Foodie Finds: Where to Eat in Florence

When most people think of Florence, Renaissance art and history come to mind. Heck, even a romantic stroll by the Arno for some. But for me, Florence has always meant one thing: Food. Every time I visit this city, I fall in love with Italian fare all over again. While it isn’t normally thought of as one of Italy’s foodie capitals, it sure does a good job at seeming like it is one. If you’re looking to embark on a culinary journey of Florence, make room in your itinerary for these places. You’re welcome.

Lunch

‘Ino
It’s a bit tricky to find this place, which is why locating it becomes all the more rewarding once you taste their sandwiches. It involves battling through hordes of tourists and successfully finding a narrow street amongst the chaos. First, walk over to Piazza della Signoria’s Loggia. Then, take the first street on your right. Yes, it’s that tiny alleyway and it leads directly to ‘Ino, one of Florence’s best kept secrets. Once there, we savour our “Il Solito” panini (prosciutto, pecorino cheese, tapenade, and fresh tomatoes) and Italian beer on a few wooden stools casually laid out, while enjoying curious stares from passer-bys.

Grana Market
This family-owned grocery store, which doubles as a panini shop, sells authentic Italian products. They also make killer sandwiches using fresh items like cold cuts, Italian cheeses, and marinated vegetables. My go-to sandwich is filled with prosciutto, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and pesto.

Dinner

Osteria del Caffè Italiano
Some say Florentines don’t do pizza – and they’re right. They know to leave that to the south. Enter Osteria del Caffè Italiano. Not to be confused with the fancy restaurant within the same establishment, head to the back to discover this hole-in-the-wall pizzeria. 

With only several wooden tables dispersed around a Neapolitan wood burning oven, the eatery is manned by an Italian pizza chef with a temperament that makes even meaner pizzas – three types to be exact (I wouldn’t dare try to make changes to my order!). I always go for the classic Margherita and pair it with a Moretti beer.

La Bussola
Tucked in between the Arno and Piazza della Repubblica, La Bussola is a mixed bag. While we had a group of loud tourists in front of us, plenty of locals who knew the waitstaff were also scattered around the restaurant. Once I tried the food, it confirmed that this spot deserved some attention. The first thing that caught my eye on the menu was food porn to my ears: Strawberry-Prosecco risotto. My partner also chose an interesting dish: Carbonara made with Chianti sauce. Both dishes worked. Really well. La Bussola also serves pizza, but after trying these variations on our classic faves that we don’t think we’ll find elsewhere, I would definitely opt for one of their creative creations.

Markets

Mercato San Lorenzo
Obviously, I couldn’t leave this food Mecca out. The market’s main floor is where you’ll get a glimpse of Florentine life as locals pick out their grocery items. You’ll also find several delicious pizza and sandwich stalls. Head to the second floor to discover a food court-style place filled with restaurants serving ready-to-eat dishes, baked good, and of course, delicious coffee.

Eataly
I stumbled upon Florence’s Eataly by accident and couldn’t contain my excitement because whenever I come across an Eataly market, I’m happier than a child at Disneyland. Florence’s version has an outdoor terrace that spans the length of the store, overlooking Via dei Martelli. It’s the perfect spot to sip on an espresso and people-watch.

Gelato

Perché No!…
No Italian foodie guide is complete without gelato. With so many tourist traps in Florence’s city centre, finding good gelato requires a bit of research (see those spots with neon lights that display mounds of fluff? Don’t go there). Perché No (translation: Why not?) is hands down the best gelateria in the city. Maybe because it’s been around since 1939 or that everything is quality controlled. You won’t find any preservatives or artificial ingredients here – just fresh gelato made every morning! Their Fior di Latte with honey and sesame seeds always gets me, along with the classic chocolate and nocciola (pictured above).

Hungry yet? What’s your favourite eatery in Florence?