10.29.2015

My personal Tripadvisor - Restaurants in Florence

Buca Lapi - Bistecca
Tripadvisor is the most utilized way to check out Hotels and Restaurants; at least to have an idea of the type of place, where is located and see some photos. I do it myself too, and I also write feedbacks. But somehow you also have to be careful with Tripadvisor, cause not always it reflects the reality, especially when it comes to “where you are listed as position”.

So, since you often ask my opinion on where you sleep and eat, here’s my personal list

My favourite restaurants in Florence and surroundings

Tripadvisor – mmmm for the restaurants section I do not entirely agree ! The first 20/30 places are ice cream places (Gelateria) and sandwich stands where it is a miracle if you have a stool – no problem with sandwich and icecream ,  but how can you call these places “restaurants”???
My favourite places are normally easy going Trattorias where the relationship between quality/quantity and price is very good – I like to eat, I love going out for dinner, and for me this is a big part of a trip. You will find in my list also some gourmet place, but in general I’m not that type of person, I enjoy fine dining, but it is kind of too much, especially the too formal atmosphere.

Then another aspect to clarify – all of you ask me “I don’t want a tourist place” – I understand you wish a place where you do not have a fix menu with photos and 200 languages, or those creapy buffet places, but if you mean “I don’t want to hear English speaking” well, this is NOT POSSIBLE. Not even out of the city center. So, I will tell you places very good, very friendly, where as a local I go myself too, excellent wine list but for sure you will find tourists, Florence is full of tourists, luckily, and Florentines are rare as pandas... 
Divided by category:

Trattorias
Easy going places, typical, casual, Tuscan food, some will reflect the stereotypical idea of Tuscany, some have a modern twist – price range 35-70 Euro

Buca Lapi - one the best Bistecca in town (T-Bone steak), a bit more pricey but absolutely worthed, very difficult to get reservation, open just for dinner 
Via del Trebbio 1/r - Tornabuoni area - 055 213768

Touch Bistro - my number one right now - fresh tuscan cuisine, with a superb presentation and a TOP service, high level - small, intimate, out of the tourist path, local. Open just for dinner, in the morning they organize private cooking classes, for small groups, with visit to the local farmers market  
Via di Mezzo 42/r, 18/red - Santa Croce area - 055 2466150
Cinghiale Bianco - I adore the staff, too friendly, special for wild boar, artichokes salad and Mascarpone Cream - open only for dinner during the week, on the weekend also for lunch 
Borgo San Jacopo, 43 - Oltrarno area - 055 215706
Mangiafoco - charming wine bar with an extensive menu for pasta lovers, meat and vegetarian eaters, but especially for those who loves wine. In the good season you will find also truflle!
Open lunch and dinner, but also in the afternoon you can taste their great trays of coldcuts and cheeses 
Borgo SS Apostoli 26/r - Ponte Vecchio area - 055 2658170

Vini e Vecchi Sapori (no website) - literally a hole in the wall, few tables, always packed, but if you are lucky to get a table you are going to love this typical, crazy, busy and super florentine place. Pappardelle with duck sauce is my choice, and also raspberries Tiramisù - open lunch and dinner 
Via dei Magazzini 3 red - Signoria area - 055 293045

Il Parione - charming trattoria, great steak, also pasta and dessert are very good. In a nice quiet street, that has the same name 
Via del Parione 74/76 red - Tornabuoni area - 055 214005
Paoli - in a beautiful historical palace with frescoed ceilings and walls, an excellent choice especially for lunch since it is in the heart of downtown, where it is not easy to find a good place during your touring day 
Via dei Tavolini 12/r - Signoria area - 055 216215
Sostanza (no website) - super easy, super rustic, excellent Bistecca and artichokes omelette, only cash payment, open lunch and dinner, difficult to get a reservation 
Via del Porcellana 25/red - Santa Maria Novella area - 055 212691
Pandemonio - let Mamma taking care of you, she will treat you like the typical italian mum, so filling you up with good food! Open lunch and dinner 
Via del Leone 50/red - Oltrarno area  - 055 224002

Vecchia Bettola (no website) - just outside of the historical center, typical and old fashioned style trattoria, try fried things like chicken or rabbit, open lunch and dinner -  Via Vasco Pratolini, 3 - Oltrarno area, outside of the ancient wall- 055 224158

13 Gobbi - busy, lively, excellent wine list, fresh homemade pasta, open lunch and dinner - Via del Porcellana 9/red - Santa Maria Novella area - 055 284015

Fonticine - excellent Bistecca, old fashioned classic
Restaurant, open lunch and dinner 
via Nazionale 79/red - San Lorenzo area - 055 282106
Santo Bevitore - trendy and famous wine bar now trasformed in a trattoria, excellent wine list - open lunch and dinner, difficult to get reservation 
Via Santo Spirito 64/66 red- Oltrarno area - 055 211264

Buca Mario - historical place located in the basement of a noble palace (the typical "Buca") very good service, top wine list open just for dinner 
Piazza Ottaviani 16/red - Santa Maria Novella area - 055 214179

Osteria di Poneta - outside of the city center, but worthed the trip - small, warm, welcoming, excellent pasta and meat - highly recommended! 
Via Di Novoli, 73 - Novoli Area - Northern area of the city, not far from the airport - bus n. 22 or 10 minutes by cab from the center - 055  411082

