what an experience! so many options to shop and eat. could have spent so much more time here…read more everything we ate was delish!

Located in the San Lorenzo district, just a few minutes' walk from the main train station of Santa…read moreMaria Novella), Mercato Centrale is a vibrant food hall experience housed in a historic market building (very similar to the Time Out Market franchise across Europe). From the outside, it looks like a grand, iron-and-glass structure typical of European markets; inside, it opens into a bustling, multi-level space filled with food vendors, communal tables, and constant movement. The vibe is energetic, social, and slightly chaotic in a fun way - perfect for grazing, group dining, or trying multiple cuisines in one visit (from Italian to American to Mexican!). We stopped in for a quick lunch at around 2pm on a Wednesday; there was plenty of seating at high-top tables, and QR codes on paper menus make it easy to explore all the different food vendor options. It's also a fun activity to peruse the market, taking in different sights, smells, and flavors. All of us ended up opting for Schiacciatas (large Italian sandwiches that are a staple in Florence) from Massimiliano Parri, which all ended up ranging from €10-12, depending on toppings - yes, it's more expensive than what you'd get from a traditional schiacciateria, but you're also paying for the market's location and convenience. We appreciated the fact that they shave the meat right in front of you! My schiacciata came with freshly shaved ham atop crusty white bread, slathered with burrata cheese, and sprinkled with arugula and figs (I opted for no additional olive oil, since I found the ham quite rich already). I loved the contrast of textures and flavors, though I will say that the bread ended up cutting the roof of my mouth! All in all, Mercato Centrale is a bit touristy, but still miles better (and cheaper) than most "Italian" sandwich places you'd find in the US (pro tip: save your receipt for free use of their bathrooms). The variety can't be beaten, prices are reasonable for a central market, and it's steps from some of Florence's most iconic spots.

Real good bisteca my favorite place to have nice steak in Florence . I have a recommending this…read moreplace.

Looking for a place to eat, found this gem and realized I wanted to try it. Everyone had told us…read moredinner reservations were a MUST here, but didn't think about it. Not many places actually have yelp reviews, but this one had so many with great feedback. The food looked amazing. When we arrived we thought they were closed, but that is because they moved to a bigger restaurant a few doors down. When we arrived at the front, the gentleman asked if we had reservations, which we didn't. He directed us to the line with no reservations. The line was a bit long, but doubled in size almost immediately. It also started pouring rain during this time and we were ALL getting drenched even with an umbrella. The non reservation line was not really moving unless people left the line. We waited a good hour. As we inched closer and closer, the lines were now both outrageous and getting seated seemed like a distant memory. The staff came out and gave out Sangria and Bread bites to help those in line feel welcome. We did finally get seated and we were so glad we waited, it was worth it! We ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, the lobster spaghettini and the chicken breast with roasted potatoes. We also ordered sangria. Everything was so good and our total was 83 €. Prices were unbelievable! We were amazed at the quality, the service and how large the restaurant they relocated to was. It was like a well oiled machine. The food coming out quickly and efficiently. I will 100% be back if I return to Florence!

Short Review: About a five minute walk from the Duomo in…read moreFirenze, and on a cozy but well-trafficked side street. Food is excellent and service is fast. Long Review: I was in search of the best spaghetti in Firenze and I think I found it! It's a cute little restaurant about a 5-min walk to the Piazza del Duomo. There's as much outdoor seating as there is indoor seating, which is a nice differentiator for them. We walked up and were seated outside right away. The requisite bread and water was served right away and a friendly waiter came to take our order of food...and of course wine. The streets near the duomo are all well-trafficked so just know that the wait staff will tell you over and over to not keep your mobile devices or purse on the table. They get taken by the pickpockets pretty often I guess. Nonetheless the meal, the ambiance of the busy street and the service was absolutely fantastic. And the food! OMG it was honestly some of the best food I've had in Firenze. And it wasn't an ostentatious restaurant. Definitely family owned and operated and they've got the market on the location! As I saidordered the spaghetti since I was in search of "the best" in the city, and honestly it was! A must try if you're in the area.

