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    Hostaria Il Desco

    4.2 (60 reviews)
    ModerateTuscan, Gluten-Free, Trattorie
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

    Hostaria Il Desco Photos

    HOSTARIA IL DESCO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Hostaria Il Desco

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    Minestrone: good
    Alan F.

    Beautiful decor . Hostess kindly sat us a lot a nice table. Next person involved with serving our meal look very uninterested in us. Only later did I see him perk up with another couple. Our waitress was kind and energetic. We got the pasta with mushrooms; bland noodles. The minestrone was good. Had the chicken next: good. This place is a disappointment . Fairly average food almost like a tourist trap.

    Truffle and gorgonzola pasta
    Erin F.

    We had a fantastic dinner here. The ambiance in the restaurant was cozy and felt very Italian. The service was good and when we asked about the wine list or chose a bottle that was not available, they offered good suggestions. We started with the selection of cheeses and the caprese and both were wonderful. We had one person in our party with Celiac and they ensured that our shared dishes were free of cross contamination with gluten and offered him a fully gluten free menu. The only seafood on the menu seemed to be prawns, but there were plenty of pasta and meat dishes to choose from. I chose the tagliolini with gorgonzola and truffle which was fantastic. I also had the opportunity to try the baked rack of lamb and tomato soup, which were both delicious. Our table of 8 ordered 2 Florentine steaks to share after our pasta dishes, which was the perfect amount. I don't eat steak often but I enjoyed it. The steak lovers at our table said it was the best steak they ever had.

    Americano
    Doris K.

    Doris approved 5 stars- my second in Italy. Guys- went for lunch. It's March. It rained off and on today so we wanted soup to warm our souls/bones. We made a reservation (I highly recommend you take the time to make them anywhere in Florence. We were seated right away and the waitress was lovely. ***My mother and I both ordered soup- both bowls were empty when our waitress collected them*** I had the bread soup, it was warm and buttery full of favor, like someone hugged me. My mom had the minestrone, it was fresh, light, and had tons of depth. The broth was a standout. Nothing watery about these bowls of love. We also got a side of beans. Guys, I highly recommend. I will crave this item for the rest of my life. These Tuscan beans were bold, bright, as if cooked for hours, the sage, tomato's, the amount of favor was so impressive. I mean there was a master back in the kitchen. *The place is romantic and full of charm. *Bathroom was clean. *Table was a perfect size (in my opinion for two) *Food was fresh. *Made of love. *The music was happy and made the restaurant less intimidating. *I wore jeans but I did go for lunch. It is white table cloth so for dinner, I wouldn't recommend wearing jeans- this is a place you can get dressed up and go have a beautiful meal. *Wasn't hard to find. *Seats about 35 people- up stairs small yet powerful restaurant. *The internet was the faster I've experienced in Florence. For everything, water, coffee, two soups, side of beans, 31,oo€ Best soup, I've had here. I highly recommend.

    Black Angus carpaccio (ancient beef breed) with fresh truffle flakes
    Hayley J.

    Hands down the best meal we had our entire time in Florence. We are still talking about in weeks later. They also had one of the best gluten free menus for me! My husband shared a few of the naturally GF items with me and ordered off the regular menu with the same level of satisfaction that I had for my GF items (I have celiac disease). When it comes to service is Italy, if you need a quick meal you shouldn't dine at fine establishments like this one. Our service was wonderful here and hope to someday be back!

    Outside, tucked in an off-the-beaten path alley
    Alicia S.

    We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Hostaria Il Desco! The experience began by finding it tucked away off the beaten path. Yes, it was close to a major piazza, but what isn't in Florence? We had made reservations in advance. So, it was easy to get seated in their intimate dining area. We began with house wine, tomato with truffle and bufala appetizer, two pasta courses (bolognese and risotto), and a delicious fluffy chocolate cake dessert. Every course was paced perfectly, and the service staff was super attentive. We probably spent about 2.50 hours during our dining experience and did not feel rushed at all. We will definitely be back during our next visit to Florence!

    Liver pâté and pork fat crostini
    Daphne Z.

