Florentine cuisine is heavy on the meat and light on the pasta, doing away with the stereotype of typically Italian food. In fact, Tuscan cuisine as a whole draws on the principles of simplicity and abundance, with a focus on local produce, especially beans, extra-virgin olive oil, mellow cheeses and grilled meats. A typical Tuscan meal may feature the famed bistecca alla Fiorentina, many different types of game such as boar, deer and rabbit, and a host of thick and hearty soups.
If you enjoy the tripe, you can try it as native Florentines do, from street vendors such as Nerbone in the Mercato Centrale. Another Florentince specialty is schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread snack similar to focaccia or pizza. Pugi on the Piazza San Marco makes the best schiacciata, though you will have to queue as it's very popular.
Here are some of our personal favourites for more formal dining experiences: Pandemonio
Via del Leone 50/r, S. Frediano, Florence
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For a timeless taste of the bistecca alla Fiorentina, seek out Pandemonio, tucked away on Via del Leone in a quiet corner of the Oltrarno. This trattoria is best known for its bistecca, which are essentially great hunks of local Chianina beef which can easily be shared between two. Enoteca Pinchiorri
Via Ghibellina 87, Santa Croce, Florence
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If you're after something sophisticated, try this elegant eatery. It is perhaps the most exclusive restaurant and winery in Florence, and no wonder, as it's housed in a Renaissance palace with frescoed ceilings high above and decorated to suit. Though the prices are high, the service is excellent and the wine cellar is possibly the best in all Florence. The adventurous diner will appreciate the interesting pasta combinations which are always on the menu. Reservations essential. Cibrèo
Via A. del Verrocchio 8/r, Santa Croce, Florence
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For more traditional Tuscan cuisine served up in style, try Cibréo. Something of an upscale trattoria, with a rustic decor, Cibréo is ever popular, as the waiting times will attest. This is the place to introduce your palate to tripe, another Tuscan favourite. Reservations for Cibréo are essential.
Alle Murate
Via del Proconsolo, Santa Croce, Florence
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Another option in Santa Croce is this high-end eatery specialising in traditional Tuscan fare with a twist – located as it is in the Palazzo dell'Arte dei Giudici e Notai, the restaurant boasts its own art historian, who will happily give you a guided tour around the medieval ruins and point out the building's lovely 14th-century frescoes. Reservations essential. Terrazza Brunelleschi
Grand Hotel Baglioni, Piazza Unità Italiana 6, Florence
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Housed in the 19th Century building which is also home to the Grand Hotel Baglioni, the Terrazza Brunelleschi offers a panoramic view to complement the sumptuousness of the dining experience, allowing you to see all of Florence in a glimpse. La Giostra
Borgo Pinti 12/r, Santa Croce, Florence
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The place to go for the novel experience of enjoying cuisine prepared by a member of Florentine nobility, Prince Dimitri Kunz d'Asburgo Lorena. The cuisine is a blend of Italian and Austrian cooking; the prince's twin sons assist in managing this restaurant and in helping guests choose from the impressively long wine list. |
