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Florence, Italy
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3 hrsThe birthplace of the Renaissance is world-famous for its culture, but the food in Florence deserves UNESCO status of its own. TasteAtlas has ranked Florence the world's best food destination on account of its abundant meaty dishes, thick, heavy pasta recipes, and rich truffle and cheese sauces. But what lies at the essence of Florentine cuisine? And what is food in Florence best known for?
Florence’s cuisine is characterised by hearty, meaty, protein-heavy dishes. Rare beef steaks served with sage and olive-oil-soaked white beans; flat pappardelle pasta coated with wild boar ragù; and tripe are some of its best-known dishes. The Tuscan capital has become more vegetarian and vegan-friendly in recent years, especially with the influx of tourism. But this is not its speciality.
Here are our top recommended Tuscan dishes you have to try in Florence.
There’s an old Tuscan proverb, chi non carneggia, non festeggia — “those who don’t eat meat don’t know how to celebrate.” Controversial though it is in an age of ascendant vegetarianism, the saying speaks volumes of Florence’s brazenly carnivore-centric culinary culture. And nothing encapsulates meat-eating in Florence more than the bistecca alla fiorentina.
Bistecca alla fiorentina – must-try food in Florence for meat-eaters
Put simply, the Florentine steak is the world’s finest beef fillet. It comes from a large breed called the Chianina, which may well be the most revered cow outside India, and it is served up in one way: rare and bloody. Asking for it well done is guaranteed to upset your waiter, and may induce the operatic sound of Italian swearing. That’s because overcooking the bistecca alla fiorentina ruins the meat, making it tough as leather, a sin in Italy.
You typically order your steak by the kilogram, which costs anywhere from €35 – 50. Don’t ask for sauce. Don’t even think about it. A sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil is all you’ll get—and all you need. Finally, keep your side dishes simple: roast potatoes (or chips if you’re feeling sinful), sautéed spinach, or white cannellini beans are the perfect accompaniment to a sinfully delicious bistecca.
Enjoy traditional Florentine steak and more on our Florence Food Tour!
Trattoria Mario is a must. Situated next to Central Market, this small, family-run restaurant is only open for lunch and is always popular among locals and tourists. Mario doesn’t take bookings, and you can expect to sit packed in next to others as you chomp through your bistecca, but it’s absolutely worth it.
For dinner, try Osteria Da Que Ganzi or Perseus, a little further out near Piazza Libertà.
Not many people know that gelato was invented in Florence. The creamy stuff of dreams was dreamt up by one Bernardo Buontalenti, a 16th-century Renaissance man whose sheer range of talents would have rendered his LinkedIn profile impenetrable.
Fior di latte and cioccolato fondendentegelato
Buontalenti was an architect, artist, theatrical and stage designer, horticulturist, military engineer, party planner and—one presumes during his downtime—inventor of Italian ice cream. As well as lending his presumably precious time to the invention of gelato, he also lent his name to a quintessential Florentine flavour ‘Il Buontalenti’, which is made from nothing more than fresh cream, sugar and egg yolks.
The best buontalenti you’ll find is at Gelateria Badiani on the outskirts of the city. Is it worth the trek? Absolutely. Pilgrimages undertaken in the pursuit of gelato are profane but they are pure, and you shall be rewarded.
You can’t go wrong with Gelateria Santa Trinità and Gelateria dei Neri, both of which are situated in the centre, not far from the River Arno. Gelateria della Passera is another favourite, albeit with a smaller menu and more fruity focus.
Santa Trinità’s speciality is sesamo nero (black sesame), which looks like concrete but tastes like heaven. If aesthetics aren’t important and you’re happy to munch on a mass of grey and brown, pair your sesamo nero with cioccolato fondente (dark chocolate). You can thank us later.
Lampredotto is not for the faint-hearted. It’s the name given to the fourth and final layer of a cow’s stomach, the abomasum, which the Florentines boil and serve up in a greasy sandwich. And it’s absolutely delicious, despite how it sounds, and despite its name, which might sound sexy in Italian but which actually translates as ‘lamprey eels’. Which it resembles. Nice.
Panino al lampredotto - this food in Florence is not for the faint-hearted, but it's oh-so worth it.
Lampredotto is best eaten for lunch with a small glass of red wine just to bring out the flavour, When you order it you’ll be asked the question lo vuoi con tutto? — do you want it with everything? — to which the only answer is yes. Lampredotto con tutto will deliver you a traditional Tuscan tripe sandwich with salsa verde (green sauce) and salsa piccante (hot sauce). This isn’t actually all that hot, but it adds a nice kick to this popular street food in Florence.
