In tourist-packed cities like Florence, Rome, and Venice, it’s not always easy to find authentic eateries. Often, busy visiting as many landmarks as we can, we don’t really have the time to look for the places where locals go. Here we compiled a list of what we think are the best restaurants in Florence for first-time visitors.
Just because you are planning your first trip to Florence and just because you are a tourist, it doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste and quality. We ended up in a low-quality restaurant ourselves once, by the river for an untasty, lame pizza.
This is why we decided to write this guide to the eateries we enjoyed and recommend in the city center or not too far away. Whether you are joining a Florence tour or traveling independently, here are some great places to have your lunch and dinner.
Top Florence restaurants you shouldn’t miss on your first trip
Trattoria Sergio Gozzi
This is the place to go for authentic local cuisine in Florence. Plus, it’s in the very city center right next to Basilica San Lorenzo. Perfect if you are wondering where to eat in Florence for lunch while sightseeing. A fantastic place to start sampling traditional delicacies.
One of the most famous dishes in Florence is the bistecca alla Fiorentina (T-bone Florentine steak), a big steak (from 1 to 1.2 kg) strictly from a Tuscan breed of cattle, the Chianina. And Trattoria Gozzi is known as one of the best. Prices for the Fiorentina steak are anywhere from 40-80 € per kg, and at Trattoria Gozzi is 40 €.
Apart from this, here you will find also other dishes from the tradition, such as the famous pici thick spaghetti, lampredotto with potatoes, and ribollita soup.
- When: Only lunch Monday-Saturday 12-3.45 pm. Closed on Sunday.
- Note: Walk in and reserve a place, otherwise, you may not be able to grab a table and have to queue. The Fiorentina steak is cooked rare, if you wish medium/well-done, you can ask them to place it a couple more minutes on the BBQ.
- Google map address: Piazza di San Lorenzo 8R, 50123 Firenze.
- Phone: +39 055 281941
Mercato Centrale
If you are in Florence for the first time, try at least once the food at the Mercato Centrale (Central Market), often included in the local food tours of Florence.
Not only it’s one of the places to visit, but you can find truly delicious food from different Italian regions. From pizza to cannoli and arancini, vegetarian and vegan options, a huge variety of pasta dishes and obviously the Fiorentina steak.
It’s always pretty packed, so if you are tired why not take your favorite dishes or fresh produce and enjoy it at your hotel? The ground floor of the Mercato offers all sorts of fresh fruits and veggies while the two upper floors are crammed with restaurants, cafes and pastry shops.
- When: 365 days a year, 8 am-0.01 am.
- Google map address: Piazza del Mercato Centrale, Via dell’Ariento, 50123 Firenze.
Trattoria La Casalinga
This is a famous restaurant in the Santo Spirito neighborhood, very close to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens.
Their menu includes a large selection of starters and specialties like the Florentine steak, the ribollita veggie soup, dumplings with butter and sage, and salted cod Livorno-style.
Among the first courses, you will have also pappardelle pasta in a wild boar sauce and dumplings in tomato sauce. The big choice of second courses includes all types of meat cooked in the most different ways, grilled, stewed, roasted, with herbs.
The menu includes also salads, side dishes, a selection of cheese and desserts.
- When: Monday-Saturday 12-2.30 pm and 7-10 pm. Sunday closed.
- Google map address: Via Dei Michelozzi 9/R, 50125 Firenze.
Trattoria Katti
This was a very pleasant discovery in the city center and you can eat here even if you are on a single day trip from Rome to Florence. Located close to Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, their menu is pretty wide and diverse.
You will find many dishes from the local tradition such as the Ribollita and several others like the famous “pappa al pomodoro” tomato soup. I had the farro soup with veggies and it was absolutely delicious, a warm treat on a freezing night.
Among their other dishes are the unmissable Florentine steak, pasta dishes with veggies or meat sauce, lasagna, salads, side dishes as well as main courses such as chicken, sausages, cross-cut veal shank, or fish.
Prices are very affordable, with pasta dishes around 5-7 euros, fish around 10 euros and meat courses from 8 to 15 euros.
- When: Daily 12-10.30 pm.
- Google map address: Via Faenza 31, 50123, Firenze.
- Phone: +39 055 295 274;
- Website.
Giotto Pizzeria Bistro
If you feel like having pizza, head slightly away from the very city center and grab a table at the excellent Giotto Pizzeria Bistrot. This is arguably the best pizza in Florence Naples style. One of their creations, “Est e Ovest” was even awarded 1 Michelin star.
