Top Restaurants in Florence

Ristorante Beccofino

Just minutes from Ponte Santa Trinità on Florence's “left bank,” this restaurant and wine bar's snappy modern décor of high tables and bar stools has instant appeal. A clever combination of Tuscan and Mediterranean cuisine offers diners an extensive choice of traditional pasta starters and main meat courses. The impressive wine collection is served by the bottle or by the glass.

Enoteca "La Sosta del Rossellino"

Enoteca "La Sosta del Rossellino" is a handsome wine bar with a special, welcoming atmosphere. The tables are hand-painted and the room has a warm ambiance. In summer, customers can eat on a terrace overlooking the hills surrounding the city. The cellar contains more than 250 quality wines, including all the best Tuscan, Piedmontese and Venetian wines, as well as a number of dessert wines, spumanti, champagnes and grappa. To accompany the wines, the bar serves snacks and sought-after dishes which can be enjoyed as a proper meal.

Rex Cafè

Large, accommodating pub which for years has been an important meeting place for night owls. With its mosaic design, the pub offers a wide range of aperitifs, drinks, and appetizers all accompanied by music from the various DJs. Special themed nights, shows, etc. Happy hour and aperitivo from 6p.

Moyo

By day, students type furiously on their laptops, taking advantage of the free WiFi that Moyo provides for free until 7:30p. But by night, the bartenders crank up the music and mix hundreds of cocktails for an energetic young crowd. Bar-goers spill out onto the street during the weekends, clutching Moyo's signature cocktail, a cranberry martini with lemon juice and triple sec. Thursday nights have a hip-hop theme, while on Friday and Saturday a DJ spins the latest remixes.

Trattoria 12 Gobbi

Near to Santa Maria Novella, we find this popular Tuscan restaurant where in summer you can dine in the open air, in a traditional courtyard. The cuisine is local in style and offers many of the local favorite dishes such as panzanella di farro pasta with sauce, pasta with beans, rigatoni strasciati and veal stew, as well as steak in wine and onions. The wines are mainly local.

Il Latini

This historical restaurant is a favorite with both Florentines and visitors alike. Despite the fact that the restaurant is always fairly busy, the service is excellent. If you have not booked in advance and are compelled to wait outside in the street - do not despair, you will be brought a snack to make your wait more pleasurable. The Florentine steak is without comparison, made from the choicest cuts of meat. There is also the ribollita and the minestra di farro, as well as many other Florentine specialties - all at reasonable prices.

Garga

Garga restaurant's attractive menu and unusual décor of frescoes and bare brick walls are all part of its popular appeal. Food is so wonderfully presented that it seems almost a shame to touch it, but worse still would be not to taste it at all. If in doubt what to go for, just try a bit of everything! And just in case you want to try your hand at cooking, they offer culinary classes too.

Alla Vecchia Bettola

Renowned for its traditional Florentine food, Alla Vecchia Bettola, is a very popular restuarant in Florence. Located right in front of Giardino Torrigiani, the restaurant offers a very relaxing environment. The menu keeps on changing according to the season, so there is always something new to choose from. They have an impressive selection of wines to complement the food. A perfect place to enjoy a romantic evening.

Buca dell'Orafo

Located on a side street near the Ponte Vecchio, one could easily walk right past this hole-in-the-wall, but the food here makes up for the search. Go downstairs to the dining room and enjoy a fabulous and unpretentious meal with rich flavors and traditional dishes. It's always crowded, so call ahead for reservations. Credit cards not accepted.

Mariano

Look for the sign that reads Alimentari and follow the sounds of hungry people to this small, easy-to-miss sandwich shop. The sandwiches are made to order, with quality ingredients and interesting combinations. Best of all, the sandwiches and wine are inexpensive. Come for lunch, or before dinner for wine and aperitivi.