Florence For Food Lovers

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If you are a foodie, the beautiful Florence is an ideal destination for you. A city blessed with everything from cheap and lively trattorias to high-end Michelin starred restaurants and everything in between. Discover where to find the best schiacciata sandwich or take a cooking class. Or where to grab the best gelato! Buon appetito!

1. Grab baked goods from local forno 

Follow the inviting scent of freshly baked bread to a local forno (bakery) to eat freshly baked schiacciata (glistening with olive oil), panini or a slice of hot pizza. Pair these baked good with slices salami or prosciutto and have an amazing meal.

We can recommend "Forno Canapa", close to Mercato Centrale for these products. They also sell delicious "coccoli" - little balls of deep fried dough. Their coccoli are so soft and delicious, sweet and salty at the same time. Choose from the plain one or paired with prosciutto and stracchino.

Forno is the perfect stop for a snack at any time of day.

2. Eat something sweet from pasticceria (so tempting)

Sweet lovers will love to visit pasticcerias, selling a selection of pastries, those with cream, chocolate, pistachio filling... Or grab some dry cookies, like cantucci to pair with a cup of coffee and tea.

Some cafes sells Schiacciata alla Fiorentina, a flat cake dusted with icing sugar - delicate and soft. During the Carnival period in February, you can find cenci and frittelle in pasticcerie - a good reasons for visiting Florence in February. Or opt for panforte, a chewy sweet made of nuts, dried fruits and honey, usually sold cut into small triangles (so delicious!).

We adore "Ballerini" (Borgo Ognissanti 132), a cute cafè/pasticceria, where you can have a slice of warm pizza, buy a piece of schiacciata, grab a freshly baked pastry or buy artisanal chocolates. The atmosphere is always amazing and the staff is helpful! The quality of their products is high!

3. Eat schiacciata sandwich (every day)

No trip to Florence is complete without sampling one of its most famous, popular, and mouth-watering creations: the olive oil schiacciata. While delicious on its own or as a bread substitute at meals, schiacciata truly shines when stuffed - perhaps with prosciutto and Tuscan pecorino cheese. And don't forget to pair it with a nice glass of red wine for the ultimate Florentine experience!

Eating a schiacciata sandwich is a must when in Florence. Sold on every corner of the city, these sandwiches are ideal for eating something quickly between sightseeing. 

We can recommend "I' Girone De' Ghiotti" (Via de Cimatori, 23R) as one of the best schiacciata sandwiches in the city. This cute place, not far from Piazza della Signoria), offers a wide choice sandwich fillings (you can always make your own if you don't like those on the menu) at affordable prices. The sandwiches are crunchy and richly stuffed and so delicious.

3. Join a walking food tour of Florence for delicious food and good company

Eat your way around the city with a local guide who will take you to the best eating places in Florence. Try the best schiacciata sandwich or lampredotto panini, sample local salami and cheeses (along wine), see how Italians do their shopping at Sant’Ambrogio market and find the best gelato in the city. Choose from many foodie tours available throughout the day. 

4. Grab a cone or cup of authentic gelato (and repeat)

Of course, one of the greatest indulgences in Florence – especially as the weather gets warmer – is its abundance of gelatarias serving cups and cones of mouth-watering gelato.

You'll always spot a line stretching in front of the popular GROM, an Italian gelato chain. However, for a more authentic experience, head to Perche No!, a family-run gelateria that's been producing gelato for seven decades. Nestled between the iconic Duomo and Piazza Della Signoria, this gem offers a rotating selection of seasonal flavours. Choose between unique flavours like lavender, rose and fresh mint, alongside the classic ones, such as pistachio and stracciatella.

Insider’s Tasty Tip: you must try the crema Buontalenti, also called ‘cream fiorentina’, the most Florentine of all flavours, made with fresh eggs and sugar.

One of our favourite gelaterias, popular Venchi, offers creamy and super rich gelato plus a range of chocolate bars and those sold by weight.

Another good option is Strega Nocciola Gelateria, with their fabulous gelato offerings (find them at several locations such as near the Duomo or Ponte Vecchio) and friendly staff. They hold their gelato in pozzetti - stainless steel cylinders.

Also, don't miss Gelateria La Carraia (cross the Ponte alla Carraia to reach Piazza Nazario Sauro 25R), a great little gem offering smooth and silky gelato. We adore their 'cioccolato all’arancia' - so delicious! There are outdoor seats where you can sit down and enjoy your gelato!

