Where do we even begin to list the best restaurants in Florence? The best restaurant really depends on what you’re in the mood to eat. Whether you’re craving a heap of homemade pasta or have a hunger only a pizza could fix, one of Florence’s over 2,000 restaurants will serve whatever you desire.
This is our list of the 10 best restaurants in Florence to try this year, from rustic trattorias to modern hot spots. It will be tough to “let Instagram eat first” because these places are so good you will dive right in!
Trattoria dall’Oste
Specializing in the world famous bistecca alla fiorentina, Trattoria dall’Oste is a must try in Florence. Get the best taste of Tuscany with the Chianina cattle breed T-bone steak, or experiment with any of their 12 certified meats from around the world like Wagyu or Black Angus. The expansive menu offers classic Tuscan dishes, pasta, tartare, and Tuscan black truffles to accompany your perfectly grilled bistecca.
Cucina in Torre
Cucina in Torre serves regional Tuscan dishes with a refined flair in their intimate dining room. Enjoy a “Super Tuscan” wine from the cantina with plates like homemade gnocchi with gorgonzola and walnuts or the traditional Tuscan beef stew peposo al impruneta. With a friendly and helpful waitstaff, Cucina in Torre is family friendly while also a quiet spot for a romantic date night.
Ciro & Sons
The dining room at Ciro & Sons will be the most gorgeous place in which you eat Neapolitan pizza ever. The family-owned restaurant has over 70 years of pizza-making experience, and you have a chance to learn from the experts when you book a pizza-making class. Everyone in your group will enjoy their meal at Ciro & Sons as they offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free options.
La Giostra
Step back in time and eat like royalty at La Giostra. Apparently a favorite of Elton John, La Giostra is certainly one of the best restaurants in Florence.
Founded by descendants of the Hapsburg royal family, La Giostra serves elevated Italian dishes and a superb wine list several pages longer than the food menu. The beautiful dining area is in a centuries old converted carousel house, complete with brick arches and stained glass.
Trattoria Mario
Family owned since 1953, you can taste the love in every dish at Trattoria Mario (Via Rosina 2R). Located just behind Mercato Centrale, Trattoria Mario has a rotating weekly menu with different specials every day. Enjoy “fish Friday” the Tuscan way with baccalà, stewed salt cod in herbal tomato sauce. Daily menu offerings include their signature “super” ragù and ribollita, a Tuscan bread soup with vegetables.
Trattoria 13 Gobbi
People can’t get enough of Trattoria 13 Gobbi. Considering the large and varied menu of Italian favorites, 13 Gobbi will surely welcome you back as a return visitor.
Enjoy an appetizer of the finest Italian cheese and cold cuts, followed by pasta or meat from the grill. Don’t forget dessert! Try their cheesecake, chocolate cake with pear, or the more traditional twice-baked cantucci cookies and vin santo dessert wine.
Ristorante Vetreria
Vetreria (Via del Proconsolo 30) is a boutique restaurant with an impressive menu centered around “Vetreria Strada”–their signature elevated street food. Chef Salvo Pellegriti prepares unique dishes like sweet and sour rabbit kidney with caviar and pomegranate, and a burger with homemade barbecue sauce and truffled brie. Vetreria also serves pizza, homemade pasta, delectable desserts, and has an extraordinary wine selection.
Insider’s Tip: Curious to know where locals eat in Florence? We’ve got a list of local-approved options, too!
B-Roof
Have a meal with a view at B-Roof, the fine dining restaurant on top of the historic Hotel Baglioni just a 2-minute walk from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station. The outdoor terraces of B-Roof offer a 360 degree view of Florence, perfect for an unforgettable dining experience.
The menu takes Tuscan flavors and presents them at their very best. Feast upon picture-perfect dishes like risotto with saffron or braised lamb with artichokes.
Ristorante Frescobaldi Firenze
On a quiet corner of Piazza della Signoria sits Ristorante Frescobaldi Firenze, an elegant restaurant with a completely seasonal menu. All pasta and bread is homemade, and the fantastic wine selection will undoubtedly offer the perfect pairing for your meal.
Enjoy a meal from the well-curated tasting menu or order your Italian favorites à la carte like beef carpaccio and fried calamari.
La Ménagère
Enjoy cocktails and tapas at the Instagram-worthy La Ménagère restaurant and bar. The mixologists are total pros, and with their wide selection of spirits you can have your drink exactly how you like it. The tapas are excellent for a light lunch or a romantic dinner, and you have the choice to order the tasting menu or á la carte.
Want to get an even more exclusive look at the ins and outs of Italian food culture? Our Oltrarno at Sunset: Florence Food & Wine Tour is calling your name. Join us and discover even more of our favorite local restaurants!
Verity Pryor-Harden is a freelancer of many talents living in the historical Tuscan city of Arezzo while studying Visual Communications in Florence. She’s a sucker for a cold spritz in a piazza on a hot day, enjoys making bizarre wine pairings, and is a Tuscan street food enthusiast. Follow along on Instagram @verityeph.