Where to eat in Florence? — 13+ top restaurants & best places to eat in Florence

Downtown Florence is home to numerous authentic Italian restaurants. Where is a great place to eat good food at an affordable price? With the huge number of tourists coming to Florence, finding the right local restaurant is not easy. During my trip to Florence for three days, I went to some restaurants which I’d searched online and through the recommendation of a few local friends. And now I’m going to write a brief review on them. So, where to eat in Florence? Let’s check out our suggested 13+ top restaurants in Florence and top places to eat in Florence including best restaurants in Florence Italy (Florence best restaurants), best local restaurants in Florence, good places to eat in Florence, good restaurants in Florence Italy to help you find delicacies in the cradle of the Renaissance!

Best places to eat in Florence: Trattoria dall’Oste Chianineria

I selected this restaurant because of the big number of reviews online in which most people praised this place. This is a famous steakhouse chain, which has four establishments in Florence. I wanted to have steak that day so I decided to come here and try. The restaurant was crowded that night and there was no room for reservations. Fortunately, my family got a table after waiting for a while.

The first impression is that the restaurant is very sanitary, the staff is polite and it has quite a lot of foreign guests. The menu mainly offers a rich variety of meats, featuring traditional Tuscan dishes. Pasta and meat here are a bit more expensive than average. At this place, the ordinary steak (Scottona) is €59/kg while the Chianina is €86/kg.

Curious to try Chianina, my family ordered this type. Though the meat tastes delicious, I still got uncomfortable chewing it because of the tendons so the steak is not as soft as expected. Compared to the price, I find it rather expensive since I was not completely satisfied.

Address: Via dei Cerchi, 40/R, 50122 Firenze FI
Hours: 12 – 10:30 PM
Price: €€€
Satisfaction: ***

Best restaurants in Florence Italy: Perseus

Since we didn’t feel delighted with the steak at Oste, we went on to try Perseus the next day. This is also a popular traditional steakhouse, but it’s a little far away from downtown.
The interior of the restaurant is well decorated with ethnic characteristics. The menu is also lavish, from meat to traditional dishes. Prices are also in the average range. The steak here costs €50/kg.

However, the service is rather slow and the staff is not very considerate. I ordered pasta for my kid and reminded them to serve it as soon as possible, but the waiter just answered half-heartedly “will serve when it’s ready”. At the time, I was a bit annoyed but when we try the steak, it was totally worth the wait. The juicy, savory and soft meat melted in my mouth as expected. It was totally a pleasant dining experience.

Address: Viale Don Giovanni Minzoni, 10/R, 50129 Firenze FI
Hours: 12 – 2:30 PM, 7 – 11 PM/Sunday: Closed
Price: €€
Satisfaction: ****

Florence best restaurants: Da Nerbone (Mercato centrale)

The Da Nerbone is located in the bustling Central Market of the San Lorenzo area. This restaurant has a long history, offering typical Florence dishes. The price is super affordable for a full portion and extraordinary quality. It follows our criteria of tasty and budget-friendly traditional food, so I vote 5 stars for this place.

We ordered a plate of ragù pasta, a plate of peposo, a lampredotto with garlic sauce and salad, and beer. We were all full and only paid nearly €30 for everything. The lampredotto here is flavorful while the Peposo tastes really smooth and smells good with the aroma of multiple spices.

I highly encourage you to visit this restaurant and the central market in general for dining because there are many traditional eateries from meat to seafood, poke, coffee shops, and so on, as well as food markets.

Address: Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123 Firenze FI
Hours: 8 AM – 3 PM/Wednesday: 8:20 AM – 3 PM/Sunday: Closed
Price: €
Satisfaction: *****

Top restaurants in Florence: Tripperia Pollini Lampredotto

This food stall specializes in lampredotto sandwiches in the area of Sant’Ambrogio. Since it serves fast food, the menu is very simple with only about 2-3 dishes rotating every day. That day, I opted for a simple lampredotto sandwich, with a little green sauce (oil, vinegar, and parsley) and spicy oil. It was really inexpensive, only about €4. The meat is soft and greasy, blending with the oil, parsley, and spices to make the dish very appealing.

However, maybe I had eaten something else before so it turned out to be a bit too much for me. Compared to lampredotto in Da Nerbone, I think Da Nerbone gives a more intense experience. If you want to come here, remember to arrive before 4 PM. The first day we got here at 4:30 PM, the place was already closed.

Address: Via dei Macci, 126, 50122 Firenze FI
Hours: 9:30 AM – 4 PM/Sunday: Closed
Price: €
Satisfaction: ***

Where to eat in Florence: Le Mossacce

The last night before leaving Florence, my family visited this diner on the recommendation of a local. The diner pursues a traditional style, quite cozy, and the menu is changing by the day. The atmosphere here is very warm and friendly, making it feel like eating at home.
The price is also affordable, and the quality of the food is decent. If you want to find a diner near the Duomo area, you can consider this place.

Address: Via del Proconsolo, 55/R, 50122 Firenze FI
Hours: 12 – 2:30 PM, 7 – 9:30 PM/Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Price: €
Satisfaction: ****

Best local restaurants in Florence: Nobile Bistro

This little pub has almost no space inside. But during the warmer months, there are plenty of tables outside at the charming Madonna Di Degli Aldobrandini square to sit and enjoy the sunshine. The pub serves mainly panini, one of the locals’ favorite dishes. They usually have it for lunch or afternoon snacks. Each ingredient used to make the panini is fresh and of excellent quality (even the bread is freshly baked).