It’s well-known and always very crowded with locals. So if you are going during the weekend booking is highly recommended.
They have a large selection of pizza for every palate, one with the dough made with turmeric, and toppings are always high-quality and many seasonal and local. Prices are average so you won’t break the bank.
Due to their huge (and well-deserved) success, they have opened a second pizza place in the convenient area around Santa Maria Novella Basilica. So if you don’t want to stray far from the city center, you now have an easy option for a top-notch pizza!
- When: Wednesday-Friday and Monday only dinner from 19:00-21:00. Saturday-Sunday lunch from 12:00-14:00, dinner from 19:00-21:00. Closed on Tuesday.
- Note: Strongly recommended to reserve a place or you might need to queue for a bit.
- Google map address: Via Francesco Veracini 22/d, 50144 Firenze. To get there take the bus 17 and get off at the station Toselli Veracini (Stop ID: 2916), then walk back a few meters and turn left on Via Francesco Veracini, walk 100 meters and you will see the restaurant. The second restaurant near Santa Maria Novella Basilica is in Via Panzani 57.
- Phone: +39 055 332332;
- Website.
Antica Trattoria Da Tito
Traditional food and traditional ambiance. At Tito’s, you will have a delicious meal in simple decor and a yesteryear atmosphere. If you are looking for great Florence restaurants on your first trip, Da Tito is a safe bet.
On the menu, you will find a rich and mouthwatering selection of starters such as fried polenta with ragout sauce and mushrooms, artichokes with Grana cheese, and bruschetta.
Among the first courses, there are the traditional soups and pici pasta as well as tagliatelle with black cabbage and pine nuts pesto, or chili seafood rice.
The main courses, alongside the traditional ones, include also tripe Florentine-style, meatballs in a tomato sauce, wild boar stew, and veal shank with peas.
- When: Monday-Saturday 12-3 pm and 7-11 pm. Sunday closed.
- Google map address: Via San Gallo 112/r, 50129 Firenze.
- Phone: +39 055 472 475;
- Website.
Burro & Acciughe
Here also the seafood is delicious, so at least once do try some fish restaurant. A lovely and not too expensive place is Burro & Acciughe located in Via dell’Orto.
They serve exquisite first courses of pasta and rice and second courses such as fried anchovies with sage or tuna steak with green pepper-flavored olive oil, rosemary and baked potatoes.
It’s located some 10 minutes walk from Ponte alla Carraia bridge. In this area, you can find also other nice and less “touristy” places than those right along the river.
- When: Tuesday-Thursday only dinner, 7.30 pm-12 am. Friday-Sunday lunch 12-2 pm, dinner 7.30 pm-12 am. Closed on Monday
- Where: Via dell’Orto 35, 50124 Firenze
- Phone: +39 055 045 7286
- Website.
Trattoria Dall’Oste
This is very famous for one of the best Florentine steaks so definitely one of the best restaurants in Florence for first-timers also because the menu includes also other traditional local dishes.
I didn’t order bistecca alla fiorentina for myself but my husband did and really enjoyed it. When they serve the steak, they also bring a heater close to the table, so if it’s not cooked enough, you can place it back on the portable BBQ and cook it a bit more to your liking.
I ordered a plate of truffle ravioli dumplings for myself and ribollita soup for my son, all perfectly prepared and enjoyed. This nice restaurant is quite spacious and in the very city center so easy to reach from most landmarks. Definitely, somewhere we will go again.
- When: Every day 12-10.30 pm.
- Where: Via de’ Cerchi 40R
- Phone: +39 055 213142
- Website.
Caffè Sabatino
This is not a restaurant but it was such a pleasant surprise that I just needed to mention and recommend it. We ended up in this cozy coffee shop on a cold December night. We were freezing and we ordered warm tea.
Both my husband and I are pretty tea-addicted and we totally fell in love with the tea they serve here. High-quality and well-balanced flavors, it really made us feel better for the rest of the evening.
The cafe serves also different types of coffee, cappuccino, and all the other drinks, plus light meals like sandwiches and a good selection of pasta dishes and salads. They also prepare a hearty breakfast with pastries, eggs or sandwiches depending if you like it sweet or savory and a beverage like orange juice and coffee or cappuccino.
It’s perfect for a light lunch during your sightseeing in Florence.
- When: Monday-Friday 6 am-9 pm, Saturday until 2.15 pm, Sunday closed.
- Google map address: Via Faenza 68R, Firenze.
READ MORE: Plan a perfect 2-week Italy itinerary
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