Florence’s food culture is on par with its art culture! I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite Florence restaurants for your next trip.
Everything here is my own opinion and I received no compensation for this post. It also contains affiliate links. If you have any questions about this, just click here! All content copyright Teaspoon of Nose 2012-2024.
Florence is a foodie city. Everywhere you turn there are amazing spots to eat! From Florentine steaks and truffle pasta to pizza and wine, there’s so much to try. So today, I’m sharing my favorite Florence restaurants.
When planning your time in Florence, remember that it’s an expensive city. The food is typically pricier than you’ll find in most other Italian cities. A Florentine steak is expensive, no matter where you order it. That being said, there are plenty of cheap eats that taste amazing in the city too! So I’ve included a little of everything here.
I share these restaurant guides for many cities, and I only include the truly great meals. In fact, if I only think one or two spots were truly memorable, those are the only two I’ll share. So I promise that I really liked each and every place I share!
Trattoria del 13 Gobbi
Trattoria del 13 Gobbi is probably my favorite restaurant in Florence! The menu is extensive but everything we tried was excellent, and the wait staff is both friendly and knowledgeable. We’ve been a few times and have yet to find a pasta dish we didn’t love!
We had one of my favorite Italian dishes, paradelle sulla cinghale, or pasta with a boar meat sauce. It’s hearty and delicious, and I have yet to taste anything quite like it in the US. They also list their “famous” rigatoni, and my husband said it may be the best pasta dish he’s tasted in Italy. It’s legit. We also had a couple cuts of steak – Florentine and one other – and both were excellent! I love doing family style at this type of place because you get to try so much more of the menu.
Trattoria Sostanza
If you order a Florentine steak at one restaurant, order it at Trattoria Sostanza! Trust me. They opened in the 1860’s and serving up amazing steaks ever since.
This is one of those places that feels like the real deal as soon as you walk in the door. The walls are simple white tile with old photos, letters, and receipts. It’s a small place, making it easy to peep into the kitchen and watch the chef butcher steaks to order. Their menu is small but excellent, and they’re quick to explain anything that may be unfamiliar!
This place books up fast, so call ahead and make a reservation. They’re also cash only, so bring euros!
Trattoria Cammillo
Rounding out my three favorite Florence restaurants is Trattoria Cammillo. It sits just across the river and has that classic old-school trattoria feel. The menu is packed and includes daily specials (both food and wine) printed across the top of the menu, but with way more options than most restaurants in Italy.
I really love all their pasta dishes. Their “house pasta” is a cream sauce with peas and pancetta and it’s amazing. The lamb ragu was another winner that I couldn’t get enough of! For a secondo (meat course), I’ve ordered their veal marsala several times and their lamb chops were also delicious.
Trattoria Anita
If you want incredibly good home-cooked food, head to Trattoria Anita. It’s the type of place that feels like the food came out of someone’s home in all the best ways! It’s also only a block away from the Palazzo Vecchio*, meaning it’s an easy post-museum break spot.
Ask the waiter what to order. The menu shifts seasonally, so anything with local specialties is always a treat. They have a great boar dish, and their tagliatelle alla Fiorentina was fabulous! Of all my favorite Florentine restaurants, Trattoria Anita feels the most homestyle in the best possible way.
Osteria Pepo
Osteria Pepo is on the north side of town, so it’s great if you need a meal when you’re in the neighborhood of the Galleria dell’Accademia. It’s a small space with a good wine list and great daily specials. I also like the way they balance the seasonality of food: when I went in September, they still had prosciutto e melone on the menu (a summer staple) but had begun offering pappardelle al cinghiale, which you can find year-round in Tuscany but is more of a cool-weather dish. On a warm but rainy day, they were both fantastic!
La Burrasca
If you want to mix it up a bit, head to Trattoria La Burrasca! It’s a classic no-frills trattoria that mixes up their Florentine classics with Sicilian specialties. After our trip to Sicily this summer, I’m in love with Sicilian food, so this was a welcome treat! They also have great prices, which is always appreciated in a city as expensive as Florence. I had a pasta dish with guancia (pork cheek), cheese, and pepper that reminded me a lot of carbonara with a Sicilian twist. It’s one of those Florence restaurants you’ll talk about afterward, I promise.
Rooster Cafe
If you’re an American on a long-term trip or living in Europe, you probably crave brunch at times, and let’s be honest, Italians just don’t embrace it. But Rooster Cafe nails it! This place has amazing food. Great American-style pancakes, chicken and waffles, eggs benedict, and full English breakfast. They’ve also got a ton of bagel, and smoothie bowl options, and for those who don’t love breakfast foods, a full lunch menu. We miiight have ordered 7 entrees for four people. No regrets – everything was delicious!
I have two diverging opinions about this place. It’s a great breakfast spot and the food is excellent. It was my first American-style brunch since moving to Europe, and I loved every minute – and every bite. That being said, if you’re an American on a weeklong vacation in Florence, please don’t go here. Rooster Cafe gets crowded fast, so weekends mean long lines. Better to eat a quicker Italian-style breakfast of cappuccino and pastry and get on to exploring than wait in line for an American-style breakfast.
Buca dell’Orafo
Buca dell’Orafo sits tucked away on the edge of the Arno. The space feels like a traditional Italian spot – unassuming in decor and full of locals. It’s a small place, so definitely make a reservation beforehand. I went with a group and we shared everything, and there wasn’t a bad option on the table! My favorite might have been the steak, but closely followed by the magliati sugo e pecorino, a pasta dish with meat sauce and plenty of cheese.
Coquinarius
Coquinarius has two locations, with decidedly different experiences. They’re known for their out-of-town Fiesole location overlooking the Tuscan hillside, perfect for a long lingering dinner. Their Florence restaurant is just around the block from the Duomo and features tons of outdoor street seating that’s perfect for people watching.
We went to the in-town location and loved it! The food was a mix of traditional Tuscan dishes with inventive twists. The surprise favorite of the night was ravioli stuffed with soft cheese and pear! Surprising, but so addicting. Both Logan and I couldn’t get enough!
Gustarium
The cheaper pizzeria spots in the most tourist choked parts of town are always a risk – some are delicious and some barely rate as mediocre. But Gustarium is that perfect balance of delicious, inexpensive, and close by! It’s a great option when you’re with a group bordering on (or well into) the hangry stage.
You choose a square of pizza out of the 8-10 rotating options, so naturally, our group chose four and shared. Every single one was delicious! My favorite had fig and prosciutto, so don’t be afraid to branch out beyond simple diavola (pepperoni). And it was plenty of food to keep four people fueled all afternoon.
Mercato Centrale
Another good group option is the Mercato Centrale. Not quite one of your traditional Florence restaurants, it’s more of an upscale food hall packed with different high-quality options. You can each order from whatever stall appeals, and then get bar service at whatever bench table you grab! There’s a great seafood stall, as well as a wine bar with elegant crostini if you’re feeling something lighter. Another popular choice is the truffle stall, where you can even buy one to take home if you’ve got the money! There is a shop with goodies for sale, but its hours are a bit unpredictable since the pandemic.
These are my favorite Florence restaurants, but we all know that the main meals are only half the fun when traveling. Check back next week for my favorite Florence bars and gelato shops!
Want more Florence tips? I’ve got everything you need on my Florence page!