    We went to this restaurant without any expectations as it was quite late, and I must say it ended up being one of our best dining experiences in the city. Located off the road, this restaurant is definitely a hidden gem. We loved the ambience of the place and the service was unmatched as well. We tried some new dishes such as carpaccio and liver pâté crostini, which were both super flavorful and served as a wonderful introduction to our main course of roasted lamb and vongole (clam) pasta. I highly recommend getting the dark chocolate cake for dessert; it's a perfect balance of not being too heavy but also not being dry at all. Overall, this dinner was definitely one to remember for our trip and is absolutely worth visiting!

    Meredith M.

    In Florence for 3 nights and this was the best place yet, my hubby and I both agreed! Service, ambiance, and THE FOOD! Started off with a bottle of red wine Tuscany blend, because, well - because. Saw an earlier review about no olive oil? They're now sitting on the tables! Not an issue. They bring water and bread - the tomato bread was delicious. Then, the cheese plate starter. The restaurant won #1 sheep cheese in the world. In. the. World. Like in London, where they have sheep cheese competitions? They took their sheep cheese there, and, they won it! Don't know if that's a real thing, or, tourist trick? But, I will vouch, that sheep cheese was world's best yummy. It also came with some delicious jam and honey. Next, I got the much acclaimed gnocchi and my husband got spaghetti with clams. All home made pasta, in the restaurant, and both dishes were delectable. We added a side salad. We both agreed after Venice and 3 days in Florence, this was our best meal yet! Go here, now!

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Portions and taste were ok. Nothing special. As a plus the restaurant offers half a glass of Processo at arrival and biscotti when finished.

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    13 years ago

    Great food, great price, very hard to find a table for lunch. 1euro for glass of wine and 0.50 euro for coffe is a good deal for lunch.

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    11 years ago

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    Hostaria Il Desco Reviews in Other Languages

    La Buchetta - Linguine in clam sauce

    La Buchetta

    4.8(316 reviews)
    0.6 kmDuomo
    €€€

    Wow, this place is amazing. Our waiter was very friendly and he was super hilarious. He made jokes…read moreand it enlightened the room. He provided us with excellent service. We ordered the 2.6 lb dry aged Florentine steak and gnocchi. The Florentine steak is a must try steak here. It was very juicy, tender, and it was bursting with flavor. The meat was nice and chewy. The steak was gigantic and it is bigger than my head. They first bring out the raw steak and weight it in front of you. The steak is enough to share for three people. The gnocchi was also very delicious. It was cheesy and rich. It was also in a way creamy and the cheese just melted in your mouth. One of the best things I've ever put in my mouth and eaten. The cheesecake is very famous in this restaurant. We tried it and understand why. The cheesecake was super creamy and soft. I had a great time and experience here. Definitely will be back sometime soon hopefully. This is a place I highly recommend to everyone. Come and try it out for yourselves.

    Another excellent spot we tried in Florence. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and seated…read moreimmediately. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was Nugo. He was awesome and had us laughing the entire night. We peppered him with a lot of questions about the menu, he answered everything and also accommodated my father-in-law, who is GF. He had his own GF bread basket and was able to order almost anything on the menu. We ordered a nice bottle of Montepulciano red for the table that was $48. Others had the Hugo spritz. For app I had the anchovies with roasted red pepper, sea salt and oil over grilled crostini, very good. I skipped first course and ordered the ribeye steak for my main course. Bone in, medium rare, sprinkled with sea salt and a side of onion marmalade. The steak was very good and had way less fat than I expected. The waiter suggested a huge steak for the table, but I was the only one ordering steak that night. Maybe next time. Others ordered the fillet and it was cooked perfectly, the angels and demons gnocchi, and the veal scallopini. Everybody was pleased Really cool spot with a very good wine selection, drinks, excellent food and a fun atmosphere that you don't find at many places. Nugo was an A+ server.

    Photos
    La Buchetta - A gigantic cork arched walkway. All corks came from wine opened here.

    A gigantic cork arched walkway. All corks came from wine opened here.

    La Buchetta
    La Buchetta

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    Trattoria Zà Zà

    Trattoria Zà Zà

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    0.7 kmSanta Maria Novella
    €€

    The steak was excellent, but the tiramisu was on another level -- absolutely bellissimoread more

    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!