Address: Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 13, 50123 Firenze FI
Hours: 8:30 AM – 12 AM
Price: €
Satisfaction: ****

Top places to eat in Florence: Fuoco Matto

Fuoco Matto is a very lovely restaurant located just a few minutes walk from the city center. It serves excellent Italian and perfectly prepared Tuscan dishes. The simple decoration will definitely make you feel comfortable. The highlight of the restaurant is of course the food. Whether you’re here for a great appetizer with ham, cherry tomato, and mozzarella or Fiorentina steak (named after the city), you won’t be disappointed.

For dessert, you must definitely try the tiramisu of this restaurant. This dessert is basically the best you will ever have. Another plus is that the staff of the restaurant is very friendly and hospitable, often offering free drinks such as prosecco to guests.

Address: Via Ventisette Aprile, 16, 50129 Firenze FI
Hours: 12 – 2:30 PM, 7 – 11:30 PM/Saturday and Sunday: 7 – 11:30 PM
Price: €€
Satisfaction: *****

Best places to eat in Florence: 50 Sfumature di Gusto

This restaurant is located near Buonarotti House and the beautiful Basilica di Santa Croce. Simple and elegant furniture besides the great food are the things that make the art here. They serve everything Italian, from pizza to pasta, as well as vegetable croquettes for baking tartare. Try their calzone pizza and the unique recipe of pasta with zucchini flowers, garlic, and goat cream. Obviously, as you enjoy the food here, you will also acknowledge it as one of the best restaurants in Florence as I did.

Address: Via Ghibellina, 51/red, 50122 Firenze FI
Hours: 7 PM – 12 AM
Price: €€
Satisfaction: ****

Nedo L’Officina Dei Golosi

This place is situated near the city center, on the banks of the Arno River. The small eatery provides a wide range of traditional Tuscan dishes along with some more modern dishes. The owners of this place are brothers. They and the entire staff are very welcoming and fluent in English, making it easy for them to communicate with international visitors. Try a large tortelloni, beef tartare, or a large plate of amazing cheese, ham, and grilled vegetables when you come here.

Address: Piazza Paolo Uccello, 12, 50142 Florence FI
Hours: 12 – 2:30 PM, 7:30 – 11 PM/Saturday: 7:30 – 11 PM/Sunday: Closed
Price: €€
Satisfaction: ****

La Buchetta Café

Set in downtown, the cafe is very tiny and lovely. It is always crowded here, with locals coming to enjoy food in a romantic atmosphere. Some favorites include gnocchi, ravioli, prosciutto e melone (ham and watermelon), and scrumptious pana cotta. The wine list isn’t overwhelming but perfectly chosen to go along with each meal. Plus, the owners and staff with excellent spoken English are truly helpful to foreign visitors.

Address: Piazza Paolo Uccello, 12, 50142 Florence FI
Hours: 12 – 11 PM/Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: 12 – 3 PM, 7 – 11 PM
Price: €€
Satisfaction: ****

Mangia Pizza Firenze

This small restaurant specializes in Ciabatta Fiorentina, which is a Tuscan version of pizza. It differs from traditional pizza in which instead of the usual batter for making the pizza base, ciabatta pizza uses square bagels with tomato paste and other ingredients added. The restaurant is quite compact and doesn’t offer any other dishes. But a great slice of pizza, thin and crispy with fresh ingredients and a glass of wine is all you really need, right?

Address: Via Lambertesca, 24/26/R, 50122 Florence FI
Hours: 11 AM – 7 PM
Price: €
Satisfaction: *****

Vini e Vecchi Sapori

I also want to introduce you to another lovely tiny restaurant, which is Vini e Vecchi Sapori. A favorite place for locals, this restaurant is a bustling hangout location near Palazzo Vecchio in the heart of the city. The atmosphere here is cozy and visitors will feel right at home. A variety of drinks are also served here. If you want to try some wine, don’t hesitate to choose any of them because they are all really wonderful.

Address: Via dei Magazzini, 3/r, 50122 Florence FI
Hours: 12:27 – 2:27 PM, 7:27 – 10:27 PM/Saturday: 12:27 – 2:27 PM, 7:32 – 10:27 PM/Sunday: Closed
Price: €€
Satisfaction: *****

Conclusion

On this trip, my family intended to pay a visit to Trattoria Mario, but the restaurant was only available at 12 PM or around 2 PM so we didn’t have time to stop by. According to a Florentine friend I spoke to, this place is also a famous traditional diner so you can add it to your travel list.

This post is written entirely based on my personal feelings and tastes, hence it may be different from your own experience. Hopefully, it will somewhat help you find your favorite local restaurants during your trip to Florence!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Florence you can refer to

• Duomo Monumental Complex Direct Access Ticket in Florence with Guided Visit
• Florence Duomo, Baptistery, and Museum Tour
• Small Guided Tour with Fast Track Entry to Duomo and the Secret Terraces
• Florence Duomo Skip-the-Line Tour with Balcony & Dome Access
• Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour with Fast Track Entry
• Accademia Gallery Skip-the-Line Ticket in Florence
• Val d’Orcia Tour from Florence
• Pisa Half Day Tour from Florence
• Florence Bike Tour with Food Tasting Experience
• Florence City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour (Open Top) and Leonardo da Vinci Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket
• Tuscany Day Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting from Florence
• Rome to Florence Day Tour
• Chianti Afternoon Tour from Florence
• Excursion to Pisa through the Tuscan Countryside from Florence
• Florence Dome Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket + Free Souvenir Old Polaroid Photo
• Florence Accademia Gallery Skip-the-Line Ticket with Tour

Are you looking for more top things to do in Florence: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here. And Italy guide here.