Restaurants

OSTERIA SANTO SPIRITO: As many restaurants as I tried in my time abroad, this is a place I just kept coming back to because I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. It’s on the other side of the river in Piazza Santo Spirito which is probably about a 15 minute walk from the Duomo. I recommend the gnocchi with soft cheese gratin and truffle oil…best meal I had there. All of the pasta and meat dishes are incredible, and it doesn’t hurt that they usually give you complimentary prosecco. What I liked about this place was the authentic atmosphere, and that they have half and whole portions, and with food as rich as theirs, sometimes a half portion was all I need. It’s very reasonably priced and also doesn’t hurt at any of these to ask the waiter/waitress what they like! It’s open from 12-11:30 every day but make sure you call ahead and make a reservation because it can get very busy. (Also make sure you’re not calling the church next to it which is just called Santo Spirito, I made that mistake once and they sounded very confused when I asked if they could seat five…oops!)

OSTERIA DE’ PECCATORI: The spaghetti carbonara from here was great, I went a few times just for that. It’s not too fancy and not too shabby. What I liked was they have tons of variety of food here.

YELLOW BAR: Incredible homemade pasta here. They change the specials daily but you can’t go wrong with their caprese salad, and the pear ravioli was to die for, even if it sounds a little wierd!

GUSTA PIZZA: Get any pizza, you won’t be disappointed. You’ll most likely end up coming here more than once during your trip, it’s that good (This is Giada DiLaurentis’s favorite pizza place!) Although it’s on the other side of the Arno River, I would usually get the pizza then go sit on the bridge and eat it, or walk up the street and sit on the steps of Pitti Palace

50 SFUMATURE DI GUSTO: This place was right across from my friends’ apartment so we went here pretty often. I recommend the pear and gorgonzola tortellini or any other pasta because it’s so fresh and the flavors are incredible. My favorite food item from there though had to be Coccoli, which is fried dough balls, stracchino cheese, and prosciutto. I would take the dough ball, wrap it in prosciutto and dip it in the creamy stracchino cheese..definitely not healthy but so delicious. They also have great complimentary starters (usually a flatbread of some kind) and prosecco which is always a plus in my book. As someone who has tried probably most of their menu at this point, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with whatever you choose. Their service was great and when we told them it was one of our last nights here they went above and beyond and brought us so much free food to thank us for eating here often which was definitely not necessary but very kind

LA GIOSTRA: More pricey and fancy but definitely worth the money. I went here with my friends parents one night when they came to visit him. It’s a dark restaurant lit mainly by candlelight but had some of the best food ever. I would recommend the caprese salad for sure as well as the pear ravioli, even if it sounds a little weird I promise it’s incredible.  This is also where a bunch of famous celebrities go when they come to Florence and their photos are all over the walls with the owner!

CLOUD 59: A nice break from Italian food because while it’s true that Florence food is some of the best in the world, sometimes you’re just in the mood for a burger. If you’re only there for a week I would say check out the restaurant suggestions in the Food & Drink section, but if you’re abroad for an extended amount of time, this place is a great option when you miss American food (I didn’t think it would happen but it did). They had the best burgers around, and for those who like Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, the owner Alex is from Boston and brought over their coffee grounds. My roommate and I would stop by after class sometimes just to have a sip of something that reminded us from home

*Important to know within Italy: yes, you have to pay for water – it isn’t just automatically brought to your table on the house. A large bottle for the table will usually cost no more than 2 to 3 euros which isn’t bad especially if you split it among everyone, but just something to be aware of. I usually would forgo buying water and stock up on huge 1.5 liter bottles for 25 cents and leave them in my apartment, taking a small reusable water bottle around. You also usually have to pay for the bread which will show up as a “pane e coperto” charge, where they will usually charge the bread basket and a service or cover charge of a few euros for coming in.

