the aroma of the simmering broth hits your nose.

Everyone’s there for the classic lampredotto sandwich. But you can also order one of the daily specials, which might include Florentine tripe, veal cheek stew with tomato, potato, and peas, or tomato-braised lampredotto with vegetables.

• Neighborhood: Sant’Ambrogio
• Price: €

Best Traditional Food Markets in Florence

If you’re a foodie like me, then I bet one of your favorite things to do is browsing vibrant local food markets. Here are the best traditional markets in Florence!

Mercato Centrale

Even though Florence’s Mercato Centrale has become a little too touristy for my taste over the years, it’s still a must-see on every first-timer’s Florence itinerary.

The market’s two levels offer completely different experiences. Downstairs, you’ll find a traditional Italian market, lined with fresh produce stalls, butchers, cheese shops, and a handful of food counters.

Upstairs is a modern food hall filled with casual eateries, bars, and lots of tourists.

My advice? Spend your time downstairs!

• Neighborhood: San Lorenzo (Historic Center)
• Price: €

Mercato Centrale Tour & Tuscan Cooking Class

I’ve eaten my way through Mercato Centrale many times, but my favorite experience was this Tuscan Farmhouse Cooking Class with a Market Tour.

With our chef guide, we gathered fresh ingredients from a variety of stalls while learning about Tuscan cucina povera (peasant food) culture.

Then, we drove out to a charming Tuscan farmhouse and made bruschetta, Tuscan-style ragù, fresh pappardelle pasta, herby roasted pork, crispy potatoes, and tiramisù, all from scratch. 

If you want to explore Mercato Centrale, cook a fabulous four-course Tuscan feast, and then enjoy it over gorgeous countryside views and Chianti Classico, this is the experience for you.

Book your Tuscan Cooking Class here!

Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio

If you want to experience a vibrant market that still feels like a hidden gem – that still exists just for locals – head to Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio.

Inside, you’ll find produce vendors, butchers, fishmongers, and a handful of old-school food stalls, while outside, a sprawling open-air market spills into Piazza Ghiberti.

• Neighborhood: Sant’Ambrogio
• Price: €

Best Modern, Splurge-Worthy Restaurants in Florence

You don’t need to spend a fortune to eat well in Florence. But if you’re celebrating something special, craving a more refined dining experience, or simply looking for some of the very best restaurants in Florence, these two are worth every euro.

Nugolo

Fresh, modern, and garden-to-table, Nugolo is the antithesis of the Florentine trattoria – in the best way possible. 

Set in the most whimsical greenhouse-like space in the middle of Sant’Ambrogio, Nugolo is more gourmet garden laboratory than formal fine dining. Surrounded by plants and natural design elements, you can see the chefs in the open kitchen plating each dish with serious finesse.

You can choose from a five- or seven-course tasting menu, or go à la carte. The menus change seasonally, guided by their garden of edible flowers, fresh herbs, and 200 varieties of garden tomatoes. But playful plating, surprising techniques, and bold flavors are constants.

Some of the dishes we loved included the 34° egg and beef shank, topped with onion and gorgonzola cheese foam, spring onion, and crispy bread, and the seared octopus with mussels, potatoes, buffalo mozzarella panna cotta, and parsley.

If you spend long enough in Florence, you’re bound to tire of pappardelle al ragù. When you do, come here.

• Neighborhood: Sant’Ambrogio
• Price: €€€
• Reservations: Essential, book online

Il Santo Bevitore

The name alone made me want to go! Il Santo Bevitore (which translates to “The Holy Drinker”) is one of Florence’s most beloved restaurants, opened in 2002.

Located in the heart of Oltrarno, Il Santo Bevitore is unmistakably Florentine. The elegantly rustic dining room – with its dark wooden panels and tables, white linens, and candlelight – has all the buzz of a Florentine trattoria, while the food is deeply rooted in regional, seasonal produce and Tuscan tradition. Just with subtle, modern twists.

You can expect dishes like zucchini and flower flan, with wild greens and zucchini alla scapece cream; wild boar ravioli, pecorino cheese, and smoked broth, and veal filet “Tosco-Rossini” with spinach, Vin Santo sauce, truffle, and veal liver.

Of course, the wine list is a standout too. The hundreds of bottles in their cellar span classic Italian wine regions and natural, artisanal wines.

Every bite here was excellent (sorry, I ate before my camera had a shot), and I can’t wait to go back. 

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €€€
• Reservations: Essential, book online

Best Pizzerias in Florence

I’ll start with an important point: pizza is not Florentine. But that’s fine. Sometimes, when you’re in Italy, you just want to eat pizza, no matter what city you’re in. You’re only human, after all. 

GUSTAPIZZA

GUSTAPIZZA is a Santo Spirito institution serving simple, perfect, wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas. (I’ve devoured many pizzas in Naples and can confidently say GUSTAPIZZA is excellent.)