The best places for lampredotto in Florence are the street food vans dotted around the city centre. You’ll find one on Piazza de Cimatori, just a couple of minutes walk from Palazzo Vecchio and another just outside the Church of Sant’Ambrogio on Via de Macci (it’s called Il Lampredotto so you can’t miss it).
Everybody loves focaccia. After all, what’s not to love about slightly spongy, salty and oily bread, munched on under the Mediterranean sun. But if one criticism can be levelled against the humble focaccia, it’s that it can be a little too soft and spongy. Step forward the schiacciata.
Schiacciata is essentially extra-crispy oven-baked focaccia with one major difference. Before placing it in the oven, the baker pushes little holes in the dough with their finger—hence the name schiacciata which literally means ‘pressed’. This creates little air pockets in the bread which gives it that special crunch. Simple!
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Schiacciata in a Florence bakery. Simple but delicious street food in Florence
Schiacciata usually comes with no more than a drizzle of oil and salt, but you can also find schiacciata unta, which is greased with lard, or schiacciata con l’uva (sweet schiacciata with grapes).
You can’t go wrong as long as you source your schiacciata freshly baked from a bakery (forno). Our favourite centrally-situated bakery is Forno Ghibellina on the Via Ghibellina, but as long as it’s fresh you can guarantee it’ll be good. Don’t bother buying it from the bakery counters in the supermarkets though; it’s never quite as crunchy and therefore isn't worth it.
As of 2020, the region of Tuscany was home to an estimated 450,000 wild boar, and talking to the average Tuscan you’d be forgiven for thinking there was a similar number of hunters. Hunting is one of central Italy’s favourite pastimes (along with looking fashionable and drinking wine) and their penchant for this pastime is reflected in Florence's food.
The Florentines accompany their wild boar sauce with a wide, thick fresh pasta called pappardelle. Deriving from the Tuscan word pappare (to greedily gobble up), pappardelle resemble flattened fettuccine and are extra effective at absorbing the sauce.
TasteAtlas recommends Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco and Antica Trattoria da Tito as the best places to try pappardelle al cinghiale. To this we would add Alla Vecchia Bettola, a little-known trattoria just outside Oltrarno, a 20-minute walk south of the river.
Carpe Diem Tours specialises in fun, immersive, informative tours of Italy's artistic cities. Our team is committed to bringing you the best in Florence tours. That's why we rank in the top 1% of tour agencies in Rome & Florence!
If you'd like to taste the best of Tuscany, enjoying priority service and the personalised attention of an expert foodie guide, treat yourself to our mouthwatering award-winning Private Florence Food Tour!
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Florence, ItalyNowhere does food quite like Florence and with our Private Florence Food Tour you'll go on an exclusive culinary journey with dedicated attention from a local guide who will take you to authentic eateries in the Oltrarno neighbourhood. It's here where you'll sample the best of Tuscan cuisine; savour hearty meat dishes and indulge in full bodied wines, all at your own pace.
We’ve taken care of every detail: from a curated tasting menu to reserved spots at beloved local eateries. All that’s left for you to do is relax, indulge, and experience the flavours of Florence one delicious bite at a time.
This private tour focuses on the city’s famed “cucina povera” or “poor cuisine”, a style that transforms humble, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients into bold, unforgettable dishes. Start with crispy schiacciata bread, artisan cold cuts and cheeses, and refreshing Chianti wine before heading to a cosy local trattoria to dive deeper into Florence’s culinary heritage.
Your personal foodie guide will bring the city’s food history to life, sharing stories, traditions, and insights into Florence’s most iconic dishes, before ending the tour on a sweet note at one of the city’s best-loved gelaterie.
Whether you’re a foodie, a curious traveller, or simply looking for a unique and intimate experience, this private food tour is packed with local flavour and personalised insider recommendations you won’t find in any guidebook.
Book now to reserve your private slice of Florence, availability is limited!
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Florence, ItalyEnjoy Traditional Drinks and Scandalous Stories in the Heart of the Renaissance City.
This isn’t your typical tour. The Tipsy Tour in Florence is the perfect blend of fascinating history, tasty drinks, and making memories with newfound friends. Explore the vibrant nightlife of the Renaissance City and sample signature Italian cocktails, wine, and shots. Along the way you’ll hear about Florence’s less savoury past with some saucy stories and dark history, all the while getting tipsy of course! This tour is all about bringing people together so if alcohol isn’t your thing, not to worry! We’ve got some alcohol-free options for travellers who want the social experience without the hangover.
