Local Eats in Florence, Italy

By Kelsey Gibson

Discover Some Amazing Local Eats in Florence

“I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I love the attitudes of Italians.” – Elton John

When I think of Italy, Italian cuisine is the first thing that pops up in my head. Pizza. Pasta. Wine. Olive oil. What else do you need in life?

But it is so much more than just a cuisine in Italy. The ‘al dente’ cooked homemade pasta, thin and crisp pizza, and flavorful wine perfectly paired with each course is sure to make you believe you are in Heaven. Italians make it more than just a simple and quick meal; each meal becomes an event with family and friends. 

When traveling to Italy, you need to try real and authentic Italian food…these are normally not the restaurants located in the main tourist paths. Below you can find some of our favorite local Italian eats in Florence!

Touch

Starting off with my favorite restaurant in Florence. I am a bit biased since this is where I worked last summer, but it truly is a restaurant full of Italian authenticity and quality. It has traditional Italian foods with a modern 'touch' to them. Touch is co-owned by Matteo, Max and Stefano, all friends that had a similar vision and passion for sharing Italian history, culture, and food with people from around the globe. 

The restaurnt is a great place to grab a nice dinner with a few courses and a bottle of wine! While 'Selfie Carbonara' is a crowd favorite and stays on the menu, Touch updates their menu often in order to keep the freshest ingredients in all of their dishes. They are able to update often with their iPad menus! Definitely worth a visit when in Florence.

Touch

http://www.touchflorence.com

Via Fiesolana 18/r Firenze 

Tel: +390552466150

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY

Trattoria 4 Leoni

This restaurant is definitely more off the beaten path in the Oltrarno neighborhood not too far from Santo Spirito. Easily books up for dinner, but lunch is the same menu and easier to go on a whim! The menu is in Italian, but the wait staff is very open to give suggestions.

I got the fiocchetti alle pere con salsa di taleggio e asparagi, which consisted of some amazing pear filled pasta with asparagus and a really yummy sauce!

This restaurant is well-known to locals and tourists and the food won’t disappoint! You can even sit outside on a beautiful day and afterwards enjoy a taste of authentic gelato at Gelateria della Passera across the way. 

4 Leoni

http://www.4leoni.it/4Leoni/

Tel: 055218562

Via de' Vellutini 1r Firenze 

I’Brindellone

On the same side of the river as Trattoria 4 Leoni, this local restaurant is always full of locals. If you are looking for the classic Florentine bistecca, this is the place to go! This restaurant is closed on Monday nights, like many other Florentine restaurant, and is recommended that you call to make reservations before going.

You will not only get the real Tuscan feel through the food, but also simply being in the restaurant. This place will go far and beyond your expectations.

I'Brindellone 

Piazza piatellina 10-11/r

Tel: 39055217879

https://m.facebook.com/pages/I-Brindellone/202541566441800

 

Trattoria dell’Orto

Another local favorite, located once again in the Oltrarno neighborhood (are you catching the local trend on the other side of the river?), is Trattoria dell’Orto. This restaurant is simple, rustic, and fantastic.

Its ambiance will make you feel as though this is one of the most authentic in Florence…and it is! This restaurant has a wonderfully cooked Florentine bistecca and Tuscan wines to accompany it. Closed on Tuesdays and takes reservations! 

Trattoria dell' Orto

Via dell'Orto 35

39055224148

http://www.trattoriadellorto.com

Obicá Mozzarella Bar

This restaurant is an upscale mozzarella bar on Via Tornabuoni next to many designer stores. Its menu is filled with a few different kinds of mozzarella, cold plate starters, a few salads, and, my personal favorite, the pizza!

This pizza is one of the best I have had in Florence. Its fresh flavors and ingredients lets you taste the heart of Italian culture and will keep you coming back for more!

OBICA 

Via de Tornabouni 16

Tel: 390552773526

Www.obica.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY

Have you ever been to any of these? Share some of your favorite Florence eats with us! 

