FLORENCE RESTAURANT GUIDE: GASTROTOUR, A JOURNEY FOR GOURMANDS...
Specialties Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Wine and Food tasting... You are out to give your taste buds a thrill? This is the list for you: enough tips to make our gourmands guests have a fantastic gastronomic tour of Florence!
Chocolate House: Vestri
Rating: very good hot and cold chocolate
Address: Borgo Albizi, 11; tel. 055-2340374.
Specialties: a glass of hot chocolate with red peppers
Restaurant: Enoteca Pinchiorri
Rating: very good
Specialties: capesante grigliate con battuto di pomodoro fresco e capperi, asparagi con fette di branzino affumicato o in crema di parmigiano, formaggio di capra fritto con lamelle di mango e peperoncino
Address: Via Ghibellina, 87; tel. 055-242777.
Note: the best restaurant in Florence among the very refined and expensive restaurants, it is known all over the world and is one of the best in Europe; very very expensive, with an excellent cantina of the best and most expensive wines, and with nouvelle cuisine dishes of the finest ingredients. Closed Sunday and Monday, and August. Tuesday open only for dinner.
Cafe / American Bar: Negroni
Rating: good
Specialties: its aperitivo.
Address: Via dei Renai 17/r tel. 055-243647
Note: this cafe / bar is one of the best happy hour lounges in Florence and is interesting for meeting new people. This café / bar was created in the same place where, Amici Miei one of the best known and beloved bars used to be. It was so famous for its ambiance among true Florentines that a famous Italian film was made at the time using it. Negroni serves tasty aperitivi in an artful ambiance and good entourage. It also serves a light lunch and dinner. It never closes and is open almost 24 hours, except Sunday.Pasticceria: Robiglio
Rating: one of the best pasticcerie in Florence
Specialties: hand-made chocolate (e.g. alkekengi pralines), a significant variety of pasticcini alla crema, al cioccolato, alla nocciola, allo zabaione, al caffé..., Maddalene, cannoli and torte (e.g. Fruttodoro, the golden fruit and torta Primavera).
Address: Via dei Servi, 112/r; tel. 055-212784.
Note: it is a family traditional pasticceria, which, since 1928, is dedicated to creating all kinds of genuine and nice pastries.Gelateria / Pasticceria: Badiani
Rating: the best gelateria of Florence
Specialties: the best Buontalenti and crema ice-creams, gelato al bacio.
Address: Viale dei Mille, 20/r; tel. 055-578682
Note: perfect classic ice-creams make it, in our opinion, the best gelateria in Florence; even if its location is a little far from Casa Howard (2.9 Km. on foot), its ice-creams will never be forgotten; all the rest is good too.Trattoria: Antico Fattore
Rating: average; inspirational environment
Specialties: old traditional Florentine trattoria, where twentieth century artists (e.g. De Chirico, Carre), journalists and arts critics used to meet and enjoyed interesting conversations and good traditional food.
Address: Via Lambertesca 1/3r; tel. 055-288975
Note: closed Sunday and late July to early August.Restaurant: La Fondue Edel Kitsch
Rating: good
Specialties: Moitie-Moitie and Friburg cheese, Buorguignonne and Chinoise fondues, and Raclette; late night chocolate fondues...
Address: Via della Fonderia 1r; tel. 055-2286006.
Note: it's only open for dinner. Stylish, warm place with a mix of Murano coloured glasses and wood, in edel kitsch style.Gelateria: Vivoli
Rating: good!
Specialties: special flavours, such as pera caramellata, pinolata, cioccolata all'arancio..., but all its gelati are delicious.
Address: Via Isola delle Stinche 7r; tel. 055-292334.
Note: it is at apx. 2 Km. The most popular, and for many the best, gelateria in Florence.Focacceria: Pugi
Rating: good!
Specialties: the focacceria Pugi has its own original recipee for either plain, all'olio (with olive oil), or with different toppings schiacciate and for its focacce and other seasonal items, such as, for example, the schiacciata all'uva; it is one of the best in Florence, and la schiacciata o la focaccia del Pugi are part of conversations on tasty snack, or merenda, with friends.
Address: Piazza San Marco, 10; tel. 055-280981.
Note: it is at apx. 1 Km. Its perfume is hard to resist when visiting Piazza San Marco and passing in front of it, and its taste... well, just try it.Restaurant: Momoyama
Rating: very good, sofisticated ambiance...
Specialties: japanese cuisine, sushi, sashimi, tempura.
Address: Borgo San Frediano, 10r; tel. 055-291840.
Note: ...different spaces at different structural levels; it has a modern and minimalistic structure in an old building. They also host art exhibitions and presentations. Closed Monday.Restaurant: Il Vegetariano
Rating: good
Specialties: biological food and beverages, pies, casseroles.
Address: Via delle Ruote, 30r; tel. 055-475030
Note: it is a good restaurant also for non-vegetarians, for its variety of dishes, all served directly from the kitchen. Closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday.Cocktail and Wine Bar: Dolce Vita
Rating: good, colourful, sensual and modern
Specialties: cocktails and wines, music, people and art.
Address: Piazza del Carmine; tel. 055-284595.
Note: one of the happening places in Florence for years, and always on the change; they have one of the best aperitivi in Florence: good cocktails with ethnic and mediterranean snacks, and is always full of modern, dinamic, passionate people; great lounge music.Café / Bar: Colle Bereto
Rating: good, sober modern
Specialties: one of the most trendy places in Florence for the best cocktails, its innovative lounge music and beautiful public and nationally and also internationally known artists and fashion personalities.
