20 BEST Restaurants In Florence, Italy By A Local

After spending five months living in Florence, Italy I certainly learned how to eat like a local. From the constant proscuitto to mouth-watering pastas to the never-ending supply of spritz’s there’s no chance you’ll leave Florence feeling hungry! Today I’m rounding up twenty of the best restaurants in Florence, Italy.

I’ve got reccomendations for everything. Whether you’re looking for a fancy, cloth napkin type of restaurant, a view of the duomo, or an authentic hidden gem I’ve got you covered. Bon appetite!

1) Osteria De Ciccalini

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One of my favorite dining experiences of the semester was shared at Osteria De Ciccalini. This restaurant is off of a side street right near the duomo and has hundreds of five-star reviews. We met the sweetest people from all different walks of life while eating here and left four hours later fat and happy. 

For starters, you must get their pear honey burrata. It’s such a unique flavor combo and one that’s hard to come by in Florence. We got a truffle pasta that was incredible and the tenderest steak ever. Finished it off with cheesecake of course. The drinks here were also amazing and super strong. We both left very tipsy, haha. 

2) Paoli 1827

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Paolo 1827 is the oldest restaurant in Florence and the interior is just stunning with all kinds of beautiful frescoes. This a cloth napkin place so definitely a bit fancier. 

Their burrata was surrounded by the BEST proscuitto ever. Salty in all the best ways. I had a carbonara pasta and a pumpkin risotto that were both good although not exceptional. However, their tenderloin with pepper and potatoes was unforgettable. One of the best cuts of meat I’ve ever had! Don’t skip out on dessert here- they’ve got a gazillion options to choose from. 

3) Gusto Leo 

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The same family owns all three of the restaurants I’m about to talk about and they are just incredible. While there are a few similarities throughout, each restaurant has a different vibe. Gusto Leo is the percent place to find authentic food near the Duomo. They have amazing pizza and pasta options. We’d come here and split one of each and still end up bringing leftovers home each time. 

Highly recommend their cacío e pepe it’s incredible. Any pizza with búfalo mozz is a must and their spritz’s are literally $5!

4) Livio Pizza

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You just can’t beat a $10 pizza that feeds two. We loved coming here since it was closer to the train station. The owner is absolutely incredible. Highly suggest trying a pizza with sausage, it’s incredibly flavorful. They also have calzones that are so good with “spicy salami” aka pepperoni. Don’t pass up on their Aperol spritz’s- they are hugeee and do not disappoint. 

5) Il Granaio

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The third restaurant this family owns has traditional Tuscan cuisine and wow, what an experience. I was here chatting with the owner for almost four hours and had my first florentine steak which was huge, so flavorful, and very rare! Honestly, I prefer a filet or tenderloin over this but you have to try the florentine steak at least once, it’s what they are known for! 

They also have an amazing soft cheese and unique pasta combinations that you don’t typically see- I tried wild boar and duck here, and both were very good! However, their family cheesecake recipe has to be my favorite part. This was the type of meal that was truly an experience.  

6) Osteria Pratellino

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This restaurant is owned by the sweetest man on the planet. It’s just outside of the city, a short walk past the river. When we went it was just us and the owner so we got to learn the history of the restaurant and his traditional Tuscan dishes quite well. We got to sample so many different dishes, all unique in their own way. Two soups, two appetizers, two kinds of pasta, and two types of meat. Everything was mouthwatering and so different than the usual dishes you see on a Florence menu. I highly recommend trying the risotto it was incredible.

We also sampled a gazillion wines that paired with each dish perfectly. I’m not a wine connoisseur by any means so I always just ask the waiter to bring whatever makes the most sense with my meal. It’s never steered me wrong before! Of all the restaurants I went to throughout my time in Florence; this was by far the most unique.

7) Trattoria L-oriuolo

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So many people recommended this restaurant to us that we just had to stop in and see for ourselves what it was all about. This place has the best atmosphere with all kinds of twinkly lights—def a good date night spot although Lauren and I came here for a big lunch one Sunday afternoon. 

We got their filet covered in fat and it was delicious. Their potatoes were amazing as was the burrata! Service was very slow with nobody in a rush but hey, that’s the Italian experience for ya! 

8) Rooster Cafe 

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Rooster Cafe is one of the best brunch spots in Florence and one of the few Americanized restaurants. It’s essentially all of your typical favorites, just served in Italy with a bit of a twist. If you’re craving eggs, bacon, and a bagel this is the place to go. Their loaded chicken and waffles are the best I’ve ever had and their golden round hash browns will cure just about any hangover. 

They are also known for their specialty coffees (yes, you can get iced here!) and juices. Their smoothies are also amazing. Almost everyone eating here is American so it’s a good “escape” if you’re missing home. 

9) Il Piazzuolo

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This pizzeria is the oldest in Florence and happened to be on the same street as my apartment so I came here often. It’s always packed so you have to make reservations, however, they do carry out as well which was my go-to after a late-night flight. They have the most amazing pizza—I’ve tried dozens but anything with their sausage is incredible and so different than what you’d be served in America. 

They also have amazing burrata here—I prefer the regular that’s served with ripe cherry tomatoes and fresh bread, but the fried is also to die for. They have a dozen plates of pasta to choose from too—their carbonara was my fav!

