The city of Renaissance beauty, dreamy landscapes and heavenly delicious food. Level up your experience in Tuscany's capital and taste the local goodies: discover where to eat in Florence with us!

Studying abroad in Florence (or in Italy, as well) will turn you into a foodie. Get ready to say bye to cheap chewy pizza and fast food...you’re landing in the motherland of the greatest culinary traditions, where quality food and wine are a real thing!

We are going to take you on a gastronomic journey around the Florentine local goodies you have to try at least once if you’re living in Florence or you’re just stopping by for a trip. Discover where to eat in Florence and live the tastiest Italian adventure!

7 local foods to try in Florence 

Bistecca Fiorentina

The name itself sounds like an important one, and it actually is since this is the king dish of Florence, the one worldwide known for its majestic presentation and taste. If you are a fan of beef, you can’t miss a quality Bistecca Fiorentina in town. Anyway, we have to warn you that probably this will be the furthest from a cheap meal you’ll have in Florence. But it is totally worth it!

Lampredotto

It is not a usual flavour, but it is very typical here and we think it’s worth giving it a try! Lampredotto is the fourth and final stomach of the cow, slow-cooked with onion, parsley, celery and tomato, until it looks like a tender roast beef. There are many ways to prepare this dish and you can find several places in Florence where you can try Lampredotto, the most popular local street food.

Crostini di fegato

This is a typical starter you can order in every local restaurant: it’s a bite-size version of the nationally known “bruschetta”, crunchy smoked bread with toppings. In this case, the topping is made by chicken liver paté. 

Ribollita

More of a winter dish, Ribollita is a bread and vegetable soup that used to be a poor dish, a peasant recipe. It’s the kind of comfort food that you’ll love during your stay in Florence and it is extremely affordable.

Ravioli nudi

It literally means “naked ravioli” and it is exactly what it looks like: just the spinach and ricotta filling without any pasta shell. It’s a simple dish, served with butter or tomato sauce, but it will blow your mind.

Gelato

Fior di latte, crema, stracciatella, pistacchio, zabaione, nocciola and many others. You won’t even be able to pick a flavour! When strolling around the narrow streets of Florence, tasting an ice cream is a must...and we promise it will be the best of your life!

Chianti wine

Few kilometres away from Florence there is the Chianti region, famous for its wine production (which is in Italy as important as food). Don’t miss the chance to sip some delicious Chianti wine and pair it with quality cheese and jam while admiring a breathtaking rooftop view over Florence.

Places where to eat in Florence: quality food on a budget

Florence offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars, trattorie (typical Italian establishments less formal than restaurants serving mind blowing homemade dishes). You can find them all around the city, but the centre has plenty of these places. Just make sure you don’t get stuck in the usual tourist trap. 

Here are some tips where to eat in Florence, enjoying local food on a budget.

• I’ Brindellone: with a decade long experience in satisfying the local folks, this restaurant is a little pearl in the heart of the city. Few decorations, yet a cozy atmosphere and great dishes from the Florentine tradition at a very cheap price.

• Rocco (located in the enclosed Sant’Ambrogio market): here you’ll share a big table with other guests and the price of the wine may vary depending on how filled is your fiasco (jar)! It is a quite typical place to have a unique culinary experience.

• I Buongustai: a traditional trattoria in the centre of Florence, where a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, mixed up with great homemade dishes at a cheap price will make your meal unforgettable.

• Ristomacelleria Terrazza Menoni (located in Sant’Ambrogio market): another spot in the most famous food market in Florence. It is a self-service restaurant where you can choose among several traditional and delicious dishes on the menu and enjoy your affordable lunch on the terrace with a lovely view of the market.