5. Visit local trattoria for authentic Tuscan food

While in Florence, don't skip to visiting local trattoria for delicious Tuscan food. Trattorias are serving authentic dishes, you'll love to taste. One of the unique dishes is juicy Florentine steak usually served with baked potatoes. Those who love veggy food, will love pappa al pomodoro (rich tomato soup) or ribolitta - soup made of autumn vegetables.

Meet lovers will be eager to try Il peposo, the Tuscan beef stew or pappardelle al cinghiale, the pasta with wild boar sauce. You shouldn't skip also a platter or local salami and cheese, along a glass of Chianti wine.

👉 Don't want to ramble around? Then join this guided food walk of Florence and head straight to the best trattorias in Florence.

A list of most-loved trattorias/restaurants in Florence:

5. Eat lampredotto (something unique)

Lampredotto is one of Florence’s culinary symbols. It’s ingredients might not sound appetising, but it’s truly delicious if you are prepared to give it a go.

It’ s made from cow’s stomach boiled with herbs and vegetables, and served on its own or in a bun (‘sèmelle’, the quintessential Florentine panino) soaked in hot broth and with pungent salsa verde. Soft, tender and with a similar taste to Trippa alla fiorentina – Florence’s other offal speciality. Simply irresistible.

Join this morning food tour of Oltrarno, to eat one of the most delicious lampredotto in Florence!

6. Have an aperitivo

Come late afternoon, apertivo time begins. A great Italian tradition (and standard at most bars), the apertivo happy hour involves paying a slightly elevated price for your drink in exchange for a heaving buffet of chips, panini, pasta, snacks, olives and salad – almost negating the need to have dinner at all. 

For some of the best views over the city's red roof tiles (if you want to avoid the claustrophobic climb up Giotto's tower), head to one of the hotels with rooftop bars for a sunset aperitivo. Our favourite include Angel Roofbar (Hotel Calimala), Panoramic Bar (Antica Torre Tornabuoni 1), La Terrazza (Hotel Continentale), the Butterfly Terrace (Hotel Il Tornabuoni) and the wonderful loggia of Palazzo Guadagni. Or take the lift to the fifth floor terrace of the Caffè del Verone at the Museo degli Innocenti (open daily until 9.30pm) for your Campari Spritz-with-a-view.

7. Visit local food market for taste fresh produce / buy edible souvenirs

An obligatory stop for anyone who loves food. San Lorenzo Food Market was once the ‘popular’ market of the city, a couple of years ago it has been completely redesigned to become one of Italy’s top food markets.

Downstairs you have all sorts of food stalls, from veggies to salumi to fish, cheeses and bakeries. Some prepare sandwiches and have a few informal seating areas when you can eat cheaply, Florentine style fast-food. Buy a unique foodie gift here!

The second floor is altogether different with trendy design and lighting, big communal tables, and plenty of food offerings, from traditional dishes to pizza and gelato, and some restaurants where you can sit down for a primo piatto.

8. Take a cooking class to learn how to make fresh pasta

Learning to make pasta might be just what you need to make your gastronomic experience complete. With this Small Group Pasta Class you’ll learn a few tricks and tips from a from a professional chef.

Learn to make a few different kinds of pasta – ravioli, tagliatelle, and spaghetti. Then, try your hand at some authentic Italian sauces and taste some wines for the perfect pairings. Class size is limited to eight for personalised attention from the instructor. Choose from many cooking classes available in Florence!

9. Wine and cheese/salami tasting

Take a break from sightseeing in Florence with a Wine and Cheese Tasting at a family-run wine bar in the heart of the city. Relax in a Florentine “enoteca” and sample three Tuscan wines served with local cheeses, olive oil, and other regional specialties. Learn about each wine and its pairing from a professional sommelier, and get some tips on how to choose and serve Tuscan wines.

10. Go truffle hunting in the Tuscan countryside

For a truly unique experience in Tuscany, go truffle hunting the woods of Tuscan countryside. We recommend this exciting day trip, that departs from the city of Florence in the morning, and lasts for around 8 hours. Once there, you'll meet up with a truffle hunter and his expert dogs for a two-hour truffle expedition in the forest.

After the hunt, you'll be treated with a Tuscan lunch enriched with truffles, complemented by local Chianti wines in the historic town of San Gimignano. Following lunch, you'll have time to explore the town, enjoy a scoop of gelato, and admire the stunning vistas of the Chianti region. This gastronomic adventure from Florence into the heart of Tuscany has received nothing but glowing praise!

Planning Your Trip to Italy 

Best Food Tours in Rome

What to See in Florence

Rome to Florence by Train

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