Visiting Florence, Italy or studying abroad there and want to know what the best restaurants in Florence are? After spending 4 months living in Florence, I’m sharing some of the BEST restaurants we found while studying abroad! From coffee spots, lunch spots, to dinner restaurants this is your guide to food in Florence!
Best Restaurants in Florence, Italy
1. Berberè Pizzeria
First on the list of best restaurants in Florence is Berberè pizza! This is a great pizza restaurant if you are looking for more of an American style pizza with an Italian flare. It is located near the Arno river by Santa Croce. There is also a location on the other side of the river as well but the BEST location is near Santa Croce!
2. Borgo Antico
One of my local personal favorite restaurants to go to in Italy is Borgo Antico! This was located not even a 2 minute walk from where I lived in Florence in a more local spot. If you are looking for something authentic, this is the place. I tried a really delicious pasta dish with fresh tomatoes and garlic, along with Chianti wine and fresh bread! SO worth trying out, incredibly delicious!
3. Buca San Giovanni Frigest
Another one of the best restaurants in Florence was Buca San Giovanni Frigest! This is located across from the Duomo, and serves some really delicious and unique dishes. I tried a meat sauce pasta dish that tasted similarly to a traditional Italian “Sunday Sauce” dish, and my friend tried the potato ravioli! Both were great and we enjoyed the food here! Not a bad option being near a tourist site. Oftentimes seating will be offered outside in the warmer months!
4. O’Munaciello
Another local restaurant that you must go to is O’Munaciello! This was another restaurant located near our residential area in Florence. This is one of the BEST pizza restaurants I had been to in Florence, and went so many times I lost track! If you’re looking for a nice pizza place to try consider trying this one!
5. Gusta Pizza
Gusta Pizza was at the TOP of our list for best restaurants in Florence! Guy Fiery has visited this location for the show “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives” and it certainly shows why! These pizzas are the best and made fresh right in front of you while there. They also offer to go pizzas to take out!
6. Ristorante Il Piaolo
The atmosphere of this restaurant is wonderful! Serving a delicious steak dinner complete with potatoes and AMAZING Chianti wines! Ristorante Il Piaolo even gave a complimentary shot of Limoncello for our table to try, and had delicious Tiramisu dessert.
7. Mercato Centrale
This is the central market in Florence, providing you with fresh local foods and ingredients, as well as many local wines and other fun! This is a great place to have lunch and sample a few different foods while you are there!
8. Pino’s Sandwiches
Finally, one last food you MUST try in Florence is a Panini! One of the best shops in Florence, Pino’s Sandwiches, will make you one just how you would like! They are so good and so worth the price, starting at only 6 Euros for a sandwich! AMAZING! It is located nearby the Church of Santa Croce, just a 12 minute walk from the Gallery Dell’Accademia.
9. Ditta Artiginale
Next on the list is my FAVORITE coffee shop in Florence, the one I went to daily while studying abroad and living there, Ditta Artiginale! The place is called Ditta Artiginale, and gives you a nice feel of a coffee shop at home but in Italy! You’ll taste the most AMAZING pastries, and even better cappuccinos. They have regular size and GIANT cappuccinos (my favorite). They have 2 locations in Florence, one near the Palazzo Vecchio and city center, and one closer by Pitti Palace near the Ponte Vecchio, which is where I would go often to write blog posts and get classwork done. My recommendation if they still have it is to get the large cappuccino with a raspberry jam centered pastry. If you want to try a chocolate croissant, they have delicious ones as well.
*Random fun fact: most of the “chocolate” filled croissants in Italy are filled with a Nutella like chocolate cream! Nutella was invented in Italy, and therefore is one of the most common flavors in the pastries! So delicious.
10. Trattoria Guelfa
One of the best places to try a Florentine steak is this restaurant closely the train station in Florence, Trattoria Guelfa! This is an affordable and super delicious restaurant if you’re looking to enjoy a nice dinner!
This post was all about the best restaurants in Florence! I hope this gives you a start on where to go eat while on your vacation, semester abroad, or solo traveling adventures! All of these are delicious and I definitely would go back again and again!
Looking for an itinerary for your Florence trip? Read our post on 3 Days in Florence!