    Photos
    Trattoria Zà Zà - The African zoo room

    The African zoo room

    Trattoria Zà Zà - His and hers

    His and hers

    Trattoria Zà Zà - Outside of restaurant

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    Outside of restaurant

    Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - Steak Florentine

    Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco

    4.6(371 reviews)
    0.3 kmPalazzo Pitti
    €€

    Wow, what a special place…read more Set inside a 14th-century tower near the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, this restaurant delivers an unforgettable dining experience from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere alone is worth a visit, but the food is what truly makes it exceptional. We ordered the ravioli, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, the Florentine steak, a mixed salad, affogato, and fresh strawberries with mascarpone cream. To drink, we shared a small carafe of red wine and a Pinot Grigio. Everything was spectacular. The Florentine steak was easily the best--and largest--I have ever had. Perfectly cooked, incredibly flavorful, and remarkably tender, it was the highlight of an already outstanding meal. The pappardelle with boar ragù was rich, hearty, and deeply satisfying, while the ravioli was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. Every dish felt authentic, carefully executed, and memorable. The wine was another pleasant surprise. Both selections were excellent and very reasonably priced, making the meal feel like an even better value. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and incredibly helpful. He patiently answered questions, explained the menu, and guided us toward some fantastic choices. Although we thought we were too full for dessert, we're very glad we changed our minds. The affogato was fantastic, and the strawberries with mascarpone cream were absolutely delicious. One of the highlights of the evening was watching our four-year-old happily clutching two spoons and enthusiastically scooping fresh strawberries and mascarpone into his mouth. It was one of those memorable family travel moments that you don't forget. A terrific meal, a unique historic setting, excellent service, and a wonderful atmosphere. This was one of our favorite dining experiences in Florence, and I highly recommend it.

    I literally can't say enough good things about this place. Main takeaway: make a reservation!! I…read morecalled day-of and they squeezed us in at 6:15 (which was perfect) but everything before 9:30 was booked up. We were welcomed warmly by the staff (he literally said "ah yes I remember you" ) and guided to our cozy little table in the corner. Were ordered a bottle of Chianti Classico to start, as well as a few pastas plus the steak and cod. I can safely say the spaghetti pomodoro with burrata was the best pasta dish I've had in Italy - the pasta was perfectly cooked and the cherry tomatoes was so sweet, the kind of thing that reminds you why you came to Italy in the first place. Overall: great service, great atmosphere, and fantastic food. Just be sure to make a reservation!!

    Photos
    Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - 6pm (1st seating upon opening was only reservation I could secure)

    6pm (1st seating upon opening was only reservation I could secure)

    Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - Pappardelle with wild boar ragu

    Pappardelle with wild boar ragu

    Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - Delicious Vermentino wine

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    Delicious Vermentino wine

    Trattoria Mario - Pasta bolognese

    Trattoria Mario

    4.5(254 reviews)
    0.8 kmSanta Maria Novella
    €€

    made a reservation through ig dm haha. no tables without reservations…read more the florentine steak is massive. 1 kg nice crust. cooked nicely rare. some really good bites, some okay bites florentine steak is not world class for me. BUT at the price of 45 for this is amazing value.

    I've been to Florence before but didn't get a chance to try a Florentine steak. My husband and I…read moremade it a point to definitely get one for dinner on our first night in the city. I went to the internet for the best Florentine steak and Trattoria Mario consistently popped up as highly rated. I reached out to the restaurant via email to make a reservation for a Friday. I wanted to get the earliest reservation possible, so the restaurant reserved me for 7:30pm, which was when they open. I was advised to show up on time - even a 2 minute delay would make me miss my reservation. I can see why Trattoria Mario was strict on reservations. They open on the dot, and then a staff member calls out each reservation at 7:30pm like a roll call. Seemed to me that if you don't have a reservation then you're out of luck, because there was no waitlist and the restaurant small and space was limited. Service was great. Our waitress was highly attentive and got us in/out of the restaurant quickly, which was what we were going for. Food came out in a timely manner. We ordered the penne al ragu, salad misto, and a Florentine steak to share. The penne was perfectly al dente, and I liked the meat sauce. I did find the pasta sauce salty, but it could've came from the grated parmesan. The saltiness was not a fluke. The Florentine steak was just pure beef and a ton of salt... too much salt for my liking. I also decided that I'm not a fan of Florentine steak in general.