This pizzeria is incredibly popular – and has been for many years – so expect a queue, especially at dinnertime. Thankfully, the line moves quickly. Personally, I prefer to go at lunchtime, right when they open, to avoid waiting altogether.

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €
• Reservations: Not possible

MADDY’S TIP: Jump in the separate takeout line, grab your pizzas to-go, and head over to Piazza Santo Spirito. On a warm summer night, pizza-eating, beer-drinking, and people-watching on the basilica steps is a Florentine rite of passage.

Pizza & Gelato Cooking Class

The next best pizza in Florence is the one you make yourself!

My husband and I took this Half-Day Pizza and Gelato Class at a Tuscan Farmhouse just outside Florence and had a blast!

We made fourteen different gelato flavors and froze them on the spot with liquid nitrogen – so cool! Then, we rolled out our dough, topped our pizzas, and watched the expert pizzaiolo fire them in a wood-burning oven.

Then came the best part: sitting down to enjoy everything we’d made over bottomless Chianti Classico and sweeping views of olive trees and rolling hills. 

Is this class touristy? For sure. But is it super fun? Absolutely. 

Book your Pizza and Gelato Class at a Tuscan Farmhouse here.

Best Rooftop Bars in Florence

The only thing better than drinking a negroni in Florence (the birthplace of my favorite cocktail) is drinking one overlooking the city. These are the two best rooftop bars in Florence I’d return to again and again.

Cosimo Rooftop Bar

Cosimo Rooftop Bar sits atop The Excelsior, a five-star hotel along the banks of the Arno – and it’s easily the most beautiful bar in Florence’s Historic Center.

Every little detail is spectacular, from the signature cocktails and attentive service to the bold yet elegant decor (just wait until you see the mosaic, terrazzo, and marble details… wow). But the real showstopper is the 360-degree view over Florence’s red rooftops, basilica domes, bell towers, and lush countryside beyond. 

My husband and I snagged a table for pre-dinner sunset drinks and had the loveliest time. Cosimo is on the pricier side, but worth every euro for the views alone.

• Neighborhood: Santa Maria Novella (Historic Center)
• Price: €€€
• Reservations: Bar seating is first come, first served; restaurant reservations are recommended

Loggia Roof Bar

Perched above lively Piazza Santo Spirito, in the lovely Hotel Palazzo Guadagni, you can’t miss Loggia Roof Bar. It was packed during our Saturday night visit; we’d never have gotten a table without booking ahead. Make a reservation just before sunset so you can enjoy a spritz and a few bites at this Oltrarno rooftop bar as the sky turns pink.

I went for Loggia’s festive, ginger-spiked take on an Aperol spritz, while my husband ordered the Oude Florence – an intense cocktail with barrel-aged Florentine whisky, brandy, and aromatic bitters. Both were as good as they sound!

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €€
• Reservations: Essential, especially for sunset

Best Wine Bars in Florence

Whether you’re planning to spend one day in Tuscany wine-tasting or not, there are a few wine bars in Florence you shouldn’t miss.

Wine Tasting Experience in Front of Ponte Vecchio

If you want to learn all about Tuscan wines (and if you don’t have time for the Chianti Wine and Cheese Safari), then this Wine-Tasting Experience near the Ponte Vecchio is the perfect place to start. And in quite the iconic location.

Led by a sommelier, you’ll taste Tuscan wines while learning what makes regions like Chianti and San Gimignano so special. The tasting is relaxed, fun, and ideal if you want to leave Florence with a much appreciation for Tuscan wine. It’s a private experience, too, so you can ask as many questions as you want!

Book your Wine-Tasting Experience in Ponte Vecchio here.

Il Santino

Tiny, trendy, and perpetually buzzing, Il Santino is a must-visit wine bar in Santo Spirito, right next door to its big brother, Il Santo Bevitore. Snagging one of the few seats inside feels like a little victory every time. (If you attempt pre-dinner wines around 7 PM, I wish you luck.)

With such excellent Italian wines by the glass and bottle, plus everything from rustic taglieri (cheese and charcuterie platters) and creative crostini to comforting plates of pappa al pomodoro and polpettine (meatballs), you might just end up staying for dinner.

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €€
• Reservations: Not possible

Babae

Want to order a cocktail from a wine window in Florence?

Babae is one of the most fun spots in Oltrarno for a casual glass of wine or a spritz. Ring the bell, order a drink through the tiny wooden window, and join the lively crowd gathered in the street outside.

The wine list ranges from conventional bottles to organic, spontaneously fermented, and unfiltered wines, alongside classic and signature cocktails.

If you’d rather sip inside, they also serve creative, globally inspired dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients.

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €–€€
• Reservations: Not possible for the window, recommended for brunch or dinner

Enoteca Spontanea

A wine bar like this is my favorite kind of Florentine discovery. Cozy, unpretentious, and perfect for a Santo Spirito aperitivo session.

