Besides being the cradle of the Renaissance period, Florence has also been the birthplace of some of the most fantastic food innovations, the kinds that will leave you wanting more. From bocconcini mozzarella to melt-in-your-mouth gelato, Florence has a wealth of dishes to try. Considering this is Italy, there’s a great trattoria on every corner. Here are the best restaurants in Florence.
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6 Best Restaurants In Florence
1. SPOON Dinner, Borgo San Jacopo
Hotel Lungarno’s culinary star, Borgo San Jacopo, is a feast in and of itself. But once a month, the restaurant invites a handful of Italy’s award-winning chefs to cook and eat with guests at the SPOON event series. The five-course dinner is a collaboration between resident chef Peter Brunel and Michelin-starred masters (like Lorenzo Cogo of El Coque, and Andrea Aprea of Vun), and highlights out-of-this-world dishes, such as 100-hour roasted pork with chicory, smoked provola cheese, honey, and peperoncino, plus a pumpkin, chestnut, and white truffle bisque. But the best is definitely saved for last, with a dessert that’s almost too beautiful to eat: vanilla mascarpone colored pencils, crunchy hazelnut pralines, and white coffee semifreddo.
2. Enoteca Pinchiorri
In Florence, if Michelangelo is the artist whose masterpieces connoisseurs come to see, then Enoteca Pinchiorri is the restaurant that all foodies come to dine at. This three-star Michelin restaurant is a gastronomic experience at its best. In fact, its owner and chef Annie Féolde is the first woman from Italy to receive the coveted three stars. Everything, from its imposing façade and antique-filled decor to the gourmet cuisine, can be described as nothing short of impressive. Their tasting menu is a lavish six to eight courses, which are best paired with a glass of fine wine. Giorgio Pinchiorri, the sommelier and co-owner, has a stock of 12,000 bottles to complement the cuisine.
3. Il Teatro del Sale
This treasure of a place is the brainchild of Fabio Picchi and his actor wife Maria Cassi. One needs to pay the membership fee in order to enter the restaurant, which is housed inside an old theatre. Dinner is usually complemented by a live performance. The ambiance is warm and chaotic, and conversations and food fly about. The chef, just prior to serving, usually announces the dishes and guests queue up at the glass hatch. The menu varies every day and features up to ten dishes, each one more delectable than the other. This trattoria is Italy at its most natural, sociable, theatrical, and welcoming.
4. Essenziale
When acclaimed chef Simone Cipriani and restaurateur Massimiliano Vitali teamed up to open Essenziale, we made sure to be first on the guest list. The bright industrial space (formerly a warehouse garage in Piazza del Cestello) is vastly different from Florence’s typical low-lit, romantic trattorias. Picture a loft-like open room, with exposed wood beams, leather couches, metal skylights, and a raised platform where the chef can watch over the scene (and play DJ with his favorite pop-rock hits). But don’t let the casual atmosphere fool you – each dish is as creative and curated as any five-star affair.
There’s the à la carte option, as well as three-, five- and seven-course menus to choose from, with innovative items like lingua alla pizzaiola (beef tongue, tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, spring onions) and olive oil ice cream.
5. Trattoria Nerone
A trip to Florence is incomplete without tasting a wood-fired pizza. This is exactly why one needs to head to Trattoria Nerone, which is considered to be one of the best pizzerias in Italy. The interior is eccentrically and the atmosphere is warm and lively. The pizzas are fresh out of the wood fire oven and made only with the choicest of ingredients. Although their menu features many other Tuscan dishes, it’s the pizzas that people come for. When the weather is pleasant, the outdoor area is abuzz with wine-filled chatter. A must-visit for those who want to taste pizza as it is intended to be.
6. All’Antico Viniao
This simple sandwich shop was so popular they opened a second location next door to their original, then a third one directly across the street. Specializing in schiacciata sandwiches, made with traditional Tuscan seasoned flatbread, cured meats, fresh veggies, and house-made sauces. They do have a full menu, but it is all in Italian, so most people order off the simple menu near the door which lists their most popular sandwiches. Among them are L’Inferno with porchetta and grilled vegetables, Favolosa with Tuscan salami and pecorino, and La Boss with Tuscan ham and truffle cream.
Read more: 8 Best Coffee Shops In Florence, Italy