Address: Piazza Strozzi, 5r; tel. 055-283156.
Note: it is now one of the happening places for Florentines.Cocktail Bar: Moyo
Rating: good; ethnochic
Specialties: carpacci, omelettes, sandwiches, hamburgers, among other dishes; varied buffet for aperitivo, good cocktails (e.g. Moyo cocktail).
Address: Via de' Benci, 23r; tel. 055-2479738.
Note: beautiful ambiance: ethnic and sophisticated; low lights; very particular bathrooms; it is open from morning to late at night and is always crowded.Café / Cocktail Bar: Zoe
Rating: good
Specialties: its aperitivo: pizzette,varied small panini, crostini, schiacciatine and vegetables; popular drinks such as the americano, the mojito, the spritz (which is prepared with Aperol).
Address: Via dei Renai, 13/r; tel. 055-055243111.
Note: its aperitivo is one of the best in Florence; the ambiance is simple and trendy; the owner changes the colours regularly of the interiors; it has been expanded and has a nice cow in the small courtyard inside the building; the place is always dynamic, full of friends and locals; after dinner it always gets packed and its lounge music is nice.
Café / Restaurant / Cocktail Bar: Capocaccia
Rating: good
Specialties: the aperitivo: good cocktails, good lounge music, good buffet, very warm and cosmopolitan mood, crowded; please watch the sunset from here, one of the most fascinating panoramas in Florence.
Address: Lungarno Corsini, 12/r; tel. 055-210751
Note: Monday open only for lunch.Restaurant: Fuor d'Acqua
Rating: good
Specialties: raw fish antipasti; spaghetti alla Trabaccolara, cernia all'isolana.
Address: Via Pisana, 37; tel. 055-222299.
Note: perhaps the best restaurant for fish, it serves raw and grilled super fresh fish; service is a bit slow; the atmosphere is refined. Closed Sunday, at lunch and August.Gelateria: Perché No?
Rating: good
Specialty: fiordilatte con sesamo e miele di castagno, gelato al ginger, sorbetto di fico.
Address: Via dei Tavolini, 19r; tel. 055-298969.
Note: the oldest gelateria in Florence and it is said to be the first in the world to present ice cream in glass displays.Restaurant / Gastronomic Atelier: Olio & Convivium
Rating: good
Specialties: priced wines, liquors, olive oils, cured meats, cheeses, breads and desserts to buy.
Address: Via S. Spirito, 4; tel. 055-2658198.
Note: this restaurant / atelier offers light lunches, dinners and savory dishes as snacks. Closed Sunday.Restaurant: Lo Skipper
Rating: good
Specialties: tagliolini di pasta fresca ai gamberetti al limone, tagliolini alla liparitana, pici agli asparagi, filetto di manzo al calvados, spiedini di pesce.
Address: Via Alfani, 78r; tel. 055-284019.
Note: varied sicilian, sardinian, greek and mexican food, and also Italian dishes. Saturday open only at dinner.Café / Bar: Rex Café
Rating: eclectic, slightly eccentric and colourful interiors
Specialties: very coloured giant mosaic wall, starry sky, red room... good cocktails.
Address: Via Fiesolana, 23r; tel. 055-2480331.
Note: this place has a free, lively, dynamic ambiance that is appreciated by a cosmopolitan public, such as personalities from the culture field, but also common people who love to mix.Café / Bar / Cocktail Bar: Giacosa (Roberto Cavalli)
Rating: good, chic, trendy
Specialties: Negroni cocktail; the place.
Address: Via della Spada, 10; tel. 055-2776328.
Note: an old (it has existed since middle 1800's) very famous café in Florence (last century, Florentine aristocratic ladies used to take afternoon tea, coffee, hot chocolate and aperitivo here; it then started to offer light lunches too) taken over by the Roberto Cavalli's company. It now has become very crowded at night among young and less young and known and less known people, with nice lounge music, sometimes even mixed by Mr. Cavalli's own son when he is here with his friends...Café / Bar: Il Rifrullo
Rating: good!
Specialties: it became famous when it started to offer the first aperitivo in Florence, changing the concept of a bar; very relaxing terrace and very tasty dinner.
Address: Via San Niccolù;, 55r; tel. 055-2342621.
Note: this has been one of the most known and best café / bars in Florence since the 1970's for its warm, lively, slightly trendy and colourful atmosphere (lunch too, with a special buffet service). Closed Monday night and two weeks in August.Gelateria: CarabË
Rating: good
Specialties: granite, cannoli.
Address: Via Ricasoli, 66r; tel. 055-289476.
Note: the best sicilian pastries and ice creams in Florence.Kosher Restaurant: Ruth's
Rating: good
Specialties: mediterranean food
Address: Via Farini, 2; tel. 055-2480888.
Note: it is a small, lively restaurant; reservations suggested. Closed Friday night, Saturday at lunch and Jewish holidays.Restaurant: Acqua Cotta
Rating: nice
Specialties: acqua cotta, fried antipasto.
Address: Via dei Pilastri, 51r; tel. 055-242907
Note: a comfortable place like home with traditional dishes; it is worth trying this dish, which literally means cooked water. Closed Tuesday for dinner and Wednsday.Trippaio: del Porcellino
Rating: good!
Specialties: panino al lampredotto.
Address: Mercato del Porcellino.
Note: street eating from the Trippai of Florence is really a unique experience, which takes you back to ancient times; the experience consists in what you eat, the talking, the queuing, all together...
This is only one of the several trippai you can find throughout Florence: there are others in Via dell'Ariento, Piazza Cimatori, Borgo La Croce, etc...
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