10) ZaZa

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Zaza is just incredible—it’s rare you find a huge menu while still being served authentic dishes but this place never disappoints. It’s gigantic inside and has a ton of outdoor seating, however, it’s best to make reservations as people wait hours to eat here. 

I’ve gone several times and had my best pasta of study abroad here—a huge noodle with pink sauce, buffalo mozzarella, and basil. It was incredible! They also have the strongest limoncello spritz’s—we loved coming here to pregame a night out because after two cocktails you’d be leaving drunk lol. 

11) La Giostra 

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People rave about this restaurant, making reservations for it weeks in advance. We decided to come here for our last meal in Florence and I have to say, I found it a little underwhelming, especially for the costly price tag. I’m all for an Aperol spritz but $15 is excessive when the going rate here is $7. However, the atmosphere here is incredible, and truly one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. 

They are known for their pear ravioli which I was so excited to order. It’s a smaller portion and I found it to be lacking the flavor I had hoped for and heard so much about. I did get their burrata and it was incredible + they brought out a huge plate of appetizers so I will give them that! For me, it’s not a must but many would say otherwise. 

12) New Bridge 

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My best pizza of studying abroad was at New Bridge—and let me tell you, that’s saying a lot because I ate a ton of pizza while living here. I got their pesto burrata and it was incredible. Some of the freshest pesto and you really just cannot go wrong with burrata… like ever. Can’t forget an Aperol spritz to go with it! 

13) Fermento 1889

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During one of my first weeks in Florence, we wandered over by the river and found this pizza spot. I wasn’t thinking much of It at the time, but the more places I ate, the more I realized this pizza really was exceptional. Lauren raved about her ricotta pizza and my pesto was delicious. Thick crust and not as soggy as a lot of pizzerias in Florence!

14) Habitat

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One thing that Florence lacks is variety—of course, you can get incredible pizza and pasta but aside from the traditional Italian cuisine, there are so few restaurants to choose from. Habitat is one of the few Americanized restaurants in the city. This place is known for having a lively happy hour however I ended up coming in for brunch one morning.

I had the most amazing strawberry sangria-like drink here that was super strong. So delicious!  They have amazing bowls here and the most flavorful bacon. Their pancakes are exceptional although small in portion size so it’s best to split these as an “appetizer”. I’m not a sushi eater but my best friend is and she said this is some of the best she’s had in Europe! Oh, and this place is incredibly modern with the cutest atmosphere ever. Def an Instagram photo op here!

15) Reburger

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If you’re craving a cheeseburger, this new restaurant is the place to go. This bookstore x restaurant allows you to build your own burgers and salads, giving you a personalized experience. It’s hard not to like exactly what you asked for. Their buns are sourced locally from the baker across the street and they make their french fries fresh with each meal. I got the rosemary fries and they were delicious.

16) Rosalia

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Rosalia is a build your own salad place that’s very popular amongst study abroad students due to its close proximity to a lot of the college campuses. It’s a good spot to come in and get work done too if you need a study date! They have traditional salads which you can’t find anywhere in Italy so if you’re missing home, and your greens, this is the place to go. I loved their Mexican bowl.

17) Pinos

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Pinos is one of the most well-known panini shops in Florence. It’s owned by an older gentleman, Pino who absolutely loves study abroad students and welcomes them with open arms. Their menu is huge as are their portions for just $5 a sandwich. I always got the Springtime which is prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, and pesto OR I’d ask him to surprise me and give me a sandwich full of his favorites. This is a never fail if you’re needing a quick bite to eat!

18) Ke Ci Metto

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For the very last sandwich I ate in Florence I decided to try out a new (to me) place and I wish more than anything I had started coming here sooner. While Pinos is a never fail this sandwich is 100x better for the exact same price. I got the #5 which had mortadella, burrata, pesto and tomato. The bread was incredibly fresh and the amount of cheese was just perfect. Can’t recommend this place enough!

19) Gelataria Ambrosia

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I’ve always had a major sweet tooth so when I moved into my apartment and realized there was a gelato store right beneath us I knew I was in for a treat, literally. When I tell you I ate this gelato every single day, I really mean it. The owner Max knew what I wanted before I even cleared the threshold of the store.

Strawberry lemon was my favorite combination and if I was feeling chocolate, cremino was a never fail. Although by the time he closed for the season in November, I had tried every single flavor at least twice. I cried the day I said goodbye to him.

20) Tiujana

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I won’t lie, one of the things I missed most about America was Mexican food, lol. I was used to eating tons of rice, beans, and guacamole so we came to Tijuana every few weeks to get our fix. It’s one of few Mexican restaurants in Florence and is owned but the sweetest family. They have huge $7 happy hour margs, strawberry always being my favorite.

It’s definitely not life-changing food but there are days when it will feel like it because you miss familiarity that much. I highly recommend their burritos—you get the most food and they have so many good options.

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If there’s one thing I miss most about living in Florence it’s all of the incredible restaurant options. Not just the food—it means so much more to Italians than just eating at a restaurant. I miss the reservations and the slow pace, the never-ending supply of wine, and the incredibly cozy atmosphere that filled every restaurant we stepped into. There really is nowhere like it!

I could have listed a hundred more places to try… if you want to keep up with my new recommendations make sure you’re following me on Instagram @styledbymckenz. Hope you’re hungry!

With love, McKenz

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