Trattoria Antellesi is tucked into a side street off Florence's historic center with a classic,…read moreunderstated exterior that blends into the surrounding stone streets. Inside, it feels like a traditional Tuscan dining room: warm lighting, warm yellow-painted walls, rustic wood furnishings, and a cozy, intimate layout. The vibe is relaxed and authentically local, with a slower-paced, sit-down dining experience that encourages lingering. At around 8pm on a Wednesday night, the restaurant was mostly full, but our party of five was able to be seated immediately. The menu is extensive, with both Italian and English versions; there's also a daily special menu that's quite fairly priced, and has some more traditional Italian dishes. They offer some more familiar options like bruschetta and meatballs with tomato sauce, as well as the classic Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Each table comes with complementary bread service, which was a bit stale, but it's free; what more could you ask for? It was also paired with a rich, earthy olive oil and tangy balsamic vinegar. Four members of our party ordered Aperol Spritzes (€8) - these were tangy, refreshing, and with just the right amount of sweetness countering the fizzy Prosecco and citrusy, herbal Aperol. For entrees, two members of our party ordered the Spaghetti Fiaccheraia (€13), which is spaghetti in garlic and oil with chili pepper, bacon, and ricotta. While this seems like quite a simple dish, there's so much complexity in the variety of flavors and textures. The spaghetti was al dente, and soaked up the addictive, slightly-spicy garlic oil; they were also more than willing to exclude the bacon for my vegetarian friend. Another friend opted for the Pappardelle Coniglio (€13) on the special menu - a tomato-based pasta with rabbit. Certainly a dish you couldn't get at most Italian places in the States, and the wide noodles paired nicely with the acidic tomatoes and gamey rabbit. The Ravioli Burro Salvia (€15) was a traditional Florentine ravioli with ricotta cheese, spinach, butter, and sage; while the portion was a bit small, this dish was truly made with care. The filling let the earthy flavor of the spinach shine while being further elevated by the sage and rich, tangy ricotta cheese. Lastly, my Spaghetti alla Carbonara Fiorentina Tartufata (€17) was an indulgent take on the classic spaghetti carbonara, with egg, pecorino cheese, bacon, and freshly-shaved black truffle. While this was a tasty dish with a large portion, the sauce had partially clotted, and I found it to be missing some component of acidity or brightness to liven the dish up and contrast the richness. I was stuffed by the end of my meal, but some members of my party opted for their Tiramisu (€7) - this is an elevated take on the classic Italian dessert, with whipped mascarpone and coffee-soaked ladyfingers served in a parfait-like glass and sprinkled with a light dusting of cocoa powder. It was neither too sweet nor too rich; the perfect amount of decadence to end a meal. We had a lovely time during our dinner at Trattoria Antellesi, prices are more than reasonable for a traditional trattoria experience with delicious food and a lovely ambience. It may not be as flashy as some of the more touristy restaurants in the city, but certainly a great stop for traditional Florentine food if you're in the area!

November 7, 2024 7:30PM…read more The Osteria was really close to the duomo and the ambiance looked so cozy from the outside. We decided to stop in for some seafood items and white wine. This is the place where I ordered my first vermentino of my life and have forever changed since. I thought I was just a sauvignon blanc girlie but I think I love vermentino more. I didn't get a chance to take a photo of the mussels we ordered but both the mussels and the spaghetti alle vongole (Spaghetti with Clams) were so tasty. Met some new friends from England while were were here that's from similar area as my partner's ancestors... The service was amazing, the restrooms were clean. Definitely a nice pitstop before moving on to sightseeing near the Duomo for the evening. Really love their seafood dishes that we tried. I thought they were very reasonably priced but maybe it's because I'm from a landlocked state. :)

Very cozy little spot right near the Duomo. I ordered the ravioli and a glass of vermentino, a…read morewhite grape local to Tuscany. They were both wonderful and just what I needed as a first meal in Florence. The service was welcoming and I didn't real rushed through my dinner at all. Would recommend!

My friends and I had a great time. The food was delicious and service was fast. It was fascinating…read moreto witness the pasta being cooked in the cheese wheel! Probably one of the best lasagnas I tasted as well. Their truffle carbonara was tasty - and they don't skimp out on the truffle! Free limoncello shots at the end! Do keep in mind a reservation is not mandatory, but I would highly suggest you do in advance. There were lines outside even before it opened! 10/10 would definitely recommend to anyone looking for good pasta.

A really great dining experience. Booked weeks in advance and for our time a lot 7-9pm, people were…read morelined up 10 minutes early to be let in. They brought us all in as a group (checking reso names) and sat us at individually tables. Then the "show" began with welcome prosecco, wine orders, etc. We got the squid and pork screwers as a starter and thought the flavors were just okay. The complimentary cheese bread ball and regular bread was super tasty. For mains, we got the truffle pasta (with the famous cheese wheel) which was fun to watch. The pasta itself was very solid, but not best ever. Also got the beef/boar pasta and it was better than the truffle pasta in my opinion and cheaper. The deconstructed tiramisu was yummy. Overall a good dinner with good service and pretty good food! An easy spot to recommend to others!