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Kelsey is the Part Time Assistant Travel Consultant for Travel Italian Style and is a student at the University of Mississippi studying Hospitality Management with a minor in Spanish and Business Administration. Kelsey took part in an exchange program in Argentina in high school which created a flourishing passion for travel and learning about other cultures. From then on she took every advantage to study abroad and backpack through Europe. This past summer, Kelsey interned for a local restaurant, Touch, in Florence, Italy and fell in love with the Italian culture. She was able to have a real local experience by making friends with coworkers and locals. She wants to make it possible for everyone who travels to be completely immersed into the culture in order to gain another perspective and to be able to enjoy life even more. 

How To Spend A Day In Florence

By Kelsey Gibson

One Day in Florence

Florence: so many sights to see, foods to devour and places to be; but, can you conquer it all in one day? YES!

 

Even though I would never recommend trying to take in the beautiful Firenze in one day, here is a guide to be able to make the most of one day in Florence.

1. One of the most popular attractions in Florence is the Duomo in the center of the city. Tourists flow from all over the world to climb up the 463 steps to get a picture of the picturesque and unforgettable view.

But instead of waiting for the long line, try climbing up the Bell Tower! It always has a shorter line, less steps, different perspective at the top where you can actually get a view of the Duomo, and it something a little more unique to do!

       PHOTO BY KELSEY, THE BELL TOWER

2. Next you can head over to the Central Market to shop through the fresh market full of local produce downstairs. You can also grab a light lunch on the the second floor after working up an appetite from climbing up the Bell Tower.

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CENTRAL MARKET

3. Right outside the Central Market, you will find yourself in the midst of anything and everything leather in the San Lorenzo Leather Market. Get ready to play the bargain game here, if you play your cards right, you can come home with some real leather treasures!  

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CENTRAL MARKET

4. After searching through the leather market, go see the real statue of David. Hint: buy your tickets ahead of line for a certain time in order to skip the lines that wrap around the corner.

5. Ready for a mid day snack? Head a little out of the way to Ponte Santa Trinita for some authentic and refreshing gelato. Here you can enjoy your gelato with a beautiful view of the Ponte Vecchio!

6. While you are already across the river in the “Oltrarno” neighborhood simply get lost in it for a couple hours! You will find many artisan shops, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, and the local bars and restaurants of Santo Spirito.

PHOTO BY KELSEY, BOBOLI GARDENS

7. From Santo Spirito head towards San Niccolo and climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo justs in time for sunset! Here you will come upon people sharing wine and enjoying the impeccable view.

8. After taking in this breath taking view of the whole city center, head back down the hill and stop by the Santa Croce church and grab a mojito from … during their apertivo, which is arguably the best one in town!

PHOTO BY KELSEY, SANTA CROCE

9. After trying this Italian drink, the fun isn’t over yet. Head back over to Santo Spirito to eat dinner at Osteria Santo Spirito! The gnocchi dish is so creamy that you won’t be able to stop no matter how full you feel! The steps of the church in the square is a wonderful place to enjoy some friendship, local music and dancing, and maybe even a drink from one of the many local bars.

Florence is the perfect walkable city full of intriguing wall art, famous sites, and amazing food. You could spend weeks but still never get bored in this small city. However, you can still make the most of only one day in Florence.

 

Did we miss anything? Share you comments below!

 

Here at TIS we are specialists in custom travel planning, so if you are looking for more info on visiting Bella Firenze simply contact us here.

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Kelsey is the Part Time Assistant Travel Consultant for Travel Italian Style and is a student at the University of Mississippi studying Hospitality Management with a minor in Spanish and Business Administration. Kelsey took part in an exchange program in Argentina in high school which created a flourishing passion for travel and learning about other cultures. From then on she took every advantage to study abroad and backpack through Europe. This past summer, Kelsey interned for a local restaurant, Touch, in Florence, Italy and fell in love with the Italian culture. She was able to have a real local experience by making friends with coworkers and locals. She wants to make it possible for everyone who travels to be completely immersed into the culture in order to gain another perspective and to be able to enjoy life even more. 

Day Trips From Florence, Italy

By Kelsey Gibson

Day Trips from Florence

            While there are numerous things to do in Florence, day trips are the perfect way to travel if you have limited time and want to see somewhere new!

Here are a few places that are perfect for a one-day trip:

Verona

Many Italians are very proud of the little town called Verona because it is one of the first cities travelers from the north go through. Located in between the popular cities of Milan and Venice, it is a pure depiction of simplicity and romance and is home to the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. Here you can write love letters and wishes on paper and stick it on the walls below Juliet’s balcony in hopes that she will make these love wishes come true.