Panini’s

PINO’S: The real name is Salumeria Verde but many just refer to it as Pino’s for the man who runs the place. Pino was easily one of the kindest people I encountered in Florence. Every time I walked into his shop he always had a huge smile on his face and was happy to make whatever you’d like. I would recommend the classic Caprese Panini or the Turkey Best, although anything you get here will be amazing, and their pesto sauce is out of this world. 

LA FETTUNTA: Probably my favorite Panini place (also directly to the right of Al Antico…a small hole in the wall you have to look for but definitely worth it). Service is fast, they make it right in front of you and they warm it up for you before giving it to you, unlike  All’Antico. I didn’t have a specific favorite, I would just go ask for a bunch of toppings and make it my own (also, they don’t have pesto but they have rucola which tastes similar but is light and made with arugula, great on any sandwich!)

*Also, if you’re gluten free, you can go down the street from these places to a tiny shop called Starbene where they have every gluten free pastry or bread you could want. Buy some bread there and take it to Pino’s or La Fettunta and they’ll make your sandwich on that bread!

ALL’ANTICO VINAIO: The one everyone raves about and don’t get me wrong, it definitely lives up to the name if you want a sandwich bigger than your face for 4 euro. I would just recommend La Fettunta first if you’re looking to avoid the line!

DA FIASCHINO: This is a great little hole-in-the-wall place, near the Duomo but outside of the tourist zone. Located right across the street from The Oil Shoppe, I would go get an iced coffee from there (best iced coffee in Florence) and then come here for a panini. The service is very good and they’re always willing to make you exactly what you want if nothing on their menu grabs you. Their panini’s are very filling, and you can get a sandwich and glass of wine for 4 euro…can’t beat it!

Cafe’s

*Important to know within Italy: unless your feet are killing you or you’re planning on being there awhile, avoid sitting down in cafe’s, or what Italians call a “bar”. As soon as you sit down, the price of whatever you’re eating or drinking usually double or triples. If you look up at the menu, “banco” is the price if you stand while eating and “tavolo” is if you’re sitting. The price will usually vary by a few euros and if you want to sit down, by all means go ahead, just know that you’ll most likely pay a little more than if you stand

NEWS CAFE: Known for their designs in your cappuccinos, they’re an inviting little cafe by San Lorenzo if you’re looking for a great spot to do work.

LA MILKERIA: Great food there, you can get waffles or crepes with nutella or gelato or fresh fruit! One of my favorite breakfast places especially since breakfast isn’t a big thing over there, and everything is around 5 euro so it’s ver reasonably priced too. It is a pretty cramped place to sit and eat or do homework (although they do have free wi-fi) so try to go either earlier in the day but it’s also one of the only places I found that serves iced coffee!

LA MENAGERE: A beautiful atmosphere for doing work or grabbing a croissant and cappuccino, filled with fresh flowers and I think it’s only been open for a few years. Even if you don’t buy something it’s definitely worth walking through!

SOTT’ARNO:  Located across the Arno on Via Maggio, the cafe is a small space with a few tables but they have a great late breakfast or lunch in panini form. Their panini’s are incredible and the atmosphere is really interesting, as the walls are lined with menus from restaurants that the owner Matteo and his friends have collected throughout the years. It’s open from 10am-6pm and closed on Sundays.

GELATO

Word to the wise: The biggest mistake people make when buying gelato is buying the gelato that looks the most delicious and colorful in the window.  The big beautiful piles of gelato are very tempting and you would probably get a decent gelato, maybe a little overpriced and be perfectly happy with it. However, the gelaterias with the huge displays aren’t typically made fresh and are full of preservatives so they can stay looking nice in the hot summer. That certainly isn’t to say that all gelaterias with brightly colored gelato should be avoided by just be wary of the gelaterias with brightly colored gelato piled high looking perfect, especially if you’re close to a touristy destination. There are tons of great places for gelato filled with fresh ingredients and I’d hate for you to miss out on authentic gelato so I’ve listed what I think are some of the best places below (and don’t be afraid to ask to try a flavor, they’re usually very nice about it and encourage you to get two flavors even if you get a small sized cup or cone (which is great for indecisive people like myself!)

