You will not be disappointed if you seek the greatest restaurants in Florence, Italy.
The city has many restaurants, from basic trattorias to Michelin-starred institutions. Whatever your budget, you’ll be able to locate a restaurant that meets your tastes.
One of the nicest aspects of dining out in Florence is the variety of cuisine available.
You’ll find it here whether you’re craving Italian staples like spaghetti and pizza or something more exotic like Thai or Indian cuisine.
Of course, no trip to Florence would be complete without sampling some of the city’s renowned gelato.
Finding the top restaurants in Florence will be one of the pleasures of your vacation, with so many excellent alternatives available.
Epicurious Florence
Florence is home to some of the best culinary experiences in Italy, ranging from traditional cuisine to international dishes.
If you’re looking for a place to try an authentic Bistecca Fiorentina, taste excellent Tuscany wines, or enjoy a romantic dinner with your date, this list of the Best Restaurants in Florence has something for everyone!
Osteria Francescana
Of all the Restaurants in Florence, Osteria Francescana is the place to go if you’re looking for the best traditional Tuscan food.
Located in a 16th-century monastery overlooking Florence from above Fiesole, this restaurant offers some of Italy’s most creative and delicious dishes.
The chefs work with fresh ingredients sourced locally, then cook in the kitchen with a modern twist.
Trattoria da Benvenuto
Benvenuto is probably one of the most traditional Restaurants in Florence, which makes it perfect for those seeking Italian food done right.
Named after Dante Alighieri’s “Benvenuto Cellini,” this restaurant offers both a traditional Tuscan menu and an international one that includes dishes from Spain, France, Argentina, Brazil, and the U.S.
Enoteca Pinchiorri
The Enoteca Pinchiorri has ranked number one in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
This restaurant has been serving up some of Italy’s best food since 1963 – not counting all those years before it was just a family home! It features four different dining areas, including an indoor glass wine cellar with a stunning view.
With three Michelin Stars, a wine list called “impressive” by The Times, and an incredible kitchen staff who work their magic all day long, it’s easy to see how this restaurant earned its reputation as one of Europe’s most luxurious.
The menu is constantly changing, but this eatery is famous for its pasta dishes made with fresh and in-season produce.
The wine list features over 180 wines from around the world, making it so impressive.
And if you’re not sure why that’s such a big deal, then take note that in the wine tasting course, they will serve you only four wines.
This place served food even before Florence had its government.
Trattoria Napoleone
This restaurant is one of my personal favorites.
Trattoria Napoleone is an Italian restaurant that combines the traditions of old-world Italy with a modern approach.
The interior design is rustic and comfortable, while the dishes are authentic Tuscan specialties such as pasta al aglio e oglio or bistecca alla Fiorentina.
Furniture, paintings, chandeliers, and knick-knacks come from travels, markets, and antique dealers, enriched by the experience of those who built them with their own hands and those who used them.
This restaurant is the perfect place to grab a glass of wine and enjoy an evening with friends.
Address: Piazza del Carmine, 24, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy
Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolo
Walk straight into Florence’s most historic district and discover where you can enjoy Tuscan home cooking at its freshest, with dishes related to the changing seasons for an experience like no other.
What is better than having meals close to one of Italy’s landmarks?
An ancient tavern that has seen it all: from battles against invaders back when there was still plague in Florence; through the Renaissance era, right up until today!
Have you ever wondered what Florentine steak tastes like or how lampredotto differs from the bolognese sauce?
Well, now you have your chance as this centuries-old establishment offers traditional Italian cuisine mixed with new creations inspired by local flavors.
Your visit will be even more enjoyable if paired with a glass of the famous Chianti wine, which you should never drink alone!
Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolo is not simply any old restaurant. It has stood through time and withstood many ordeals to be one of Florence’s favorite eateries today. It has the freshest seafood of all Restaurants in Florence.
The cooks at this family-run bistro are not afraid to use an oven or grill, resulting in a decadent menu bursting with flavor.
Il Santo Bevitore
Il Santo Bevitore is an Italian restaurant that serves homemade pasta and pizza with organic produce.
They serve delicious dishes like spaghetti pesto, lasagna di Pomodoro, e Basilico, which pair well with their wine list.
There are two dining rooms inside the restaurant, or you can enjoy your meal outside at one of the many tables with views over Campo Dei Fiori Square.
If great service paired with excellent food and wine sounds like something you’re looking for, don’t forget to make a stop next time you’re in town.
Caffe dell Oro
Il Santo Bevitore is an Italian restaurant that serves homemade pasta and pizza with organic produce.
They serve various delicious dishes like spaghetti pesto and lasagna di Pomodoro e Basilico, which pair well with their wine list.
