Last Updated on January 19, 2026 by Emma Fajcz | Published: January 3, 2023
Let’s face it: Florence is crawling with tourists. During high season the streets and sites are packed, and tourist traps masquerading as authentic restaurants are on every corner. Not to mention, there’s over 2,000 restaurants in Florence! Never fear–skip the tourist traps and eat at these top 9 spots where locals eat in Florence.
Expert Tips for Dining in Florence
- Florence’s dining culture might be different than what you’re used to back home. The menu will be printed in Italian, and there’s no guarantee that your server will be able to translate.
- Stepping out of your comfort zone is worth it! Come with an open mind, a bit of patience, and a big appetite.
- Brush up on your basic Italian language skills, because they will come in handy!
Fedora Pastry Shop
If you’re not ready for a full-on Italian immersion, then the Fedora School Pastry Shop is a good spot. English-speaking chefs in training plan and prepare all the food at this public extension of the APICIUS International School of Hospitality. The hospitality students that serve you speak English as well!
The rotating lunch and dinner menu is planned and prepared by the talented students of the culinary school. Eat alongside locals and students in the quiet courtyard just a few minutes walk from the Duomo.
Mercato Centrale
Visiting markets is a great opportunity to experience local life. When you go to the Mercato Centrale, you’ll also find that it’s the preferred lunch spot where locals go to eat in Florence.
Browse the stalls full of local Tuscan cheeses, pasta, and veggies to your heart’s content, and then grab a spot at the upper-level food court. The options might not seem very Italian, but the locals like it that way.
One Italian-ish option that we love is trapizzino. It’s a Roman street food that’s like a triangle-shaped pizza pocket full of cheese and other delicious seasonal ingredients.
Trippaio del Porcellino
If you want to eat like a true Florentine, then you have to try lampredotto. Lampredotto is one of those things that’s probably better to try now, and then find out what it is later.
Considered a street food, most locals will get their lampredotto from one of many carts throughout the city. Our favorite is Trippaio del Porcellino (Via di Capaccio) located behind the Il Porcellino statue. The tripe makers here have been in business for over 100 years, so they know what they’re doing. Their panino al lampredotto with salsa verde washed down with a cup of red wine is as local as it gets.
Semel Street Food
Another panini spot that’s a favorite among locals is Semel Street Food (Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti 44/R). Tucked in next to the Sant’Ambrogio market, Semel serves up gourmet panini with friendly service. Enjoy a warm sandwich filled with local flavors like anchovies, fennel, and orange, or cheese with pear and truffle.
So you can dine with confidence, don’t hesitate to ask the owner to translate the menu. His English might not be perfect, but rest assured that whatever you order will be tasty.
Antico Ristoro di Cambi
For authentic Florentine steak, look no further than Ristoro Cambi. The historical restaurant is proudly Tuscan, openly displaying their selection of cold cuts and raw steaks. They also boast a cellar with a hundred different Tuscan wines.
Ristoro Cambi is popular among in-the-know tourists, but the restaurant has maintained its identity so well over the years that it remains a local favorite.
Osteria Santo Spirito
The Santo Spirito neighborhood is worth the trip across the river to experience this truly authentic–and a little bit eclectic–area. You won’t go wrong with any restaurant you pop into, but one local favorite is Osteria Santo Spirito (Piazza di Santo Spirito 12).
Osteria Santo Spirito is loved for their big portions and great prices. Enjoy the beautiful simplicity of classic Tuscan dishes like spaghetti alla chitarra with tomatoes. You can also go for a more decadent meal of gnocchi with truffles.
Trattoria Da Sostanza
Trattoria da Sostanza (Via del Porcellana 25R) may have upped their Instagram game in recent years, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re a tourist trap! The menu of Tuscan classics, family-style seating arrangement and cash-only operation make eating here a unique, authentically Italian experience.
While you can enjoy an excellent bistecca at Sostanza, the signature butter chicken and artichoke pie are truly special. Trattoria da Sostanza is very popular, so be sure to make a reservation. To really eat like a local, eat late at 9:00 p.m.
Trattoria La Casalinga
Casalinga means “housewife” in Italian. When you dine at Trattori a La Casalinga, you’ll get a taste of downhome Tuscan cooking so warm and comforting you’ll think the recipes must be straight from an Italian housewife’s cookbook! However, Casalinga was actually founded by two men in the 1960s and remains a family-owned establishment to this day.
Inspired by countryside cooking, Casalinga is the spot to go for hearty dishes. Think thick pappardelle with rich ragu, Tuscan beef stew peposo, and plenty of roasted meats and vegetables.
Want an Expert Local to Show You Where to Eat?
Want to skip the confusing options and tourist menus while you’re visiting Florence? Save a spot on our Florence Food and Wine Tour! One of our expert local guides will take you to the easily-overlooked places where the Florentines eat. You’ll enjoy artisan charcuterie, local pasta, and a sizzling bistecca alla Fiorentina, then you’ll sip prosecco through a centuries-old wine window and learn the secrets of the best negroni.
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– JadeKennedy on Tripadvisor
Where the Locals Eat in Florence FAQs
How do you spot a tourist trap restaurant in Florence? If a restaurant has a big, multilingual menu on a poster outside, and/or someone trying to coax you in, go in the other direction. This type of restaurant is quite common near monuments and in city centers.
When do Italians eat lunch and dinner in Florence? Italians tend to eat later than Americans. Most places open for lunch around 12:30, get really busy around 1:30, and finish up around 3:00. At dinner, the restaurant might open at 7:30, but doesn’t start to fill up until 8:30 or 9:00. Generally, the further south in Italy you go, the later people eat. A good rule of thumb? Reserve at 1:00 for lunch, and 9:00 at dinner.
Do I need to tip at restaurants in Florence? The answer is yes, but not like in America. Italians consider tipping to be a nice little addition to, rather than an integral part of, the bill. Usually, you round up to a whole number and leave your waiter the change. So, if the bill is €92, leaving €100 is perfectly okay. And no, contrary to popular belief, the staff will not be offended by tipping. They’ll warmly thank you, and maybe even offer you another limoncello before you leave.
What are some must-try foods in Florence?A must-eat in Florence is bistecca alla fiorentina, the city’s iconic T-bone steak, grilled rare and seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Also try ribollita or pappa al pomodoro, two classic Tuscan soups, along with fresh pasta dishes like pappardelle al cinghiale (wide noodles with wild boar ragù). To finish, a scoop of artisanal gelato or a cantuccio (hard almond biscuit) dipped in Vin Santo are delicious options.