GELATERIA LA CARRAIA: The best place for gelato in my opinion. There are two locations, one across the bridge near Gusta Pizza (great for after lunch!) and one close to Santa Croce. Cookies was my go-to flavor but they have tons of flavors filled with fruit as well if you’re looking for something more refreshing and very reasonably priced

LA MENAGERE: A beautiful atmosphere for doing work or grabbing a croissant and cappuccino, filled with fresh flowers and I think it’s only been open for a few years. Even if you don’t buy something it’s definitely worth walking through!

SOTT’ARNO:  Located across the Arno on Via Maggio, the cafe is a small space with a few tables but they have a great late breakfast or lunch in panini form. Their panini’s are incredible and the atmosphere is really interesting, as the walls are lined with menus from restaurants that the owner Matteo and his friends have collected throughout the years. It’s open from 10am-6pm and closed on Sundays.

GELATERIA DEI NERI: A close runner up with a great variety of flavor selections, and very reasonable prices if you go behind Palazzo Vecchio and walk parallel to the river.

EDOARDO’s: Located right on the corner an arms length away from the Duomo, you can almost always count on a line out the door but it moves very quickly. It’s hard to choose a favor to suggest because they change their flavors every week and use only the freshest ingredients, keeping it all organic. I recommend getting their homemade waffle cones for 50 cents more than a cup regardless of what flavor you get. While some of their flavors like apple, white-mint blueberry, or cinnamon may not be the most common, they’re definitely worth a try! Also for you Beyonce fans, it has been said that this is her go-to gelato in Florence!

Drinks

LA RINASCENTE: A great place to go if you’re looking for a nice cocktail with a view of the Duomo. If you go through the La Rinascente, a department store, take the escalator to the 4th floor, and then the stairs to the 5th, you’ll walk out to an amazing view of the Duomo. You may have to wait a few minutes because the terrace is a little small but I found the drink prices to be reasonable considering the breathtaking view you have. A coffee is around 3 euro and a cocktail is around 9. They’re open from 10:30 to 8:30 most days.

JJ CATHEDRAL IRISH PUB: Located feet away from the Duomo, this is a great place to grab a beer. You can also sit out on the balcony that really only holds a few people, but they have a decent menu of burgers and fries. The service isn’t that great but the view makes it worth it!

I’MARGARITAIO COCKTAIL BAR: This place also has a great selection of margarita flavors that are bigger than your face, and if you go during happy hour (from 5:30-7pm) you can get them for around 5 euros. It’s a cosy atmosphere, usually packed and they also don’t split the check here for groups so just keep that in mind.

**A lot of hotels in the area, especially close to the Arno have rooftop bars (like Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci above) so when making a reservation, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they have a rooftop bar as well!

WINE TOUR/TASTING: If Italy is known for one drink, it has to be wine. Being in the wine capital of the world, there are wine tours as far as the eye can see and it’s so easy to google or find one that works for you. If you would like recommendations feel free to contact me. Most of them are half day trips that will pick you up and bus you from the Santa Maria Novella train station, bring you to a vineyard and give you the history of the wine, provide some food and bring you back in the early afternoon. There are so many to choose from but highly recommend doing a half day trip if you can fit it into your schedule!

THE LION’S FOUNTAIN: Just throwing this in here. Odds are unless you’re studying abroad, you’ll want to avoid this place because it’s usually filled with American college kids. With that being said, it was a nice place to go and just grab a beer where you could meet up with kids your own age! A pretty typical dive bar but not bad if you just want to grab a drink!

Misc.

OIL SHOPPE: Probably the best iced coffee I’ve ever had (in Florence). I don’t know how they did it but it was so frothy and good so if you like iced coffee definitely check it out. I do think there are better places to find a sandwich though, I found their bread to be tough.