Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Emma Fajcz | Published: January 28, 2022
Lunch in Italy is nothing less than a sacred affair. Particularly in Florence, food and culture go hand in hand. Learn how to eat like a local in the cradle of the Renaissance with our 5 best lunch spots in Florence!
At a Glance: Eating Lunch in Florence
- π What Time Do Florentines Eat Lunch? Locals typically eat lunch around 1-2 pm.
- πΆ Average Lunch Price: Plan on about €15–€30 per person, depending on whether you choose a sandwich, street food, food market, or a sit-down trattoria.
- π₯ͺ Tuscan Foods to Try: Look for pappa al pomodoro (a soup), ribollita (panade), lampredotto (tripe), Florentine steak (bistecca alla fiorentina), schiacciata (Tuscan pizza), and cured meats and cheeses.
- π· What to Drink: Tuscan wine is the classic drink at lunch, particularly with hearty meat dishes. Local beers also pair well with schiacciata and sandwiches.
- π Are Reservations Required? You won’t need reservations to eat at food markets, sandwich shops, or casual street-food spots. For sit-down trattorias, call ahead or check online to see if a reservation is needed.
- π³ Expect a Cover Charge: Most sit-down restaurants add a coperto (a cover charge) to the bill; it typically ranges between €2-5. By law, it must be listed at the top or bottom of the menu.
- π° Are Tips Expected? No, tipping is not mandatory in Florence. Sometimes a gratuity is added to your bill, but if you want to top, you can round up the bill or leave a little cash on your table.
- π¨ Save Room for Dessert: We have one hard-and-fast rule: leave room for the best gelato in Florence after lunch. Thank us later!
Top 5 Spots for the Best Lunch in Florence (And What to Order)
Palle d’Oro
If you want to taste typical Tuscan dishes made authentically, your best bet is Palle d’Oro. Located near the Mercato di San Lorenzo (as well as the Basilica di San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels), this warm, wood-accented restaurant offers a wide range of delicious traditional Florentine plates.
Think everything from delicate pappa al pomodoro (typical Tuscan tomato soup) to the adventurous panino con lampredotto (a sandwich with vegetables, sauces and tripe)! The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, and you’ll soon feel right at home.
Insider Tip: Palle d’Oro is an inviting option both day and night, but heads up: it’s closed on Sunday.
π Location: Via Sant’Antonino, 43/45r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
There’s nothing like eating authentic Tuscan cuisine!
Mercato Centrale
Just near Palle d’Oro, in the middle of the outdoor Mercato di San Lorenzo, you’ll easily spot Mercato Centrale. This is a proper Florentine food market where the best Italian (and Tuscan) cuisine emerges in the form of small, cozy restaurants (called botteghe, or “stores”).
Strolling through the Mercato Centrale, you’ll spot some typical mouthwatering dishes, such as a nice Florentine steak, pasta with truffles, innumerable versions of the famous panino col lampredotto, and the equally delicious schiacciata, a softer version of pizza native to Tuscany.
But if you’re still indecisive, Mercato Centrale can nevertheless offer the ideal quick (or slow) lunch you desire. From a traditional Italian pizza to fried food, from sushi to vegan and vegetarian dishes, Mercato Centrale is always a good idea!
I’ Girone de’ Ghiotti & Gustarium
If you happen to be close to the Musei del Bargello (or if you want to visit it after lunch), there are two worthwhile restaurants nearby—on the same street, in fact! On Via dei Cimatori, you’ll find I’ Girone de’ Ghiotti and Gustarium.
Both offer great pizza—we mean schiacchiata—and are ideal even for vegans and vegetarians. The menus are set, but that’s just to avoid you being spoiled for choice! In fact, you’ll still find a rich and colorful list of sandwiches and schiacciate, with practically every filling you can dream of—from traditional sliced cold cuts to inviting porchetta.
I’ Girone de’ Ghiotti and Gustarium are street food restaurants that will introduce you to the beauty of Italian fast-but-slow food. Combine their offerings with a good glass of wine (both spots have plenty of options), and your lunch break will taste like paradise.
π Location: Visit I’ Girone de’ Ghiotti at Via dei Cimatori, 23 and find Gustarium at Via dei Cimatori, 24r.
I Fratellini
Another option on Via dei Cimatori that you really can’t miss is I Fratellini, a traditional Florentine tavern which has been serving amazing panini sandwiches in Florence since 1875.
Here you will find typical Tuscan deli-style bites, such as finocchiona (typical Tuscan salami flavored with fennel), lardo di Colonnata (a fatty cut of pork flavored with pepper, cumin, cilantro and rosemary), pecorino (typical sheep’s milk cheese) and boar salami, which will enrich your sandwich with a unique taste.
π Location: Via dei Cimatori, 38/r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
What to Drink at Lunch in Florence
If you find all these restaurants and dishes as mouthwatering as we do, you’re not alone. The only thing left to do is choose a drink to wash it all down.
In all the above-mentioned restaurants, you’ll find a wide variety of wines and beers—the first being ideal for hearty traditional dishes, and the latter being the perfect match for lighter bites like schiacciata and sandwiches.
However, don’t underestimate the poetic power of a cold beer paired with a platter of Tuscan charcuterie or a Florentine steak. Try it and you’ll be awestruck!
Don’t Want to Plan Dinner? Join Us on Tour!
You’ve picked a great place for lunch, but what about your dinner plans? Save a spot on our Florence Food and Wine Tour.
Cut through the tourist menus and experience how Tuscans really eat. You’ll get to sip prosecco through a centuries-old wine window, learn the secrets of the best negroni, and graze from aperitivo to dessert with 8+ dishes and 4 drinks. Let’s devour Florence together!
Experiencing Florence like a local is an experience you won’t soon forget!
Featured Review: Florence Food & Wine Tour
βββββ “Our Sunset Oltrarno tour was excellent and everything provided was exactly as described! I can’t say enough good things about our guide, Marilisa, who was charming, funny, and very knowledgeable about the neighborhood and each place we visited. I especially love that we visited locally owned businesses. Highly recommend this experience to get an authentic taste of Oltrarno!”
– Leann
Best Lunch Spots in Florence FAQs
What time do Italians eat lunch in Florence?
Locals eat lunch in Florence typically between 1 and 2 pm. If you want to eat earlier, some sandwich shops, markets, and street-food spots start serving lunch earlier.
What is the best traditional Florentine lunch to try?
A traditional Florentine lunch could include pappa al pomodoro, lampredotto, or Florentine steak. Pappa al pomodoro is a rustic Tuscan tomato and bread soup, while lampredotto is slow-cooked tripe sandwich served with Italian green salsa. For a larger sit-down meal, bistecca alla fiorentina is one of Florence’s signature dishes.
Where can you get a quick lunch in Florence?
Mercato Centrale and Via dei Cimatori are excellent areas for a quick lunch in Florence. Mercato Centrale has numerous food stalls and casual eateries serving everything from pizza and pasta to Florentine specialties, while Via dei Cimatori is home to popular sandwich and schiacciata spots such as I’ Girone de’ Ghiotti, Gustarium, and I Fratellini.
What is a schiacciata sandwich in Florence?
Schiacciata is a Tuscan flatbread that is commonly used to make sandwiches in Florence. It has a softer, richer texture than typical pizza dough and is often filled with cured meats, cheeses, porchetta, or other savory ingredients.
What do you drink with lunch in Florence?
Wine is the classic drink to pair with a traditional Florentine lunch, while beer works particularly well with sandwiches and schiacciata.
