Best Restaurants in Florence

While in Florence, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of traditional Italian and Tuscan dishes. Whether you're looking for a great pizza, mild Tuscan cheeses or the traditional Florentine steak, Bistecca alla Florentina, these restaurants will surpass your expectations. Be sure to get an appetite because you'll want to eat as much of this food as possible at these restaurants in Florence.

Best traditional Florentine and Tuscan Cuisine

Throughout Florence, you'll find wonderful Tuscan cuisine. Tuscany's best dishes consist of a wide variety of beans, mild cheese, and wild game. One of the best restaurants in Florence, Bibo, serves wonderful chicken and wild boar dishes. Don't fill up on dinner, because Bibo has delicious gelatos and desserts.

Accademia Ristorante, a wonderful restaurant next to the Academy Museum, specializes in authentic Tuscan Cuisine with a modern twist. Try tasty dishes such as Eggplant Timballo, an eggplant pasta casserole, zucchini flower risotto with saffron and spinach ricotta ravioli with truffle sauce. The Accademia Ristorante also pairs fantastic wines with their traditional dishes. You can even pay a flat rate for a full four-course meal coupled with specialty red and white wines.

If you want to eat a ton of wonderful Florentine dishes but don't want to spend too much money, you might like Il Latina which offers all you can eat Tuscan food and all you can drink wine for around $50. Il Latina has communal seating so that you'll have the opportunity to socialize with locals and enjoy the family-like atmosphere of the restaurant. Since it is all you can eat, most people stay a while and enjoy a few glasses of wine.

Tip: Arrive early for dinner or eat at Il Latina for lunch. Since it is one of the best restaurants in Florence, it tends to get quite busy at peak meal times.

Best Pizza

When visiting Italy, everyone wants to have amazing pizza. Though pizza originally gained its popularity in Naples, every city in Italy now offers fantastic pizza. Da Spera in Florence serves a heavy pizza that even large men have a difficult time finishing. The flavors are wonderful and the prices are even better. (Just be sure to not be too loud, pizzaioula Spera's father kicks people out who are too noisy).

Recommended by many guide books, Gusta Pizza serves great pizzas and beer. Two pizzas and two beers run about $25. Order at the bar, take your number and pay attention to hear if your number has been called. Some people have a hard time hearing because the restaurant gets so busy.

Best Modern Gourmet

La Giostra opened around the year 2000 and quickly became known as one of the best restaurants in Florence. Its founders descended from an Italian noble family who had acres of vineyards and olive orchards which now provide the restaurant with wine and olives. The Hapsburg-Lorraine princes who founded the restaurant drew inspiration from the Austrian castle kitchens and classic Italian cuisine. You'll enjoy the Austrian twist on Italian staples. Try the various varieties of handmade ravioli and finish the meal off with a slice of Sacher torte. You'll be surprised how unique it is compared to the more traditional restaurants in Florence.

Il Santo Bevitore serves fresh, modern, gourmet Italian food. The inventive chefs create interesting combinations to make new variations on classic dishes. They have a superb wine list, a warm, inviting atmosphere, and superior service. If possible, make a reservation. This is one the most acclaimed restaurants in Florence and gets crowded on busy nights.

Best Seafood

Although most restaurants in Florence aren't known for seafood, some serve wonderful fresh fish and shellfish dishes. Osteria dei Cento Poveri serves wonderful fresh seafood dishes in a family atmosphere. The husband and wife couple who run the restaurant love to make the guests feel welcome and help non-English speakers order. The lobster pasta is to die for, but they also offer many non-seafood options for visitors looking for something more Florentine.

Find a Florence hotel near the restaurant that you like the most.