Food To Try In Florence, Italy

food to try in florence italy
Malavika
Malavika 
Updated
| 7 min read

The iconic romantic city of Florence is not just the birthplace of the Renaissance but also the capital of Tuscany and the best place to feast on Tuscan cuisine. Under the Tuscan sun, the Italian concept of cucina povera (‘poor cooking’) is applicable when it comes to food. The food is all about simple cooking involving high-quality, fresh ingredients for whipping up large meals. This concept continues to this day, not by the economy but by choice instead, with many Tuscan dishes having been invented based on the 'waste not’ philosophy. Tuscany’s rolling greens are also excellent sources for locally-grown produce, aptly termed 'nostrale’ (ours). So, when you head to the famed capital, what should you dig into? Read on to know all about what kinds of food to try in Florence.

1. Pane Toscano

pane toscano
Source: Photo by user fugzu used under CC BY 2.0

Pane Toscano is a traditional saltless (‘sciocco’) Tuscan bread with very interesting origins. When disputes arose between the Pisans and the Florentines in the 12th century, Pisans blocked the ports to spite the Florentines and kept salt from reaching them. The middle-class had to make do without the expensive salt, and Pane Toscano was born. Today, Pane Toscano is important in Tuscany and accompanies almost every Florentine meal - as an appetizer, to thicken soups, or as a base for other dishes like Bruschetta and Crostini. It is recognized under the European Union’s 'protected designation of origin’ trademark as well.

Where to eat: Pane e Toscana

Address: Borgo degli Albizi, 31, 50122, Florence

Average Price (2 PAX): 2-6 USD

Timings: Monday 11am - 8pm, Tuesday-Thursday 11am - 7pm, Friday-Saturday 11am - 11pm, Sunday closed

Website: Pane & Toscana

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2. Crostini neri

Castel del Piano-Crostini toscani
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user [Unknown] used under CC BY-SA 2.5

Typically kicking off a Tuscan Christmas dinner, crostini neri (‘black crostini’) is a traditional antipasto of chicken livers, herbs, capers, and anchovy paste (brownish-black in colour) on crisp bread. Crostini’s origins date back to when people, instead of using a plate, took food directly off trays at dinner tables and placed it on bread to eat it; a tradition which continued till the 17th century. The bread piece soaked in meat pieces, sauces, and oils, become extremely flavourful. Since then, crostini has been an important part of a Tuscan meal, with every home and restaurant in Florence having their own version.

Where to eat: All’Antico Vinaio

Address: Via dei Neri, 76R, 50122, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 8-15 USD

Timings: All days 10:30am - 11pm

Website: All’Antico Vinaio

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3. Gelato

Gelato
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user user:Solitude used under CC BY 1.0

This intense, rich, and wildly popular cousin of ice-cream hails from Florence and has a base of sugar and milk. Gelato has more flavouring, less air, and less fat, thus lending it a richness and density very different from other ice-creams. In Italy, fragola (strawberry) and limone (lemon) are very popular flavours. In the better gelaterias, gelato is served in flat metal tins with lids. It has a natural, muted colour and isn’t shiny, it features seasonal flavours, and is prepared using flat, metal ‘spades’. Look for signs such as artiginale (handcrafted), produzione propia (own production), or gelato fatto en casa (homemade ice cream) indicative of authentic gelaterias.

Where to eat: La Carraia

Address: Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25r, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 2.7-3 USD

Timings: All days 11am - 10pm

Website: La Carraia

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4. Zuccotto

Zuccotto from Italy
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pietro & Silvia used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The little-heard traditional Tuscan dessert of Zuccotto with Florentine origins is a chilled, semi-frozen dessert of ice-cream, cake, and the bright-red Tuscan liquor Alchermes. Zuccotto is frozen and subsequently thawed before serving. The dessert is widely believed to have been inspired by the dome of Florence Cathedral, while others say that it resembles a zuchetto, a Roman Catholic cleric’s skullcap. A pumpkin-shaped mould (zuccotto is ‘little pumpkin’ in Italian) is used to create the dessert. The rich, pastry-filled, layered delicacy is refrigerated for a minimum of 24 hours for the filling to set, before being served inverted.