Buca Mario - Fried Zucchini and Chicken
Touch - Ravioli with meat and creamy sauce
Sostanza - artichokes omelette

13 Gobbi - Gorgonzola Zucchini and Pine Nuts
Santo Bevitore - Pici al Ragout


Nice, Gourmet, Romantic, Chic

Konnubio - very very nice location, relaxed and romantic, the Chef Beatrice Segoni prepare great dishes for all tastes - meat, fish, pasta and an extensive vegan menu. Reservation at dinner is a must, for lunch is a bit more quiet. Open daily all day long (kitchen for food opens 12,00/03,00 - 07,00/11,00 ) 
Via dei Conti 8 red- Cathedral/Medici Chapels area - 055 2381189

Cestello - hip, cool, luxurious, in a very nice square, they also have an outdoor patio. A very rich menu, with a lot of fresh fish selection, also the fish market stand where you can point your choice and ask how to cook it to the Chef - open just for dinner 
Piazza del Cestello  -Oltrarno area - 055 2645364

BSJ  Borgo San Jacopo 1 Michelin Star- this beautiful, elegant restaurant overlooks the river Arno, and it is the best frame for a very romantic dinner. Part of the Lungarno Collection Hotels, you can feel the Ferragamo touch everywhere - open just for dinner 
Borgo San Jacopo 62, Oltrarno area - 055 281661
Io Osteria Personale - very small and intimate, young and different, it will surprise you. Relaxed atmosphere, very interesting wine list 
Borgo San Frediano 167/red - Oltrarno - 055 9331341
Enoteca Pinchiorri 1 Michelin Star- what an experience.... it is not my number 1 only because of the price! I could only afford it few times in my life, but memories are impossible to erase. You feel like a king and queen, in term of service and ambience, you feel in paradise in term of cuisine and WINE! Open just for dinner - jacquet is required for gentlemen 
Via Ghibellina, 87 - Santa Croce area - 055 242757

BSJ - Potatoes Variation Menu

Cestello - Fritto misto

For a quick byte, lunch, winebar

Mangiafoco - lovely, adorable, excellent wine list, tray of ham, cold cuts and cheeses but also pasta, salads, Burrata 
Borgo SS Apostoli, 26 Red - Ponte Vecchio area - 055 2658170

Le Volpi e l’Uva - small wine bar, a real wine, where you can only get a quick crostino or some ham and cheese, excellent wine list 
Piazza dei Rossi, 1 - Oltrarno area, just by the Ponte Vecchio - 055 2398132
San Lorenzo Market first floor - restored in 2014, the first floor of the Market is a great place! Different stands where you can take your pizza, or pasta, or buffalo mozzarella, and then eat it in the central tables all together!  
Piazza Mercato Centrale

Caffe Megara - simple bar for your lunch, sandwiches, salads but also good pasta 
Via della Spada, 15 - Tornabuoni area - 055 211837

'Ino - luxurious sandwiches or trays of cheeses and coldcuts 
Via dei Georgofili 3 red - Ponte Vecchio area

All'Antico Vinaio - best sandwich in this world famous place! Lines always long, try to go off of the rush hours - Finocchiona is my Number1 ingredients there - try it!
Via dei Neri - Santa Croce area
San Lorenzo Market first floor

Pizza?

Do you prefer the thin one or the Napoli style one, a bit thicker at the border? Here my list:
Obica Mozzarella Bar - beautiful setting and location, elegant but laid back, their best part is mozzarella! Excellent pizza but also pasta, salads, highly recommended  
Via de Tornabuoni, 16 - Tornabuoni area - 055 2773526

Neromo - one of the coolest restaurant in town, in a very busy and trendy district - reserve!
Borgo San Frediano - Oltrarno area - 055 2382645

Osteria Caffè Italiano - the pizzeria side of the restaurant is very easy,  not possible to reserve - but it will be worthed :)  
Via Isole delle Stinche 11/13 red - Santa Croce area - 055 289080

Pizzaiuolo - one of the best in town! Preferred for lunch, cause they are a bit less busy...  reservation is a must 
Via dè Macci, 113 - Sant'Ambrogio area - 055 241171

Vico del Carmine - the setting is a typical Napoli Street - with balconies and clothes hanged to dry up Via Pisana 40 red - Oltrarno area, just outside the ancient wall - 055 2336862

O' Munaciello - also this place is a real jump into the South! Often with live music, very nice and excellent food 
Via Maffia 31 - Oltrarno area - 055 287198

Outside town

I wish to indicate you some names not to far from the city, maximum 15 minutes drive.

Casa del Prosciutto (Fiesole) - simple, family style, to reach it just pass the town of Fiesole, you will find it on the main street. Excellent Prosciutto and Salumi, and of course meat. Cheap! 
Via dei Bosconi, 58 - Fiesole 055 548830

Da Tullio (Montebeni, near Fiesole) - into a little Borgo of few houses, it is hidden this lovely place, where I had the best fried chicken, rabbit and vegetables in my life. Perfect for a Sunday lunch out of the hustle and bustle of the city 
Via Ontignano, 48 - Fiesole 055 697354

Omero (Pian dei Giullari) - just above the Piazzale Michelangelo, an historical trattoria where you can taste the best grilled meat and chicken - views on the city 
Via del Pian dei Giullari, 47 Firenze - 055 220053

Casa del Prosciutto - Gorgeous Tortelli 

Da Tullio - Antipasto misto
Would you like some tips also for hotels? Here they are :)

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