Craving real Florence? These are the tables locals fight for.
If you’ve ever Googled “best restaurants in Florence,” you know the problem: same names, same crowds, English menus everywhere.
We spent years eating our way across the city and picked places beloved by Florentines and serious Italian food lovers. Some are old-school trattorie, some are creative and contemporary—but none are built for tourists.
👉 You’ll discover
• The real Fiorentino steakhouse—bistecca carved tableside and that chantilly-and-berries finale
• Why Sostanza’s sizzling “butter chicken” is a Florence original (and what it’s like at the communal tables)
• Where locals slip away for seafood: the Campo di Marte spot worth a taxi for octopus, branzino, and crisp Italian whites
• The Oltrarno duo: one anchovy-forward hideout with frittura mista and monkfish, and one stylish, contemporary kitchen with a younger crowd and bold pastas
🛎️ On-the-ground tips
• Reservation realities: who books out days ahead, who takes a deposit, and which days each place is closed
• Menu & diet clues: where gluten-free is easiest (grilled meats, fish), what vegetarians can count on, and why vegans may need to plan
• Seating & vibe: the cozy room with a Duomo mural and patio tables, the loud, lively dining room great for small groups, and when to ask for outdoor spots
🍝 RESTAURANTS WE FEATURE
• Perseus — Viale Don Giovanni Minzoni, 10/R — +39 055 588226
• Trattoria Sostanza — Via del Porcellana, 25/R — +39 055 212691
• L’Angolo del Mare — Viale Edmondo de Amicis, 1 — +39 055 626 6019
• Trattoria dei Fagioli — Corso dei Tintori, 47/R — +39 055 244285
• Il Guscio — Via dell’Orto, 49 — +39 055 224421
• Cibrèo Trattoria — Via dei Macci, 122/R — +39 055 234 1100
• Trattoria Angiolino — Via Santo Spirito, 36/R — +39 055 239 8976
• Burro & Acciughe — Via dell’Orto, 35/R — +39 055 045 7286
• Il Santo Bevitore — Via Santo Spirito, 64/R — +39 055 211264
Interactive and Downloadable Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1u268HgFowTILvxowI16oMI_5bwvJDFE&usp=sharing
Hi, we’re Anne and Ed from Our Big Italian Adventure.
We live part-time in Italy and help travelers 50+ enjoy the beauty, culture, and everyday magic of this country—without wasting time or energy.
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18 Comments
This list of Florence restaurants is incredibly helpful for finding authentic, local Tuscan food!
The reviews of the steakhouse Perseus and the classic Trattoria Sostanza are making me hungry. 🤤
👍👍11
You.must try Cibleo
Lovely recommendations. Can't wait to try when we return to Florence next spring. Sidenote: Anne and Ed. We just returned from Italy and can you believe 3 of the 4 trains we used were late!!!! One was 40 minutes late to Florence. HA!!! Thought you would get a giggle out to that. Buona Giornata!
Amo il santo bevitore. Ragazzi, avete pronunciato non parole ma intere frasi in perfetto italiano. So che per voi la nostra lingua è difficile. La fonetica è troppo diversa dall'inglese. Davvero bravi 🎉🎉❤
Hey everyone,
I have a huge recommendation for you while you're in Florence, but you have to promise me one thing: trust the locals, not the tourist reviews!
My good friend, Filippo, runs an amazing spot called Trattoria Da i' Coco Filippo. This is the furthest thing from a tourist trap you could imagine—it’s the place where Florentines go for real traditional cooking. It's truly authentic, down to earth, and the food is incredible.
Here is the most important part:
Skip the Bad Reviews: If you check online, you might see some low ratings, especially from tourists who didn't "get" the Florentine culture (for example, ordering a well-done steak is blasphemy here!). Don't worry about those; this is where you find the soul of the city’s cuisine.
The Magic Phrase: When you arrive, tell them you were sent by "Giuseppe from Viareggio". It will let Filippo and the staff know you’re a friend and not just a random tourist looking for a generic meal.
Filippo cooks with passion and tradition. Try the Pappa al Pomodoro, the Ribollita, or whatever they recommend as the special of the day.
You can check out their website here: trattoriadaicocofilippo.com
Enjoy the best, most authentic meal you'll have in Florence!
Best,
Come sempre precisi e puntuali! Complimenti! Mi piace vedervi mangiare con gusto e apprezzare la cucina italiana. Io non faccio testo: sono vegana. In Italia è quasi un sacrilegio! Ma ci siete voi che mi fate gustare metaforicamente tutti gli ottimi piatti che ordinate. Complimenti anche per il vostro italiano. E' sempre un grande piacere seguire i vostri video. Grazie mille!❤🤩🥰
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the merengue cake with wild strawberries at Sostanza. We went for the chicken and had dinner reservations for Dall’Oste that night so we weren’t planning on dessert. The lady at the table next to us basically ordered it for us because she said we couldn’t miss it. I’m glad she did. And yeah the chicken was probably the best chicken dish I’ve ever had.
Ciao " ragazzi"!! Ancora una volta vi faccio i complimenti per la vostra simpatia e bravura! Io conosco bene Firenze e mi fa piacere che piaccia anche a voi. Secondo me è magica. Ogni volta che ci andiamo non ci stanca mai! Vi voglio bene, continuate così! 😘😘
Steak for 2 and all the goodies included for 124euro? Ya. I’m doin’ it. So much more in the US.
I just found your channel and have been binge watching your videos. Thank you so much for these recommendations. We will be in Florence next year and would appreciate some more affordable dining options that are not street food (in addition to the trattoria in your other video). We will definitely try some of the options suggested here, but will need to intersperse them with ones that are a little bit more budget friendly. Many thanks and please keep the content coming!
Thank you for your time and advice. Any recommendations for Christmas dining in Florence?
I miei consigli, a parte la bistecca alla fiorentina e le penne strascicate; Ribollita, Pappa al pomodoro e anche pasta al ragù di lampredotto. Buon appetito.
Son and girlfriend just got back for a 2 weeks trip to Rome, Sicily, and Florence, and their conclusion about restaurant food was average not better than in the US. If your objective of your vacation is to find restaurants suggested by youtubers and take the time and effort to find them, that would be fine, but if your objective is for sightseeing and you are hungry, you'll stop by at any random restaurant in the area you are in and eat. That is also my conclusion when I travel, food was not better than at where I live, the food thing when traveling is over hyped!
We just returned from Florence and I would add Vini e Vecchi Sapori to your list. Great meal and fun atmosphere. Nothing like some of the stuffy places we visited there. Bit do get a reservation or you will not get in
Thank you both for making the effort and dedicating time to creating such a great restaurant review. I have placed some of your restaurants on my next gastronomic quest in Firenze!
Bravi belle scelte, vi siete mangiati mezza Firenze 😀
I usually go with Rick Steves' recommendations, but yours are pretty Ok too. In general Rick Steves' are cheaper for budget travelers and just as good if not better.
Thank you so much for these wonderful recommendations. We love Florence & will be there for a month in March & can’t wait to check out your recommendations. Every time I have pistachio gelato I think of you! Thank you!