Where to eat: Bottega di Pasticceria

Address: Lungarno Francesco Ferrucci 9C Rosso, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 6-20 USD

Timings: Tuesday-Sunday 7am - 10pm, Monday closed

Website: Bottega di Pasticceria

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Florence Tour Guide

Sara Pallabazzer

Sara Pallabazzer

I am a lively well-spoken tour guide and tour leader from Florence, and a person who has the ability to motivate different sets of audience; to communicate effectively and possesses a high degree of energy and enthusiasm.I am able to manage multiple tasks, self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills. I am proficient in Italian, English and Norwegian and possess a strong love for art and culture and enjoy passing on this passion for our land to my guests in an exciting and educational manner which will leave them not only with a lasting memory of the country that they have visited but also of myself and the company I am working for.Come with me and explore the best Florence has to offer. From world class museums and galleries to famous sites such as Santa Maria del Fiore, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella and the Palazzo Vecchio! I will ensure guests get the most out of their visit. I can show off Florence and Tuscany's hidden treasures such as narrow medieval street, hidden gardens, unique shops, and the quirky details that make a tour memorable while discovering Florence's past, present and future.I am very adaptable and flexible with guests' interests and taking into account any special events or the weather. With me as a private guide, guests will have the time to fully experience Florence - stopping to take the perfect photo or popping into one of the shops, cafes or pubs.I am also an enthusiastic well-spoken language teacher who has the ability to motivate different student ranges and a freelance translator for English and Scandinavian languages! I have a great passion for art and cooking, and consider cooking to be a high art form, so I suggest how to pair food and wine, while also looking for the right setting, as eating should be an all-around experience. I love cooking and make my own pasta, bread and pizza!

Tours by Sara

Florence Tour Guide

Joanna

Joanna

Hello, my name is Joanna. I was born and raised in Poland but then I fell hopelessly in love with Tuscany and have been living in Florence for 20 years. Wisely enough, I decided to turn my passion into work and became a tour guide. Now I can share with you my immense love for the beauty, history and art of these enchanted places. I am particularly passionate about the Middle Ages, history, sculpture, nature and sports. In my spare time, I travel, read, go to concerts, play sports and do a lot of hiking. I work mainly in Florence and Siena but I love going to Lucca, less known Tuscan beauty and Pisa. I can also organize a food tour, a wine tasting or a day trip in Tuscany.

Tours by Joanna

Florence Tour Guide

Irina Willmer

Irina Willmer

Florence Tour Guide

Dina

Dina

Florence Tour Guide

Francesca Boldrini

Francesca Boldrini

Linguist specializing in art history. I am a licensed tour guide with natural communicating skills and a big passion for Tuscany andRinascimento. I speak five languages: Russian at B2 TRKI level, German at B1 level, English, Italian and French at the mother tongue level.I’ve got a great problem solving skills and the ability to work under pressure gained thanks to my experience in hospitality. I Believe in thepower of creativity. I offer tourists a unique, memorable experience involving them in what is going on around them. I love leading visitorsthrough sites of historical and cultural interest sharing my passions for history of art, especially the period of Renaissance. Optimistic andopen-minded and meeting diverse people from all over the world, I have got a real genuine interest for Guest satisfaction.

Tours by Francesca

5. Schiacciata

Schiacciata pistoiese
Source: Photo by user Visit Tuscany used under CC BY 2.0

One of Tuscany’s top bakery treats is schiacciata (‘squashed’/'pressed’), a flatbread of flour, olive oil, salt, yeast, and water. The dish is also called focaccia, schiaccia, and ciaccia. The distinct holes are created when the dough is pressed with fingers. Schiacciata is made in five variations - extremely thin, high and soft filled with cold cuts, medium thickness with semi-soft crust and crispy surface, one made with bread dough, and one with special flavours. Tuscans particularly enjoy a variant filled with cold cuts (mortadella) or cheese. Make your way to the local Panetteria ('bakery’) to grab a schiacciata.

Where to eat: Osteria All’Antico Vinaio

Address: Via dei Neri, 76R, 50122, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 8-15 USD

Timings: All days 10:30am - 11:pm

Website: All’Antico Vinaio

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6. Tagliere

Tagliere
Source: Photo by user Ristorante Pizzer... used under CC BY 2.0

Tagliere is a cheese and meat platter and one of Florence’s most famous and popularly consumed appetizers. Literally meaning ‘cutting board’, tagliere often features a whole cutting board brought to the table as the serving plate. It is a charcuterie featuring delectable regional salami slices like finocchiona, prosciutto, and cheeses accompanied by an assortment of crostini (often topped with olive/tomatoes patè, fegato, or lardo di colonnata). Usually served at wine bars and now available in almost all Florentine restaurants, a tagliere can also include vegetables preserved in sotto aceto or oil, an assortment of breads and olives.

