Best spots for food in Florence?
I'm heading to Florence in the next week and have been building up a deficit of calories in anticipation! Can anyone recommend some hidden gem spots where we can find really good authentic food? And do we need reservations?
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4 Comments:
I'm so jealous!!
-da il Latini (homestyle Tuscan, great for groups, I would make a reservation)
-Coco Lezzone (also very homestyle)
-Acqua al 2 (due): very touristy but amazing food. Esp. the bistecca con aceto balsamico (steak with balsamic vinegar reduction)
-Osteria Santo Spirito (beautiful setting)
-Antico Noe (GREATEST sandwich shop and also a trattoria.)
-il Pinolo (great pizza)
And for gelato, my favorite place was Perche No!
LiveToEat at 3:11PM on 09/10/08
I spent last fall there, and I think I gathered up a pretty good list of spots to hit:
- Alla Vecchia Bettola (fantastic trattoria. Also a bit further out from the center, but easy to get to by cab or bus.)
- Entoteca La Sosta del Rossellino (in Settignano. Just take the #10 bus out of town to Settignano, a charming and tiny hill town just to the NE of Florence. Get the wine pairings with your food - it's unforgettable.)
- Olio e Convivium (upscale spot for lunch or dinner in the Oltrarno. They also sell olive oil, vinegar, wine, etc.)
- Pugi (on Piazza San Marco for excellent focaccie and panini)
- Gelateria de' Medici (out by Fortezza da Basso, a 10-15 minute walk from Stazione Santa Maria Novella. Much better in terms of quality and price value than any of the "major" spots closer to the center.)
- Vestri (for chocolate gelato and intense hot chocolate, which makes for a great afternoon snack on a rainy day.)
- Il Pizzaiuolo (I got pizza here once, and it was good but not great. Go here if you *really* want Neapolitan-style pizza while in Florence. Otherwise, save your appetite for Tuscan food and seek out pizza elsewhere in Italy or the US!)
The only one you'll probably need reservations for is Olio e Convivium, although Alla Vecchia Bettola can get very crowded. Hope this helps. Have a great time!
emmab at 4:24PM on 09/10/08
Io amo Firenze!! I spent this last spring there. For panini try Bar Pitti across the street from Palazzo Pitti. There's a gelateria right on the Ponte Santa Trinita` that has some of the most amazing flavor combinations, even if it is a little pricier than others. And the San Lorenzo marketplace has a fantastic selection, along with a tiny little restaurant between the meat counters of the indoor section. I highly recommend it for lunch; inexpensive, OUTRAGEOUSLY good lasagne, and quick, friendly service (plus a bilingual menu! =)).
kfarrel3 at 5:38PM on 09/10/08
...awww.... I thought you meant Florence, Oregon and was excited that I could recommend a couple of restaurants. (Never been to Florence, Italy).
Just in case anyone goes to Florence, Oregon here are a couple of great places: Morgan's Country Kitchen (great food!) located about 3 miles south of the Florence bridge. Mo's Restaurant (seafood) located on the wharf in "Old Town" Florence. The BlueHen Restaurant located towards northern Florence and fabulous ice cream is at "BJ's Ice Cream" across from Mo's and a second location in Northern Florence.
catadams at 1:01AM on 09/15/08