For as small as Florence is, every piazza and street corner seems to be teeming with trattorias, osterias, pizzerias and restaurants. Staff beckon you in off the street, "Ciao bella, would you like to come in for a pizza?" TripAdvisor or Google reviews can be overwhelming, and sometimes difficult to read between the lines and decipher if someone actually had a bad time or has a bad attitude. So, without being overwhelming or overly exhaustive, we put together a list of the best restaurants in Florence, with a little something for everyone.
1) Il Nugolo
Florentine restaurants tend to be hyper-traditional and don't stray from the same basic ingredients and staple dishes. While that's not necessarily a bad thing (you should frequent those establishments as well, many of which are on this list!) it's nice to experience something a little more modern as well. And Il Nugolo isn't just nice, it's a glimpse into what the future of Italian food should look like. Il Nugolo's seasonal menus do a spectacular job of honoring Italy's most traditional recipes with the finest ingredients in a completely innovative and modern way.
The female owner even has a garden not far from the restaurant where she grows many of the ingredients found on the menu, including the namesake "nugolo" tomato and the entire restaurant is designed to make you feel like you are dining in a garden.
Long story short: go to a traditional checkered tablecloth trattoria to see where Italy has been, but go to Il Nugolo to see where Italy is going.
Via della Mattonaia, 27R, 50121 Firenze
2) 'A Puteca
If you know, you know. Neapolitan-style pizza in Florence is not hard to find, but finding it done with this level of authenticity is another story. The pizza here is exactly what it should be: charred, blistered, impossibly light. But if you go and don't order the montanare — the fried pizza dough topped with tomato, fior di latte, and basil — you're doing it wrong. Tuck into one of those first and thank us later.
Long story short: Go for the pizza, order the montanare, and suddenly Florence feels a little more like Naples.
Via Vincenzo Gioberti, 170, 50121 Firenze
3) 13 Gobbi
For a more traditional Florentine trattoria experience, head to 13 Gobbi. With an equal mix of locals and tourists, you know you're in the right spot. Whether you're looking for a "bistecca Fiorentina" or a big plate of ragù, you'll find just about every traditional Tuscan dish done to perfection here. And with friendly staff and a convivial atmosphere, you're guaranteed to leave with a full belly and full heart after a night here!
Long story short: This traditional Florentine trattoria will give you all the feels and a full belly.
Via del Porcellana, 9R, 50123 Firenze
4) Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori
It really doesn't get more classic than Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori. This adorable little hole-in-the-wall spot is tucked away on a side street off of Piazza Repubblica and has a hand written seasonal menu. The staff is so friendly and the spot so cozy, that you might for a moment forget you are at a restaurant and mistake it for one big Italian dinner party amongst friends. They have recently expanded into a second dining room, so there is a little more breathing room than before — but don't let that fool you into thinking you can walk in without a reservation. It is just as beloved as ever.
Long story short: Classic dishes, friendly staff, and a newly expanded space that is still just as popular — book ahead.
Via dei Magazzini, 3R, 50122 Firenze
5) Il Tamerò
Tamerò is located in the trendy bohemian Santo Spirito neighborhood on the south side of the Arno river. A former body shop located in a corner of piazza Santo Spirito, it is quintessentially cool without taking itself too seriously.
Beyond the scene, the pasta is absolutely divine. With a menu that includes everything from spinach and ricotta ravioli in a butter and sage sauce to buckwheat pappardelle with wild boar ragù and red berry sauce, there is something for the most traditional pasta lover all the way to the adventurous foodie on the menu.
Long story short: Come for the vibes, stay for the inventive and delicious fresh handmade pasta.
Piazza Santo Spirito, 11R, 50125 Firenze
6) Il Santo Bevitore
Il Santo Bevitore is the kind of place that never needs to announce itself. It has been a quiet institution in the Oltrarno for years, and the regulars like it that way. The room is warm and unhurried, with exposed stone walls, candlelight, and a wine list that is genuinely one of the best in the city. The food is refined without being fussy — think creative seasonal antipasti, beautifully sourced charcuterie, and pastas that feel both elevated and deeply grounded in the Italian pantry. It is the ideal spot for a long, slow dinner where the bottles keep coming and nobody is rushing you out.
Long story short: Go when you want to eat and drink exceptionally well and have nowhere to be afterward.
Via Santo Spirito, 64r, 50125 Firenze
7) L'Ortone
Sant'Ambrogio is one of Florence's most beloved neighborhoods, and L'Ortone fits right into the fabric of it. Perched on the edge of Piazza Ghiberti near the market, this spot draws a crowd of neighborhood regulars who come for the honest, seasonal cooking and the easy, unpretentious atmosphere. The menu leans heavily into whatever is local and in season, and the kitchen executes it with real care. It is the kind of place that makes you want to live in Florence, or at the very least, stay a little longer than you planned.
Long story short: A neighborhood gem in one of Florence's best neighborhoods — seasonal, simple, and completely satisfying.
Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 87/red 50122 Firenze
8) Hostaria da Fulvio
There are restaurants you go to for the food, and then there are restaurants you go to for the feeling. Hostaria da Fulvio, tucked into a quiet corner of Santo Spirito, manages to be both. The dining room is dimly lit and intimate, the kind of place where the candlelight does the work and the night has a way of stretching longer than you intended. The cooking is deeply Florentine and completely unpretentious — rich, seasonal, made with the kind of care that only a family kitchen produces. Order a carafe of something red, let the evening unfold, and don't make any plans for after.
Long story short: Dim lighting, honest Florentine cooking, and a room that makes everything feel a little more romantic.
Via Sant'Agostino, 12, 50125 Firenze
9) Da Fagioli
If Florence had a secret canteen for people who actually live here, it would be Da Fagioli. This place has been feeding the city's artisans, market workers, and in-the-know visitors for decades, and it shows absolutely no interest in changing. The menu is written on a chalkboard, the wine comes by the carafe, and the ribollita might be the best version of that dish you will ever eat. Come at lunch on a weekday if you can, pull up a shared table, and order whatever the kitchen made that morning.
Long story short: Come hungry, order the ribollita, and eat like a Florentine.
Corso dei Tintori, 47/red, 50122 Firenze
10) Osteria delle Tre Panche
A word of advice: go to the original. The rooftop has become something of a scene, and that is fine, but it is not why Tre Panche earned its reputation. The original is exactly what the name promises — "three benches," which is more or less the number of tables inside. Small, unhurried, and completely unpretentious, this is the kind of local joint tha has no interest in trends and every interest in feeding you well. The menu is a love letter to Tuscan tradition done without shortcuts, the atmosphere is warm and familial, and the whole experience feels like being let in on something the city would rather keep to itself.
Long story short: Tiny, traditional, and completely the real deal — just make sure you're at the original.
Via Antonio Pacinotti, 32R, 50131 Firenze
