A Guide to Eating and Drinking in Florence
- Florence Information
- Eating & drinking in Florence
- Night life in Florence
- Getting around in Florence
- Things to do in Florence
- Where to stay in Florence
- Florence street map
In Florence, like Italy as a whole, food and drink are elevated to the status of a fine art form. As such, eating and drinking should feature just as highly on any traveler’s ‘to do’ list as its many historical and artistic treasures.
But as with the other big cities in Italy, finding a cheap meal isn’t always straightforward. The scruffy looking pizza and pasta places around the bus station and the Mercato Centrale (in San Lorenzo) generally provide a range of affordable dishes.
Out to the east along the river, San Frediano is perhaps the best neighborhood for the budget traveler. There’s a cluster of good neighborhood restaurants on and around Via Pissano that serve up good, and at least relatively cheap, food.
As is the case everywhere, the further you get away from the busier areas, the more likely you are to find a good, affordable meal. When you find a place that looks as though it's popular with locals, you're probably on to a winner, both in terms of price and taste.
A tip for those looking to get a real flavor of the city is to make for the fantastic ‘vinaio’ (wine bars). Often little more than a hole in the wall, (unlike the smarter ‘enoteche') a good glass of wine and a couple of light bites shouldn’t cost too much.
Florence also has a couple of markets that sell a selection of mouth-watering local produce. Another great way to sample real Italian food on a budget is to make the most of the wonderful cheeses, cold meats and breads and have an informal picnic in a piazza.
During the day, the markets are also a good place to go for a cheap meal. The ‘tavola calda’ (cheap, informal eateries) at the Mercato Centrale and Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio serve up large portions of good food, and boast great people watching opportunities.
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of eating and drinking to life in Italy. And Florence is absolutely no exception. The only thing to do, for those who really want to understand the place, is to get out there and sample what’s on offer.