    Photos
    Trattoria Mario
    Trattoria Mario
    Trattoria Mario

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    La Giostra - My steak cooked perfectly and flavored just enough to be fabulous.

    La Giostra

    4.2(803 reviews)
    0.8 kmDuomo
    €€€€

    By far one of the most highly recommended restaurants when we were making our plans for Florence…read more Highly recommend making a reservation because the wait without one would have been quite long. This restaurant is such a VIBE. Cozy, romantic and a total scene. Service was great as was the food. It was tough because there was so much on the menu that I wanted to try but we couldn't not order the pear ravioli and the Florentine steak. If I went back I would want to try the ossobuco which I saw at the table next to us and looked dynamite. If you only had one night in Florence this is the restaurant I would recommend.

    Food was good but not necessarily the best we had in Florence. Given the reviews and the price I…read morewas hoping for a supreme experience. I shared two pasta dishes with my daughter (the handmade Pappardelle with Maremman Wild Boar Ragu and the Carbonara). Both were very good but not the best we've had. Appetizers were good: Salad with pecorino cheese, oranges, pine nuts and walnuts. We ordered the Octopus appetizer as well. The Octopus was beautifully prepared and presented, but didn't have much flavor. They nailed the Espresso Martini! One of the best I've ever had! We ordered the huge Florentine steak to share between 4 of us and it was more than enough. Ultimately what knocked this review down to 3 stars and what was really disappointing was how they targeted us as tourists with the note at the bottom of the bill (see picture). It read "GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED" in all CAPITAL LETTERS. Also note it was the only thing in English on the entire bill. If it had been our first meal in Florence we might have fallen for this tactic, however it was our last. There's definitely some hostility towards tourists in Florence. Don't get me wrong, some of the people and restaurants we've visited have been very welcoming and friendly. However we recently saw tourist taxes go up significantly, and then you see tricks like this on the bill at La Giostra. This was the ONLY restaurant in Florence where we encountered this. Once jet fuel prices make flying a relic of the past I would argue that some Europeans who depend on tourists for their livelihood may not miss our presence but will certainly miss our spending. Save your money and go research the many other places to eat while in Florence.

    Photos
    La Giostra - Vibes

    Vibes

    La Giostra - Steak

    Steak

    La Giostra - Interior

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    Interior

    Trattoria Giovanni - Tiramisu

    Trattoria Giovanni

    4.6(221 reviews)
    0.6 kmPalazzo Pitti
    €€

    Excellent food and authentic Italian experience. Don't be fooled by the English subtitles for the…read moremenu items the place is not a tourist trap.

    We had a lovely dinner at Trattoria Giovanni. We loved how cozy, spacious, and genuinely local it…read morefelt, like eating at your grandma's house. It's close enough to the lively, bustling part of Firenze to feel connected, yet just far enough to escape the city's never-ending wave of tourists. The service was incredible, and the owner (I'm pretty sure it was the owner?) brought so much energy that he single-handedly turned the whole place into an eclectic little spot during the "rush hour" of the evening. The menu was solid, if a bit "generic" at times. While everything we ordered was delicious, nothing at Trattoria Giovanni felt like a dish you couldn't find elsewhere... and honestly, that's perfectly fine! It was traditional, comforting, and exactly what we were craving. The plate of cured meats and cheese was phenomenal, a great start to the meal. The pastas were really good as well, though one of the meat dishes had a slightly off texture, with the chunks of meat a bit overcooked. All in all, we loved our meal and would definitely recommend this spot if you're in Florence.

    Photos
    Trattoria Giovanni - Exceptional service with great music selection! Every moment in this restaurant felt like being with a party of friends.

    Exceptional service with great music selection! Every moment in this restaurant felt like being with a party of friends.

    Trattoria Giovanni - Bistecca alla Fiorentina Chianina

    Bistecca alla Fiorentina Chianina

    Trattoria Giovanni - Bisetecca Florentino YUM!!

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    Bisetecca Florentino YUM!!

    Hostaria Il Desco - tuscan - Updated June 2026

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