A Guide to Florence, Italy: Where to Eat, Drink and Explore
Lunch
One of the most highly debated subjects abroad is which panini place is better: Antico Noe or Antico Vinaio. I went back and forth- they're both AMAZING but ultimately, vinaio won me over. My favorite is the roast beef with artichoke spread and roasted veggies!
Gusta Pizza: my favorite pizza place in Florence. It’s located across the river. If you ask, they will make your pizza into a heart shape. You can also get your pizza to go and go and eat it at the Boboli gardens.
Mercato Centrale: the central market is good for any meal- breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are many different stands and the food is delicious- you can’t really go wrong and it’s a good variety if you and your friends are all in the mood for something different. The basement of the central market is a food market- which is pretty cool to check out for fun!
Dinner
If you can only pick one, I would say La Giostra it’s the most amazing meal EVER. Also Tre Panche comes in as a close second- life changing.
La Giostra: If I can only make one recommendation of a restaurant you MUST go to when you’re in Florence, it’s La Giostra (my second is Tre Panche). I still dream about La Giostra. You HAVE to get the burrata- it’s life changing. I’m also obsessed with their pear ravioli. They also have unbelievable balsamic steak. They bring you appetizers when you first get there and they’re also really good.
Tre Panche: Tre panche is UNREAL!!! It’s three benches so it’s very small and you definitely need a reservation. My favorites include the spicy rigatoni and the four cheese truffle ravioli- I would share these and maybe the chicken. The meatballs are also pretty good. You have to get the cheesecake for dessert!!
Il Profetta: The food is unbelievable. Whatever you order they give a taste to everyone at the table so you don’t have to share =]. They’re famous for their John Travolta Pasta and have an unreal chocolate truffle cake and tiramisu for dessert.
Ristorante Acqua al 2: Acqua al 2 is really good. They do have this restaurant in the US now in DC and somewhere else but definitely worth going to in Florence. A little more pricey but good for a nice dinner. You should definitely get the blueberry or balsamic steak, but if you’re with a lot of people, I would recommend getting a salad sampler, a pasta sampler, and a steak sampler.
Trattoria Tredici Gobbi: they are famous for their 13 Gobbi pasta. You can come here and just get the pasta- its SOO SO SO SO good! The 13 Gobbi pasta is rigatoni with a vodka sauce and lots of cheese.
Gelato
This is one of my favorite topics to debate about restaurants in Florence. Everyone will have a very different opinion of which their favorite gelato place is and why. First of all, it is important to know which gelato stores to avoid altogether. These are notes from my italian professor on how to recognize what is good or not:
The ice cream has to be flat in the display box- not high like a “mountain”- these are “fake” and are not worth your money- they are trying to lure in tourists
Also, if a shop has a ton of flavors, it is likely using artificial additives or powders, etc. and the ice cream should melt easily once it is in the cone or cup
Most of our favorite gelato places stored their gelato under lids- so you could not see the ice cream.
Edoardo: this is my absolute favorite gelato in the world. They make their cones from scratch (they're the only ones in Florence to do this). Their cinnamon gelato is my favorite thing ever!
Gelateria Santa Trinita: this is located over the bridge and is really good. They have the best cookies gelato.
Activities:
If you have time, I would recommend going to get apertivo on the rooftop of the Westin. It’s 18 euro for a drink and then you get an endless supply of food and can stay for snacks and dinner.
Watch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo with a bottle of wine
Piazza Republica (also there is a La Rinacente off of the square, and they have a cafe on the top floor with a really pretty view)
If you have time, go to the Boboli Gardens and bring snacks/a bottle of wine
Cooking class in the central market: http://www.cucinaldm.com/
