This guide includes the best food in Florence, including specialties, restaurant recommendations from locals, tips for good cuisine, and where to eat on a budget.
At the end of the article, we’ll share tips for an aperitif with the best view and a historic bar highlight you can only find in Florence.
Best Food In Florence: Our Personal Favorites
Before we give you the best insider tips from locals and what you absolutely must try, here are our highlights:
- Traditional Florentine bread soup at Trattoria Tito
- Pizza Bufalino at Borgo Antico
- Tuscan cooking class
Traditional Food In Florence And Tuscany
You’re in a treat if you want to try traditional Tuscan and Florentine food. Florence is the perfect place to indulge in tasty Italian food.
Street Food Sandwich at Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916
Especially if you have limited time in the city and are visiting Florence in one day or Florence in 2 days, you can try this street food option during your self-guided walking tour.
Here, you can get the famous take-away sandwiches.
The sandwiches are freshly prepared near Piazza del Signoria in Florence’s old town. The specialty is pork ham, and there are different variations with various sauces.
📍Location: Via Porta Rossa 27/29
Coccoli and Supplì
Coccoli are fried balls, usually filled with cream cheese, mozzarella, and ham.
There are also Supplì. We found these fried rice croquettes, also available in Rome and Naples, to be bland in taste.
📍We had them at Mercato Centrale.
Tripe and Lampredotto
While it may be an unappetizing sight for some, adventurous eaters seem to enjoy.
It’s a part of the cow’s stomach (4th stomach), intestines, or tripe in sauce. We saw this dish at the Mercato Centrale.
📍Mercato Centrale
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a typical Florentine steak, you’ll find in most restaurants.
Ribollita
Ribollita is a traditional Florentine soup made with stale bread, white beans, and vegetables, including onions, carrots, black cabbage, and celery. I tried a variation at Trattoria Tito, and I loved the rich, warming soup.
⭐️ Overwhelmed by planning your trip to Italy? Check out our Italy Travel Planning Checklist.
Eating on a Budget in Florence
Eating well on a budget in Florence? It’s possible, even in Florence’s old town. We got the first tip from a local:
1. Restaurant Yellow Bar
The Yellow Bar offers an affordable lunch menu that meets Florence standards. You can eat pasta or pizza here.
Reviews and location
2. Market Hall Mercato Centrale
At Mercato Centrale you can have a good breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
On the first floor of the market hall, there are seating areas, and you can try freshly prepared dishes at various stands.
Spending time at Mercato Centrale is a great option if you experience Florence in the rain.
Reviews and location
⭐️ Pro Travel Tip: Don’t want to get ripped off? When ordering at an ice cream parlor or a stand, make sure you find written prices. If not, locals advise against it. Because then the sellers can charge prices as they please.
Restaurant Tips from Locals
1. Trattoria Tito
This tip comes from a local. We stayed in his accommodation, the 3B Bed&Breakfast, right next to this restaurant tip.
Reviews and location
2. Il Vegetariano
Small restaurant with daily changing vegetarian dishes.
Reviews and location
3. Trattoria Zá Zá
Small trattoria next to the Mercato Centrale. They offer dishes focusing on truffles, as well as other Italian dishes.
Reviews and location
4. Simbiosi Organic Pasta
Small restaurant with an open show kitchen and dishes made with organic products.
Reviews and location
⭐️ ☕️Travel Tip: Do you drink coffee? Before you order a caffè, here's how to order coffee in Italy the right way (and absolute no-go's that scream "Tourist")
Conclusion on the Florence Food Specialties
Florence offers a variety of culinary highlights. You can find traditional dishes and interpretations of Tuscan cuisine.
Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly restaurants, street food or a special experience, Florence offers something suitable for every taste and budget.
Here are a few additional tips for bars and aperitifs:
• Best rooftop bar in Florence: For a breathtaking view of Florence’s Duomo, we recommend the rooftop bar on Via de Medici at Hotel Medici. It’s one of the recommended hidden gems in Florence.
• Order wine at the wine window: A special experience is the “buchette del vino” (wine window). These small windows on some facades were formerly used for selling drinks. Today, you can still order wine “to go” at some places. It’s a unique experience!
• Aperitif at Piazza Santo Spirito: Enjoy an aperitif at Piazza Santo Spirito. You’ll have a beautiful view of the Santo Spirito church. You can watch the lively hustle and bustle from one of the outdoor terraces.
With these tips, your vacation in Florence will hopefully be an unforgettable experience.
Plan your Florence trip with our Florence travel guide.
Enjoy your stay even more with one of our favorite day trips from Florence to Tuscany.
Want to see more of Tuscany? Don’t miss out on the best small towns in Tuscany and the best cities to visit near Florence
Not sure how many days in Florence you should add to your itinerary? We help you decide based on your interests and share the best itineraries like 2 days in Florence, or Florence in 3 days with you.
What to do in Florence in the rain
What do you think? Is Florence worth visiting?