Where to eat: Coquinarius

Address: Via delle Oche, 11R, 50122, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 20-65 USD

Timings: All days 12:30pm - 3pm, 6:30pm - 10:30pm

Website: Coquinarius

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7. Zuppa Inglese

zuppa inglese
Source: Photo by user fugzu used under CC BY 2.0

Zuppa Inglese literally means ‘English soup’, but in fact, it is far from that. It is an iconic cool, sweet, Italian rum cake dessert made of sponge cake and custard. Widely believed to have been derived from tiramisù and bearing a strong resemblance to the English trifle, the dish also has a popular gelato flavour. Zuppa Inglese is made by dipping the sponge cake in Alchermes and alternating them with layers of thick egg custard called crema pasticcera. Occasionally, a crema alla cioccolato is also added, which is dissolved dark chocolate in plain crema pasticcera. The dish is sometimes topped with almonds, meringue, or cream.

Where to eat: Trattoria le Mossacce

Address: Via del Proconsolo 55/r, 50122, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 16-30 USD

Timings: Sunday-Friday 12pm - 2:30pm, 7pm - 9:30pm, Saturday and holidays closed

Website: Trattoria le Mossacce

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8. Pappardelle al cinghiale

Pappardelle ternane al cinghiale
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user I-Food used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Pappardelle al Cinghiale is typically a Tuscan wide ribbon pasta (pappardelle) cooked in rich wild boar (cinghiale) sauce cooked during the autumn hunting season. The cinghiale is one of Tuscany’s local best, distinct-tasting meats, which is sometimes replaced with the milder pork shoulder. In the most classic recipes, the boar meat is either marinated in the red wine overnight or the sauce is simmered for at least 2 hours on low heat, which results in the dish’s melt-in-the-mouth tenderness. A bouquet of dried chilli pepper, sage, rosemary, and bay leaves lend the sauce both its rich and spicy nature.

Where to eat: i TOSCANI

Address: Via Maggio, 1 rosso, 50125, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 2-28 USD

Timings: Monday-Thursday 9am -10pm, Friday-Saturday 9am - 11pm, Sunday 10am - 10pm

Website: i TOSCANI

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9. Trippa & lampredotto

l'antico trippaio
Source: Photo by user grobery used under CC BY 2.0

Sandwiches filled with trippa and lampredotto (offal/organ meat) are icons of Florence’s street culinary tradition. The edible lining of a cow’s stomach is trippa (tripe) which is eaten worldwide. Lampredotto, a Florentine speciality, is the fourth, and final stomach of a cow usually slow-cooked with onion, tomato, celery, and parsley. Both are soaked in the broth and traditionally served on a crunchy bun with green/spicy sauce. When in Florence, eat like the Florentines - head to the famous street food stands (‘chioschi’) where you’ll be able to gorge on trippa and lampredetto at stalls aptly named lampredottai or trippai (literally meaning makers of lampredetto and trippa).

Where to eat: L’Antico Trippaio

Address: Piazza de Cimatori, 50122, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 3-9 USD

Timings: All days 9:30am - 8pm

Website: L’Antico Trippaio

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10. Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Bistecca alla fiorentina-01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user mike packard used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Bistecca fiorentina (T-bone steak) is a deeply traditional Florentine recipe typically from the ancient Tuscan Chianina cattle known for its tasty, prized meat. The dish has just five ingredients, is grilled over red-hot coals, seasoned with local spices, and traditionally served ‘rare’. The size of bistecca fiorentina is huge and one needs dining companions to finish it. The Fiorentino cook the meat for just 7-8 minutes (both sides combined), giving the impression of the meat being undercooked. However, that is how the bistecca is supposed to be enjoyed, and it would be prudent for travellers to not ask, to cook it more.

