10 Great Restaurants in Florence

Trippaio del Porcellino is a popular food stand in Piazza del Mercato Nuovo. This historic touchstone for foodies has been around since the mid-20th century, serving a type of Italian street food called lampredotto. This classic Florentine sandwich is made from a calf’s fourth stomach, slowly cooked in water with tomato, onion, parsley and celery. It's served in a crusty roll, the upper half of which is dipped in salsa verde. 

Vegetarians can omit the meat by enjoying it with puttanesca (tomatoes, garlic, black olives, and anchovies) or rice with cabbage. 

Cibrèo has been a staple in Florence since 1979, and has since opened several dining concepts in Via del Verrocchio and Via de' Macci. The restaurant specializes in Florentine and Tuscan cuisine, but you can also enjoy excellent coffee and oriental dishes. 

Cibrèo's original outlet offers seasonal cuisine – springtime focuses on wild cardoon, while tomatoes take center stage in summer. Autumn is a great time for fig-based dishes and winter for cabbage-focused cuisine. Ciblèo Cafe is the place for a quick break in Florence, with Italian espresso paired with baked pastries (sweet and savory).

Trattoria Da Burde offers excellent local cuisine in a quiet setting, far from the crowds of Florence. It's on the northern edge of Parco delle Cascine, about a 30-minute drive of the city centre. 

Bistecca alla fiorentina (broiled veal steak) is the restaurant's specialty, along with peposo (A Tuscan-style beef stew with peppers, tomatoes and Chianti. The trattoria's decor is elegant and humble, with a classically Tuscan ambience. Its wine list includes an excellent selection of reds and whites, with pairing recommendations for your convenience.

Babae is a historic restaurant that's famous for reviving the local culture of buying/drinking wine through a window. Known as a buchetta del vino (wine hatch), this concept was common in Florence until 1559, when Cosimo de' Medici allowed Florentine families who owned vineyards to sell their wines without a middleman.

Apart from the wine window, Babae has a relatively modern menu of tapas and Florentian dishes, as well as twists on popular cocktails and local craft beers. You can find this restaurant between Basilica di Santo Spirito and Ponte Alla Carraia. 

Osteria della Cipolla Rossa has an extensive list of Tuscan wines, ranging from the most well-known to more niche labels. Food-wise, ribollita (Tuscan bread soup) is its specialty. This traditional wintertime dish usually contains leftover bread, cannellini beans, lacinato kale, cabbage, and carrots. 

Osteria della Cipolla Rossa also serves pici (thick, hand-rolled pasta) with cherry tomatoes and basil. You can find the restaurant in Florence's Mercato di San Lorenzo district, near Cappelle Medicee and Basilica di San Lorenzo.

Da' Vinattieri is a sandwich shop offering lampredotto (sandwich with tripe from a cow's 4th stomach) and trippa alla fiorentina (tripe simmered in vegetables). It's quite easy to spot, thanks to its location right behinf the House of Dante in Florence.

If you're not a fan of tripe, the shop offers soups and focaccia stuffed with Tuscan cold cuts, all displayed on the counter. You can also opt for coccoli, a Florentine street food paired with a choice of tartufo e pecorino (truffle and pecorino), salsiccia (sausage), or even Nutella filling.

Osteria Nuvoli serves authentic Florentine cuisine in a traditional setting, where you can find a dining area that's dug from the ground. This lively, informal eatery has fast and friendly service, with shared tables to make it easy for socializing with the locals. 

Here, you can enjoy traditional flavors like ribollita (bread and vegetable soup) and lampredotto (Tuscan abomasum sandwich). All ingredients, including the wine and cold cuts, are all sourced from the Tuscany region. Osteria Nuvoli is within a short walk of Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Baptistery of St. John, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Trattoria Coco Lezzone is a traditional and rustic restaurant that's been operating for over 100 years. All of its Florentine dishes are made with an authentic, wood-fired cast iron and brick stove. Standouts include the pappa al pomodoro (bread and tomato soup), crostini di fegatini (chicken liver on toast), ossobuco (veal shank) and tagliata fiorentina (Florentine steak). 

Trattoria Coco Lezzone has one of the city’s best-stocked cellars, where you can find the exclusive Super Tuscan wine that's made using unconventional production methods. You can find this local restaurant Via Parioncino, near the Basilica of Holy Trinity and Museo Salvatore Ferragamo.

Vini e Vecchi Sapori is a small osteria near Piazza della Signoria, so you'll find a mixed clientele of locals and tourists from all over the world. It has a cheerful neighbourhood yet cosmopolitan vibe, with rustic wooden tables and chairs that can be moved around as needed to accommodate large groups. 

The menu’s equally characteristic, with specialties like paccheri con la zucca (tube pasta with pumpkin) and carciofi fritti (fried artichokes). Vini e Vecchi Sapori even serves classic coffee from a moka pot. For dessert, you can find eclectic flavors like raspberry tiramisu and pear cheesecake. 

Pasticceria Ristorante Giorgio specializes in schiacciata alla fiorentina, a sweetbread usually enjoyed during Carnival season in Italy. Here, you can enjoy it year-round, along with freshly baked croissants, cakes, and tarts. 

You can drop by for lunch for traditional but imaginative main courses and fish dishes, or enjoy treat yourself to some of the goodies served with an aperitif during happy hour. Pasticceria Ristorante Giorgio has been around since 1972, occupying a small building in Florence's Soffiano district.