The focus at Enoteca Spontanea is on small Italian producers and natural wines, and the knowledgeable staff are happy to guide you toward something new – and maybe a little funky.

Also, the food is excellent. If you’re lucky enough to snag a booking by phone (hint: ask your hotel receptionist to do it for you!), plan to stay for dinner.

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €€
• Reservations: Recommended, by phone only

Best Gelaterias in Florence

Did you know that modern gelato was invented in Florence? (Fun fact: its predecessor, granita, was invented near Taormina, Sicily, using snow from atop Mt. Etna!) If you have at least three days in Florence, congratulations – that’s enough time to visit all four of my favorite gelaterias in Florence.

Vivoli

One of Florence’s oldest gelaterias, Vivoli has been serving sweet treats since 1930. While the gelato is exceptional here, Vivoli is particularly famous for their affogato – a scoop of gelato topped with hot espresso – and yes, that’s what everyone in the constant line out the door is ordering.

There are fun options like pistacchio, salted caramel and Baileys, hazelnut, and tiramisù, but I usually just go with original. Simple, decadent, absolutely delicious.

• Neighborhood: Santa Croce (Historic Center)
• Price: €

La Sorbettiera

This small, artisanal gelateria is my new personal favorite in Florence (a find from the Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour of Oltrarno), though they’ve been around since 1934.

La Sorbettiera’s gelato is made with high-quality, seasonal ingredients and served from stainless steel pozzetti (round canisters, covered with lids) – always a good sign! The flavors are creative without being gimmicky, and everything tastes incredibly fresh.

My go-to flavors are dark chocolate and pistacchio, and no gelateria does those two better than La Sorbettiera!

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito and San Frediano (Oltrarno), Santa Maria Novella (Historic Center)
• Price: €

Sbrino

Sbrino is all about pure flavors from nature, seasonal ingredients, and creative flavor combinations, alongside some classics, too. Since opening in 2018, they’ve become wildly popular and now have four locations across Oltrarno.

Some of my favorite flavors have been speculoos, zabaione al marsala, banana shake, and ricotta with walnuts and blackberries. 

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito, San Frediano, San Niccolò (Oltrarno)
• Price: €

Gelateria Della Passera

I saved the best for last! Tucked away in a quiet little piazza in Santo Spirito, Gelateria Della Passera is a tiny, no-frills shop known for its outstanding artisanal gelato and rotating seasonal flavors.

It’s so good that Gelateria Della Passera is the only gelateria in Florence to hold Gambero Rosso’s prestigious Tre Coni (Three Cones) award.

• Neighborhood: Santo Spirito (Oltrarno)
• Price: €

MADDY’S TIP: If you want to find the very best gelaterias across Italy, check out Gambero Rosso’s guide, Le Migliori Gelaterie d’Italia. All of the ones I’ve tried have been in a completely different league of flavors, creativity, and textures!

Best Specialty Cafés in Florence

In Florence, you can find great typical Italian coffee shops (called bars in Italian) on almost every block, where you can enjoy an espresso and a cornetto at the counter (al banco). My picks cover Florence’s best specialty cafés only, since they’re still few and far between!

Ditta Artigianale

Since opening in 2014, Ditta Artigianale has been serving expertly made barista coffee in a stylish, modern space on Via Neri. Today, they’ve expanded to six locations around Florence – meaning a perfectly made oat milk flat white and a proper pain au chocolat are never far away.

• Location: Six cafés throughout Florence

Coffee Mantra

I never skip an opportunity for an oat milk flat white at this tiny little café in Sant’Ambrogio that’s always filled with locals. It’s simply perfect – and I have nothing more to add!

• Location: Sant’Ambrogio

Rooster Cafe

In general, Italians don’t eat breakfast beyond an espresso and a pastry. If you can’t survive without full-on breakfast or brunch, Rooster Cafe is your place.

They serve up modern American-style brunch dishes made with organic Italian ingredients, alongside barista coffees, fresh juices, and cocktails. From blueberry pancakes, avocado toast, and eggs benny, to bagels and breakfast burritos, they have it all.

• Locations: Two cafés in the Historic Center and one in San Lorenzo

Final Thoughts on Where to Eat in Florence

If you’re only in Florence for a few days, prioritize Cibrèo Trattoria, Del Fagioli, the Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour of Oltrarno, and at least one schiacciata sandwich. Between those experiences, you’ll get a fantastic introduction to Florentine food culture – and you’ll have experienced a good chunk of the best restaurants in Florence.

Then keep eating your way across Italy. Next up, discover where to eat in Rome, the best Bologna food factories to visit, and the best things to do in Siena (including trying more Tuscan food!). Both destinations are foodie heaven in their own right.

FAQs About Where to Eat in Florence, Italy