You can spend hours reading these heartfelt, passionate, and unforgettable letters of people from around the world. Even though Verona is mostly known for the setting of Romeo and Juliet, it has much more to offer. The Piazza delle Erbe is a beautiful open square full of markets selling all kinds of souvenirs during the day and full of people having an apertivo during the evening. This renaissance town is also home to their exquisite Arena of Verona.

This arena resembles Rome’s Colosseum, and even though it is smaller in size, it is still an incredible sight worth seeing! Verona has many attractions and sights to see, but it is also the perfect place to sit back, relax with a glass of wine, and enjoy the beauty of the architecture and people or even take a stroll around the whole town in just an hour or so! Definitely a must do day trip and is only about 3 hours away via train from Florence!

PHOTO BY KELSEY, JULIET'S BALCONY

PHOTO BY KELSEY, PIAZZA DELLE ERBE

Cinque Terre

While working in Florence, the Amalfi Coast was hard for me to get to since it was a bit further away. I would have had to take a couple days off to really embrace the gorgeous beauty of it all and did not want to cut my time short. However, the next best place to enjoy the coastal cliffs of the Italian Riviera is Cinque Terre, meaning the 5 lands. These 5 ‘lands’ include Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Cinque Terre is the perfect place for a quick getaway full of sunshine, clear blue water, and some limoncello! The train is easy to hop on and off of to get to each different ‘land’; however, if you are going in the middle of the summer be prepared for the crowds.

My advice would definitely to try to avoid peak season, but it is still well worth the visit! You can also opt out of the train hopping and take a ferry, which I definitely recommend, because you are able to have a different perspective of the cliffs from the water. The last option is to hike between the different towns.

These hikes are a little more strenuous than a stroll through a park, but the views from above are worth a little bit of sweat! Everyone needs a little exercise after some limoncello and pesto too, right!?

If you want to avoid the moving around, pick a place and stick to it! Monterosso al Mare definitely has the most beach area to relax on and it is easy to either rent a chair and umbrella or you can set up your own towel on one of the public beaches! Either way, you get to enjoy the same view! This trip from Florence to Cinque Terre is also about 2.5 hours, but can have at least one, maybe two different train changes (most likely Pisa and La Spezia).

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CINQUE TERRE

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CINQUE TERRE

Chianti

When thinking of day trips from Florence, you don’t have to go too far to have an incredible day experience. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking of Tuscany…WINE! What better of a day trip than a wine tasting in an old vineyard somewhere in the hills of Tuscany. Better yet, why not the land of the black rooster, Chianti! Joining a tour to Chianti for the day was easily one of my favorite days in Italy last summer.

Driving from Florence through the winding roads of Tuscany is truly unbelievable and makes you feel as though you are in the middle of a movie. Pictures do no justice here. Last summer I took a cooking class and wine tasting through the restaurant Touch at the Colle Bereto vineyard and it all took my breath away!

The drive out there would be enough within itself; however, when you arrive to these old vineyards, you really get to enjoy the passion, pride, and love of these winemakers while they tell you the history behind each one of their wines. Best part about organized tours to a vineyard, is that you won’t have to worry about the driving after a couple glasses of wine! Time and distance varies depending on where exactly you decide to go, but on average, Chianti is about 30 min – 1.5 hours away!

PHOTO BY KELSEY

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CHIANTI

Florence is a spectacular place and there are so many surrounding places to see. 

Need some more tips and ideas for taking a day trip while visiting Italy? Contact our Custom Travel team here

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Kelsey is the Part Time Assistant Travel Consultant for Travel Italian Style and is a student at the University of Mississippi studying Hospitality Management with a minor in Spanish and Business Administration. Kelsey took part in an exchange program in Argentina in high school which created a flourishing passion for travel and learning about other cultures. From then on she took every advantage to study abroad and backpack through Europe. This past summer, Kelsey interned for a local restaurant, Touch, in Florence, Italy and fell in love with the Italian culture. She was able to have a real local experience by making friends with coworkers and locals. She wants to make it possible for everyone who travels to be completely immersed into the culture in order to gain another perspective and to be able to enjoy life even more.