Delizioso! These are the best restaurants in Florence

Everyone has their own thing, but for colleague Sophie from Italiamo, Firenze is la citta più bella del mondo. From an early age, she made countless visits to family, and over the past few years she has spent almost half her time in the Tuscan city. Add to that the fact that her favorite hobby is eating—a colleague after our own heart—and she dares to say: these are the best restaurants in Florence. And that’s more valuable than you might think, because although every halfway decent Italian can make a good pasta, a touristy city center like this is a minefield of overpriced osterie that cling anxiously to tradition. It can be better.

Restaurants in Firenze

Coquinarius Bistrot

Dangerously close to the Duomo, where a spritz costs you more than ten euros—which is not right—you’ll find Coquinarius Bistrot. In an internet search for good wine, I ended up at this restaurant in a narrow, hidden street that I now consider my favorite. The wine list is a heaven of classics and natural wines, and the menu isn’t too complicated, but is authentically Italian with an original twist. My favorite vegetarian dishes have remained unchanged for a year: raviolotti with Parmigiano and pear, and burrata ravioli with pistachio pesto and red onion cream.
Coquinarius Bistrot — Via dell’Oche, 11R, Florence

Il Santo Bevitore

Typically Tuscan food that nonna wouldn’t approve of until she tasted it herself. Il Santo Bevitore serves local, seasonal food inspired by the slow food philosophy, but does so in its own modern way. Naturally, there’s also an appealingly extensive wine list here; what else would you expect from a place called ‘The Holy Drinker’? I also seem to have a preference for former stables, because, just like at Coquinarius, horses and carriages used to be parked here. It’s good for the atmosphere, less so for the acoustics.
Il Santo Bevitore — Via Santo Spirito, 64R, Florence

L’Ortone

The advantage of having a cousin who’s a real Italiano is that he takes you to great local places. L’Ortone is one of them, where not only the clientele but also the menu is local; the restaurant’s name refers to a vegetable garden, and the dishes are a mix of Tuscan recipes—you can also eat the famous bistecca alla Fiorentina here—and seasonal creations. An apparently simple trattoria that stands out from the rest through innovation and value for money.
L’Ortone — Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 87R, Florence

Trattoria Camillo

One of the city’s older and by now perhaps best-known trattorias. You eat really well here, the old-fashioned yet chic interior is wonderful, and the cameriere dressed in white complete the picture. The only downside is its popularity: as long as you don’t expect a one-hundred-percent classic experience and prepare yourself for not hearing much Italian around you, you can’t go wrong. It may also simply be that there are plenty of Italians around you, enjoying one of the city’s better plates just like you are. Do as the Italians do and go for the extensive lunch. On a Tuesday afternoon. With wine. Most Americans don’t do that.
Trattoria Camillo — Borgo S. Jacopo, Florence

Serre Torrigiani Bistrot

This green oasis in the heart of Florence has been in the hands of the Torrigiani family for an eternity, an influential Florentine family that still lives on the estate. Behind the thick walls of their private giardino, you’re welcome for aperitivi and dinner with service that commands respect. Once you’re there, you won’t want to leave. We’d love to take you on a preview of Serre Torrigiani.
Serre Torrigiani Bistrot — Via Gusciana, 27, Florence

L’Ortone

The advantage of having a cousin who’s a real Italiano is that he takes you to great local places. L’Ortone is one of them, where not only the clientele but also the menu is local; the restaurant’s name refers to a vegetable garden, and the dishes are a mix of Tuscan recipes—you can also eat the famous bistecca alla Fiorentina here—and seasonal creations. An apparently simple trattoria that stands out from the rest through innovation and value for money.
L’Ortone — Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 87R, Florence

Trattoria Camillo

One of the city’s older and by now perhaps best-known trattorias. You eat really well here, the old-fashioned yet chic interior is wonderful, and the cameriere dressed in white complete the picture. The only downside is its popularity: as long as you don’t expect a one-hundred-percent classic experience and prepare yourself for not hearing much Italian around you, you can’t go wrong. It may also simply be that there are plenty of Italians around you, enjoying one of the city’s better plates just like you are. Do as the Italians do and go for the extensive lunch. On a Tuesday afternoon. With wine. Most Americans don’t do that.
Trattoria Camillo — Borgo S. Jacopo, Florence

Serre Torrigiani Bistrot

This green oasis in the heart of Florence has been in the hands of the Torrigiani family for an eternity, an influential Florentine family that still lives on the estate. Behind the thick walls of their private giardino, you’re welcome for aperitivi and dinner with service that commands respect. Once you’re there, you won’t want to leave. We’d love to take you on a preview of Serre Torrigiani.
Serre Torrigiani Bistrot — Via Gusciana, 27, Florence

Enoteca Fuori Porta

This restaurant in Florence is the perfect pit stop on the way to or from Piazzale Michelangelo. There’s no panoramic view over the city here, but you do look out over one of the old city gates and the lively San Niccolò, which comes to life toward evening. The enoteca became known for its wines, preferably sourced from small winemakers, and its crostini. These still occupy a significant portion of the menu, alongside full dishes of Tuscan and Sardinian origin.
Enoteca Fuori Porta — Via del Monte alle Croci, 10, Florence

Brac

A strange outlier in a city you don’t necessarily visit for good vegan food. Brac takes some finding, but it’s worth the search. You could easily walk past the façade without a logo, and a glance inside makes you think it’s a bookshop. Well, it is—but one with a chef who prepares a selection of different dishes for you for 15 euros. Don’t expect pizza or pasta, but rather a colorful mix of flavors and culinary influences on your plate, organic wines, and a collection of art books you’ll want to take home.
Brac — Via dei Vagellai, 18R, Florence

La Ménagère

Want to throw tradition completely overboard for a change? Then La Ménagère is the place for you. Honestly, it’s not my favorite, but I can certainly say it’s a hit with many. The restaurant was refurbished not long ago in a way that screams Instagram, and the crowd is just as eclectic as the interior, the menu, and the business plan. The doors are open from morning until late at night for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails, but also for home accessories and paradisiacal flower arrangements. That attracts everyone from hard-working laptop users to donne eleganti, and satisfies cravings for dishes such as ceviche, wagyu, pasta, and risotto.
La Ménagère — Via de’ Ginori, 8R, Florence

Read also:

• WHAT? Many supermarket tea bags simply contain sugar
• How to recognize good gelato: 7 tips for finding truly good Italian ice cream
• This plant in your kitchen works brilliantly against fruit flies

Source: Italiamo