Wonderful little shop near Porta Romana specializing in fresh pasta made by hand. Many shapes and…read moretypes to choose from and amazing fillings for the ravioli, tortellini, etc. They even offer a few delicious homemade sauces to go with the pasta if you prefer not to make your own. They also carry top quality dried (as in store-bought) pasta, canned tomatoes, etc. All the best!

Wow definitely coming back before I leave Definitely try the Spaghetti with tomato and basil, the…read morebruschetta and the pizza with spicy pepperoni (diavola) I ate everything it it was delicious , The host or owner is hilarious as well such a great 1st experience here in Florence

came here based on the yelp reviews. Location is in a weird parking lot adjacent area. lots of cars…read moredriving by. this was upsetting for my mother. she asked to sit more inside away from cars driving by, her concern was for dirt/pollution. the outside area was cute, elevated, great breeze. the wait staff were welcoming and nice. Only got an eh face when we unordered the fanta. the margherita pizza was GREAT. crust beats Eataly. a little stingy on the basil rigatoni with ragu: red sauce, yummy the fettucine with ragu: different sauce. also yummy bruschetta, fresh, slightly burnt bread, would've liked more basil. not sure if there was any basil or if it was supposed to have basil... would definitely eat here again.

Great pasta! Super cheap and good portions. Great for a quick bite when out wondering around.read more

La Pasta Fresca is located inside Mercado Centrale in Florence…read more For some reason, rigatoni with meat sauce was €1 cheaper than spaghetti without meat sauce. Anyways, wanting meat with my pasta, I got the rigatoni. I didn't mind that it came on a paper plate, all the places in the mercado served their food on the same paper plates. It was the fact that it was served already cold on the paper plate. I feel the rigatoni could've used another thirty seconds or so in the water to make it al dente and warmer, and the meat sauce, aside from having more meat, could've had more flavoring and thicker. It's not that I thought the food was bad, I just expected more from a Mercado, based off food establishments located in markets like this (Central Market in LA and La Boqueria in Barcelona).

This is a 5+ and if anyone gives it less they are silly. Came here for dinner with my wife, and…read morekids ages 16 and 20. The restaurant itself is set on the corner of a square and has about 20 outside tables and 10-15 inside. Very lively and the service was friendly and patient. We ALL ordered the Gnocchi. We also shared the spaghetti with basil and the tagliatelle ragu. Best meal we have ever had and we have been plenty of places all over the world. The spaghetti featured super fresh pasta and the sauce was indescribably good. The tagliatelle was equally amazing. I cannot even describe it. As for the Gnocchi with truffle oil. OMG. No words. The Gnocchi is an experience that will never leave me and will want me wanting another taste.....forever. All were amazing and while we loved it all we all Loved something different more. A bottle of red for mom and dad and soda for the kids. Chocolate cake for desert....amazing. Place opens at 7:30 for dinner and by 7:10, huge line. So reservations or wait. Go!! here!! Now!!

Osteria Santo Spirito is an intimate little Italian restaurant tucked away in a corner of Centro…read moreStorico in Florence and I cannot recommend it enough! We spent three days in Florence and ate here twice, and cut our tour of the Acedemia out of our schedule to make sure we could make it for lunch before heading on to Rome, that's how awesome the food was! The people running the restaurant are so amazing, they truly treat you like family while you are there. They were always attentive, but never lingering. Unlike restaurants in the US where you are expected to eat and leave as soon as possible, in Italy food is mean to be enjoyed over conversation and camaraderie, which means unless you wave someone over or your glasses are empty you are left to enjoy yourselves. Osteria Santo Spirito is no exception to this rule. You'll be warmly greeted and well cared for but never hovered over. You will absolutely want to make a reservation, a wait for a table inside can take a bit to get if you just plan to stroll in off the street, but the seating outside is just as beautiful and a bit more plentiful. If you visit Florence and are looking for a place that doesn't take advantage of the tourists, and serves up amazing food, this is your spot for

friendlist service we have had in italy so far. both pastas…read morehad great noodle texture papperdelle with duck ragu was good, usually dont love duck but this sauce was nice pacherri with zucchini flowers and saffron was unique. light flavor.

Hole in the wall place with a ton of charm! You 100% need a res to be seated, they had to turn down…read morewalk-ins. The zucchini salad was underwhelming but my pasta with saffron and zucchini flowers was actually to die for. I kept saying "wow". Lamb chops were pretty good, a bit too fatty for my liking but the few and far between non-fatty parts were fantastic.