Your fun-loving guide will wow you with scandals from Florence’s history. Sip away as you learn the life stories of some of Florence’s most notorious figures. The Medici are a great starting point – specifically, Catherine de Medici, believed by many to have had a penchant for poison and a dabble in the dark arts.
As we travel from bar to bar, tracing the steps of prisoners and sex workers alike, your guide will immerse you in the bloody tale of the Pazzi Conspiracy, where Lorenzo de Medici and his entourage were attacked in Florence’s cathedral during High Mass on Easter Sunday. Then you’ll find out what happened to the Pazzi family, too.
Spoiler alert – it was way worse.
During the experience, we’ll visit at least two vibrant bars and enjoy drink stops outside famous sights. Plus, we’ll order shots from a wine window on the street, like a true Florentine. You might wonder why wine from a window never became a worldwide phenomenon, and trust us – we don’t know either.
When the Tipsy Tour is over, the night out officially begins. We’ll enjoy the city long into the night, making unforgettable memories with our Tipsy besties.
Spaces fill up fast, so book your Florence Tipsy Tour today!
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Florence, ItalyEvery cobble in Florence tells a story. Its 14th-century walls contain such a wealth of archaeological and artistic treasures that the city centre itself is a UNESCO site – a global centre of cultural importance. This private walking tour of Florence tells the story of Renaissance city through the monuments it leaves behind.
Accompanied by your expert, licensed guide, you’ll explore Florence’s streets and discover its attractions, being transported through its illustrious history – from its founding as a Roman colony through to its patronage by medieval Europe’s most powerful bankers and merchants (not least the infamous Medici).
Your private walking tour takes you through Florence’s world-famous sites. Gaze up at Brunelleschi’s 15th-century Duomo – the dome of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – and the Golden Doors of Paradise on its adjacent Baptistery. Learn to decipher the symbols and reliefs that adorn the Tower of Giotto beside the Duomo and learn why the Florentine’s chose them and what they said about their city.
Stroll past Piazza della Repubblica, Italy’s most important square in the mid 1800s when Florence was the country’s capital, and admire the statues that line the niches of the nearby Church of Orsanmichele. Florence’s most picturesque piazza lies just a short stroll away: Piazza della Signoria, in the background of which loom the medieval fortress of Palazzo Vecchio and the Renaissance offices converted into the world’s most famous gallery: the Uffizi.
Head through the vaulted arches of the Uffizi and you arrive at Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous bridge, which dates back in its current form to the days of the Medici. Absorb its rich history, and some of its seldom shared secrets, as your expert guide shares their expertise and answers all your questions.
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Florence, ItalyMost people are familiar with the Uffizi’s international reputation as a gallery. Its halls house masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, and Caravaggio. But the Uffizi didn’t start life as a gallery. Deriving its name from the Middle Italian for ‘the Offices’, this 16th-century complex constitutes the most beautiful and architecturally innovative administrative office complex ever designed. And while going into the office isn’t something you typically associate with being on holiday, here you must make an exception.
The Uffizi was designed by the architect and biographer Giorgio Vasari, under the patronage of Cosimo I. After Cosimo died, his heirs lost interest in politics. His eldest son, Francesco I, brought his private collection of artworks and made the Uffizi his private museum. The collection they accumulated over the coming centuries is what you see today.
And our private tour of the Uffizi brings you face to face with its highlights.
4.94(211)
Florence, ItalyFlorence’s Accademia Gallery houses one of Europe’s richest collections of art and sculpture. Hone in on its highlights on a tailored tour and come face to face with the world’s most famous sculpture: Michelangelo’s David.
This private Accademia tour is perfect for art enthusiasts looking to broaden their knowledge and fill in the gaps. It covers the evolution of western art from the Giotto’s gilt gold of the Florentine Gothic to Botticelli and Lippi’s humanist masterpieces the High Renaissance.
See for yourself why the statue of David is considered one of the most life-like sculptures ever carved and learn the historical context that saw the Florentines adopt the biblical David as the symbol of their city.
Learn about the artists behind the work, their history and the techniques they used. Gain insider knowledge of lesser-known works like Michelangelo’s Prisoners or Slaves, and enjoy free time at the end of the tour to wander through the museum at your own pace.
4.94(93)