One of Florence’s classic cafe spots on busy Piazza della Repubblica, known as much for its longevity as its location. There’s often live piano music. As with many Florence cafes, sitting at a table, inside or outside, will mean triple normal prices. Stand at the bar to avoid a head-spinning bill.
Owing in large part to its enviable location on Piazza della Signoria, the social heart of the city, this is arguably Florence’s top cafe spot, serving coffee and legendary chocolate cake since 1872. Terrace tables are the big ticket item (which will cost you double or even triple the price of standing at the bar) for their sweeping views over...
They execute the Tuscan usuals as well as you’re likely to find in Florence: pappardelle with wild boar sauce, risotto with porcini mushrooms, spinach and ricotta-filled ravioli, bistecca alla fiorentina and a modest pizza list. But their keystone is the incredible wine selection, literally looming over the red brick dining room, featuring Tuscany’s best offerings. In good weather the outdoor...
No luck getting in at Il Santo Bevitore? You could do a lot worse than this consolation prize, just a few doors east. Although, you may have trouble getting into this closet of a place too in bad weather. Assuming good weather, you’ll do fine, idly enjoying wine and snacks out on the street with plenty of company. There’s no...
The terrace seating on relatively quiet Borgo La Croce is a big draw at this pizzeria/restaurant, specializing both in thin and thick crust pizzas. In addition to the over two dozen pizzas, they offer a large selection of typical Tuscan primi and secondi, including some veg options.
OK, the outdoor seating is in a parking lot and the poster-sized menus are usually a bad sign, but the pizzas here are very popular and endorsed by discriminating locals. There’s also no shortage of typical Tuscan pasta and meat and seafood plates.
Whether you choose the small dinning room or sidewalk terrace, brace yourself for a menu printed in CAPS, because apparently the beef plates are “SERVED BLOODY!” If a blood-stained plate isn’t your thing, fear not, there’s a long list of alternatives, including the intriguing “drunkard spaghetti” cooked in red wine, garlic and hot pepper. They’re also an all-day cafe, serving...
The large outdoor covered terrace fills quickly with tourists craving the good value wood-fire pizzas. The rest of the menu is a bit more ambitious, both in price and food, including a slightly out-of-place, yet undeniably eye-popping hamburger that looks like it was pulled straight out of a glossy magazine picture. It’s a justifiably busy place and there’s often a...
A locally recommended place with a menu sporting no less than 10 primi options, including gazpacho, cream of potato soup, artichoke lasagna and a pasta stuffed with pears and ricotta, covered in a white sauce and asparagus. Options like lamb, tripe, octopus and a meat stew with whole peppercorns, cooked in Chianti wine fill out the secondi list. The restaurant...
They may be super-sized, they may have touts in the square trying to snare customers, their menu may be three times longer than any other Italian restaurant I’ve ever seen, they may sell their own cookbooks and music compilation CDs, but you know what? The food’s not bad. A reliable choice especially if you’re looking for a little variety (omelets...