Where to Find the Best Pastries in Florence

Florence is known for its meat dishes and savory schiacciata, but even travelers with the sweetest sweet tooth can find a wealth of delicious pastries in this city. Let us show you where to find the best pastries in Florence, then let’s sink our teeth into these incredible Italian delights together!

Wooden plate with two Italian cornetti pastries and a cappucino
Whether filled with pastry cream, jam, or chocolate, we love cornetti! Photo credit: Andrea Riezzo

Cornetteria Notte

You’re probably already familiar with French croissants, but in Florence, we call them cornetti. They’re so much better than croissants because they have a filling. You read that right: you can have a cornetto with custard cream, apricot jam, Nutella, or even pistachio cream!

Our favorite place to get one of these is Cornetteria Notte (Via delle Pinzochere), one of the best secret bakeries in Florence.

📍 Address: Via Pisana, 150R

a croissant filled with cream and topped with powdered sugar
Choose your favorite filling in a cornetti!

Scudieri

Do you want a coffee with a view? Then Scudieri can’t be beat. The place has the most spectacular view in Florence: it’s right in Piazza Duomo, in front of the Baptistry and the cathedral. If you ask any Florentine where they can find the best pastries in Florence, they’ll definitely tell you that this is the place.

On Sunday morning, Florentines who live in the city center (which are not that many) meet here with friends and family. This beloved spot is a bit on the pricey side, but it has the best pastries in Florence. Don’t miss the special Florentine pastries such as ricciarelli and cantucci.

📍 Address: Piazza di San Giovanni, 19R

The treats at Scudieri are what pastry dreams are made of. Photo credit: Justin Ennis

Insider’s Tip: Want to pair your pastry with delicious coffee? Then find out where to get the best coffee in Florence!

Antico Caffè Torino

Antico Caffè Torino is a little bit outside the city center, but it’s another place to find the best pastries in Florence. Their secret weapon? The chocolate millefoglie, hands-down one of the best pastries in Florence!

We recommend stopping here for breakfast or for a snack in the afternoon. The bakery has a nice outdoor patio where you can enjoy watching Florentines going about their lives.

📍 Address: Viale Giacomo Matteotti, 2/r

slice of chocolate millefoglie on a white plate with a fork.
This creamy and indulgent dessert with layers of puff pastry is a true treat. Photo Credit: Cookist

Cantucci di San Lorenzo

Cantucci aren’t pastries, but they’re definitely worth a trying. They’re almond biscuits that marry perfectly with vin santo, a sweet wine.

At Cantucci di San Lorenzo, though, they’re beautifully crafted with a twist. You can try cantucci covered in chocolate, cantucci with peanuts instead of almonds, cantucci with olives… well, basically, cantucci with everything you can imagine.

Even if they aren’t proper “pastries” as you know them, they certainly deserve a special place in your heart. Don’t be shy: let cantucci win you over!

📍 Address:  Via Faenza, 23/r

Glass of amber colored liquid with hard almond biscuits
Cantucci with vin santo? Don’t mind if we do! Photo credit: Pug Girl

Robiglio

If you come to Florence in winter, you may find one of the best traditional pastries in Florence: frittella di riso. It’s basically rice boiled in sweet milk, then fried and watered with rum.

Where can you find the best ones? At Robiglio, another historical place in Florence. But let’s face it, at Robiglio, all the pastries are the best pastries in Florence.

📍 Address: Via dei Medici, 16r

white plate of small donut hole-like pastries with white flowers nearby.
Who knew that balls of fried rice and milk could be so delicious? Photo Credit: 2 Amiche in Cucina

Pasticceria Nencioni

Pasticceria Nencioni is a dream come true. It has one of the widest choice of pastries in Florence, so you can even go wild and try something savory.

If you’re Team Sweet, you have to try their sacher torte. If you’re Team Savory, you really need to savor their assorted puff pastries.

📍 Address: Via Pietrapiana, 24/r

Window display of trays of different sweet pastries
Pasticceria Nencioni has one of the largest selections of pastries in Florence. Photo credit: Larry Lamsa

Galleria Iginio Massari

Are you looking for something more elevated for your pastries? Here’s a place you can’t miss: Galleria Iginio Massari. The head baker here is a renowned pastry chef, and we love him. His popularity has spread worldwide, so be prepared to pay for it.

Needless to say that everything here comes straight from heaven’s kitchen–they must have kitchens in heaven, right Make sure to try maritozzo: brioche filled with custard and whipped cream. Maritozzo comes from Rome, but the Florentines have made it even better.

📍 Address: Via de’ Vecchietti, 3

a pastry overstuffed with whipped cream
Imagine iced fingers from England, but even better! Photo credit: Gerjantd

A Final Tip for Visiting Bakeries in Florence

Pastries in Florence are perfect at every time of the day… but you probably won’t find bakeries open after dinnertime. Remember: the earlier you come in the morning, the fresher the ingredients are!

You’re now ready to explore the best pastries in Florence…and to choose which one are your favorites.

Tray of pastries including canoli, flaky pastries and green tarts
Take our word for it – Florence has plenty of delicious pastries! Photo credit: Valentina Locatelli

Looking for even more sweets? Make sure to check out our post on the best desserts in Florence!

Taste the Best of Florence With Us!

Want to eat like a true Florentine? Skip the tourist traps and dine in beloved neighborhood spots you won’t find in guidebooks on our Florence Food & Wine Tour. You’ll taste 8+ authentic Tuscan dishes, sip your way through Florence’s best wines, and learn the stories behind every bite.

A blonde woman in an off the shoulder blue dress eating gelato on a hot summer day in Florence.
Devour gelato with us on tour!

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– Eileen

Best Bakeries in Florence FAQs

What is the most famous bakery in Florence?

Florence is home to several historic bakeries and pastry shops, each with its own specialties. Longstanding cafés such as Caffè Gilli and Robiglio are famous for their traditional pastries, while newer artisan bakeries have helped make Florence an excellent destination for anyone with a sweet tooth.

What pastries should you try in Florence?

Some of Florence’s must-try pastries include cornetti (Italian croissants), budino di riso (rice pudding tarts), cantucci (almond biscotti), schiacciata alla fiorentina during Carnival season, and bomboloni, fluffy doughnuts filled with pastry cream or chocolate. These local specialties can be found in bakeries throughout the city.

What is the difference between an Italian bakery and a pasticceria?

An Italian forno or bakery typically focuses on bread, pizza, and savory baked goods, while a pasticceria specializes in pastries, cakes, cookies, and breakfast treats. Many cafés in Florence combine both, making them ideal places to enjoy an espresso with a freshly baked pastry.

What time should you visit a bakery in Florence?

Morning is the best time to visit a Florentine bakery, as it’s when the pastry selection is at its freshest. Many locals stop by for breakfast, enjoying a cornetto with a cappuccino. Popular bakeries may sell out of their signature items by late morning.

Are bakeries in Florence cash only?

Most bakeries in Florence now accept major credit and debit cards, especially in the city center. However, carrying a small amount of cash is still a good idea when visiting neighborhood bakeries or making small purchases.