There are two dining rooms inside the restaurant, or you can enjoy your meal outside at one of the many tables with views over Campo Dei Fiori Square.
If great service paired with excellent food and wine sounds like something right for you, then don’t forget to make a stop next time you’re in town.
La Leggenda dei Frati
A visit to Florence is impossible without stopping at this fantastic restaurant. La Leggenda dei Frati has been serving its customers for over 20 years.
They are famous for their authentic Tuscan cuisine served in an elegant setting with spectacular views overlooking the Arno River.
When you walk into the front door, friendly staff will greet you with some wine and help make your dining experience special.
La Leggenda dei Frati offers an extensive menu of food and drink for all tastes, including soups, salads, vegetarian dishes, seafood dishes, and meats like chicken and pork chops.
The Legend of the Friars was originally born in the abbey of Abbadia Isola in Siena and takes its name from the legend linked to this place: one night in July three friars picked the best sprouts from their garden and ate and drank so much that they started singing and dancing without break.
Even today, in the ancient convent, on 11 July it is possible to hear the echoes of the friars inebriated by the fruits of their land. Abbadia Isola was for us a research and experimentation center on Tuscan gastronomy, today La Leggenda dei Frati is located in the garden of Villa Bardini in the old stables of the home of the art collector Stefano Bardini, today’s museum linked to the restaurant from whose terrace we embrace the city in a single glance. Welcome to Florence, welcome to our home!
La Leggenda dei Frati Restaurant
Il Palagio
Inside the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, you will find a restaurant ranked among the 100 best restaurants in Italy by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Il Palagio is known for its dishes using traditional Florentine recipes and ingredients, such as Bistecca Alla Fiorentina (the most famous beef steak dish from Tuscany) or Tortelli di Zucca (a kind of ravioli with pumpkin filling).
The dishes are served in a beautiful setting, decorated with antique pieces.
Il Palagio is the perfect place for those who want to experience authentic traditional cooking while enjoying an excellent glass of wine or quality vegan appetizers.
Del Fagioli
Del Fagioli is one of the best Restaurants in Florence.
They offer their customers a wide variety of Italian dishes like pasta carbonara and lasagna.
The restaurant is the creation of two brothers who grew up cooking with their family’s recipe book filled with old recipes from Italy.
You won’t find a more genuine Italian experience in the city than this place. Rich with culture and history, locals, have frequented it for years and have grown to adore its charm as they should!
The staff is always welcoming and warm while never forgetting your needs.
This restaurant is something special. You walk through the doors into an authentic Italy.
Address: Corso Tintori 47 r, Florence, 50122, Italy
Santa Elisabetta
Santa Elisabetta is one of the most prestigious restaurants in Florence.
The 2 Michelin Star Santa Elisabetta Restaurant offers minimalist, essential, pure cuisine in the heart of Florence with a twist.
Located inside an ancient Byzantine tower overlooking Pagliazza and Brunelleschi Hotel, Chef Luca Battaini experiments on dishes with only one main ingredient, which acts as the protagonist. In contrast, two or three other elements act as support.
This unique restaurant bases each dish around substance rather than just simple flavors helping cut through the sweetness and creating contrast between cooked food versus raw food, all set against contrasting acidity from sweet to lightness for your dining pleasure
Santa Elisabetta specializes in Tuscan cuisine with an emphasis on regional cooking techniques.
The dishes vary by season, with different menus for the warmer and winter months.
It is one of our top restaurants in Florence because it doesn’t offer just a romantic setting but also provides excellent food at an affordable price point per course if you’re not looking to break out your wallet.
Borgo San Jacopo
Borgo San Jacopo is a luxurious restaurant with an award-winning chef inside the Lungarno Hotel. Situated on one of the most famous streets in Italy – Via de’ Neri, right in the heart of Florence.
This fantastic spot specializes in Tuscan Cuisine, and dishes are served at your table as they are prepared right before you.
The kitchen is open so you can see your food while it is being elaborated.
Be sure to try the Tuscan roast suckling pig, rice with fresh pumpkin and squash blossoms, or local delicacies like scallops wrapped in bacon and served with polenta chips.
For dessert, order a warm pear Tartufo – vanilla ice cream combined with chocolate sauce poured over a ball of puff pastry dough filled with sweetened ricotta cheese.
Borgo San Jacopo also offers a wine list to please any palate from Italy, France, and California. The extensive selection has won awards for the best restaurant in Florence and one of the top ten restaurants in Europe.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, this article includes restaurants from all over the city, so you can find a place to eat no matter where you are staying.
Florence is packed with eateries, bistros, and restaurants. We’re sure you will not be disappointed with the city’s culinary offer.
However, in our opinion, these are the best restaurants in Florence that, with their mouthwatering culinary creations, will have any traveler coming back again and again.