Where to eat: Trattoria da Gozzi

Address: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 8R, Florence

Average price (2 PAX): 12-18 USD

Timings: Monday-Saturday 12pm - 3pm, Sunday closed

Website: Trattoria da Gozzi

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11. Ribollita

Ribollita
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ta4e Negodue used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Another popular and favorite Tuscan dish is Ribollita, which is a type of soup made mainly with ingredients such as leftover bread, cannellini beans, and vegetables. Some chefs go the extra mile of adding numerous types of vegetables. It tastes like a typical bread soup on the first day the soup is boiled, however when you rewarm the soup on the second day, it couldn’t taste any better. This process of reboiling the soup on the next day is what gives the soup its name - Ribollita, which means reboiled in French. Though this is a classic winter soup recipe, people still love to eat this dish during the summer season.

Where to eat: Trattoria Marione

Address: Via della Spada, 27/Rosso, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Website: Trattoria Marione

Opening hours: 12pm - 5pm, 7pm - 11pm (daily)

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12. Pollo al Burro


Pollo al Burro is a simple dish in Florence that is made up mainly of chicken and butter. It is easy to cook, and you can easily replicate it at home, but it would be recommended to try it at Trattoria Sostanza. This dish is suitable to have any time of the day - be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner and regardless of when you choose to have Pollo al Burro, this delicious chicken breast will surely satisfy your hunger!

Where to eat: Trattoria Sostanza

Address: Via del Porcellana, 25/R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 12:30pm - 2pm, 7:30 - 9:45pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

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13. Panzanella

Italian Panzanella
Source: Photo by user Heather Katsoulis used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Panzanella is a dish that is perfect to eat during the summertime. This Tuscan salad is ideal for light meals during lunch or supper. The ingredients used are quite easy to find, for example, stale bread, tomatoes, basil, onions, olive oil, and vinegar. Besides these ingredients, different types of vegetables are used in the recipe. But in Florence, you don’t have to wait for your bread to get old before tasting Panzanella as there are numerous restaurants offering this unique type of salad!

Where to eat: Trattoria Borgo Antico

Address: Piazza Santo Spirito, 6-red, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

Website: Trattoria Borgo Antico

Opening hours: 12pm - 12am (daily)

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14. All'in zimino


All’in zimino or popularly known as ‘Seppie in zimino’ in Florence is a city specialty. The dish is created with ingredients such as seafood and fresh green vegetables. While some chefs cook this dish with octopus coupled with spinach and herbs, others use cuttlefish with leafy greens. This dish goes best with Vermentino wine as it adds another depth of flavor to All’in zimino.

Where to eat: Cantinetta Antinori

Address: Piazza degli Antinori, 3, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Website: Cantinetta Antinori

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 12:30pm - 2:30pm, 7pm - 10:30pm (closed on Sun)

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15. Cantucci


Cantucci or most commonly known as Biscotti is a delectable Italian almond biscuit. This delicacy originated from the city of Prato which is often paired with a glass of Italian dessert wine called Vin Santo. Whether you’re visiting a friend’s home or dining in a restaurant, this dessert most likely will be offered to you. The biscuit is quite easy to make with a few ingredients such as raw almonds, flour, sugar, eggs, and pine nuts.

Where to eat: Il Cantuccio di San Lorenzo

Address: Via Sant'Antonino, 23/red, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Website: Il Cantuccio di San Lorenzo

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 7:30pm; Sun: 9am - 6:30pm

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Fabulous Florentine cuisine

Florence’s true-to-the-heart Tuscan food, is flavourful, extremely, hearty and quite filling. The above is but a fraction of the vast range of delicious Florentine cuisine. Remember when you do visit Florence, come on an empty stomach!

Tip from tour guide

Joanna

Joanna
Florence

Trattoria

3 restaurants in the historical center of Florence you should try for a local experience. Be aware, no English menu available.

Trattoria le Mossacce - A family ruled trattoria just a few steps from the cathedral. They propose Florentine cuisine with the menu changing daily with low prices and in a very informal setting. Try their ribollita, tortelli, tripe or steak and obviously red wine della casa.

Trattoria Mario - An informal restaurant opened in 1953 which recently won the popular program in Italian tv. Popular dishes: Tuscan antipasto, florentine steak, soups, tripe, beans.

Trattoria Gozzi - Usually quite crowded but more spacious and comfortable than the previous ones. They are known for pasta, steak, and cutlets. Try their peposo, crespelle or fried polpette.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Malavika, a freelance writer and coffee enthusiast, is well-versed in Kopfkino. Her interests include engaging discussions on New Zealand, the domino theory, dystopian fiction, and Harry Potter.

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