Food To Try in Florence, Italy

The typical food in Florence, Italy, reflects the rich culinary traditions of Tuscany. Italian cuisine is known for its simplicity, quality ingredients, and focus on highlighting natural flavors. And Florentine cuisine, of course, is the same. Here are some characteristics of typical Florentine food:

Prime Ingredients: Florentine cuisine emphasizes the use of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Tuscan olive oil, which has a fruity and robust flavor, is a staple in many dishes. Other key ingredients include fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, legumes, and a variety of meats.
Steaks and Meat: Tuscan cuisine is renowned for its exceptional beef. The most famous Florentine dish is Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a large T-bone steak that is traditionally grilled over an open flame to achieve a charred exterior while maintaining a rare or medium-rare interior. Pork is also prevalent, and dishes like Porchetta (roast pork) and various cured meats are popular.
Rustic Soups and Stews: Hearty soups and stews are an integral part of Florentine cuisine. Ribollita, a Tuscan soup made with bread, vegetables, and beans, is a prime example. It is often cooked twice for added depth of flavor. Other traditional soups include Pappa al Pomodoro (tomato and bread soup) and Zuppa di Farro (spelt soup).
Pasta and Sauces: Pasta dishes in Florence are typically simple yet flavorful. Local favorites include Pappardelle al Cinghiale (wide ribbon pasta with wild boar ragù) and Tagliatelle al Tartufo (tagliatelle pasta with truffle sauce). Tuscan pasta sauces often feature fresh tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and aromatic herbs.
Crostini and Antipasti: Crostini, small toasts topped with various spreads or toppings, are popular appetizers in Florence. Crostini di Fegato, made with chicken liver pâté, is a classic example. Antipasti platters often include cured meats, local cheeses, marinated vegetables, and bruschetta.
Bread and Bakeries: Florence is known for its crusty and saltless bread, called Pane Toscano. It is traditionally made with just flour, water, and yeast. Local bakeries also offer a wide range of traditional Tuscan pastries, such as schiacciata (a flatbread topped with olive oil and salt) and buccellato (a sweet bread with raisins and anise).
Wines and Desserts: Tuscany is renowned for its excellent wines. When in Florence, try local wines like Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. For desserts, enjoy classic Tuscan treats such as Cantuccini (almond biscuits) dipped in Vin Santo (sweet dessert wine) or Torta della Nonna (custard-filled pastry).

These characteristics represent the essence of typical Florentine cuisine. The focus on quality ingredients, simplicity, and robust flavors make dining in Florence a delightful experience for food lovers.

One of the easiest ways to try the most food is to join food tours. We went on a Florence food tour and ate so much good food. It really felt like it was worth more than the 20 euros we paid! These are the goodies we got to try:

Cantucci

These crunchy almond biscuits are often enjoyed with a glass of Vin Santo, a sweet dessert wine. Cantuccini are twice-baked, resulting in a firm texture that is perfect for dipping.

Fried bread

Stracchino cheese prosciutto coccoli aka fried bread stuffed with ham and cheese at Forno Bruschi Ivana Hemp.

Truffle in oil

If you're a fan of truffles, Florence is an excellent place to indulge. Truffle-based dishes such as pasta, risotto, or even truffle-infused sauces are widely available in many restaurants. You can grab a jar of truffles in oil to take home too.

Pasta dish

There are a lot of pasta dishes to enjoy in Italy, but the ones to try in Florence is the wild board sauce, pumpkin sauce, and truffles. Our local guide brought us to restaurant for fresh pasta with meat and tomato sauce.

Mortadella sandwich

There was so much food on our tour! I was still able to eat this sandwich only coz I didn't want to carry it around. This sandwich shop is near the Chiesa di Dante.

Gelato

After all that there was still room for gelato! I do think gelato or any ice cream is better to enjoy during cooler weather. Otherwise, you'll racing against the heat melting the creamy goodness. This one came from Rivareno Gelato and worth every calorie.

There is a lot of food to try in Florence Italy so we also made our own food tour. One of the best places to do it is at the San Lorenzo Market where we tried these Italian dishes:

La pizza in teglia Raffaele d'Errico

The crispy dough is topped with eye-catching ingredients and it is sold by the kilo so you can order as little as you want.

Arancini

This street food is deep fried rice balls filled with cheese, meat, or a ragu. I've had it before and was not impressed. But this one in the food hall was quite good and happily munched on it.

Fritto Misto

This popular Italian dish is a mix of lightly battered and fried seafood, such as shrimp, calamari, and small fish.

Florentine Steak

One of the stalls caught our attention and we bought a steak cooked with potatoes. It was served in a paper cone and we speared the delicious food with skewers. We decided to be a little fancy and got red wine to pair it with. This was some of the best things we had while in Florence!

Fresh Pasta

We wanted to try different kinds of pasta and we got our wish! After picking the pasta and sauce we waited a couple of minutes before digging in. Again, we enjoyed the traditional dishes standing up and I think it added to the experience!

Other Italian food to try:

Espresso

If you are used to a big cup of coffee, you will definitely miss holding a mug and sipping your coffee. Most coffee in Florence is an espresso that is easy to finish and no need to spend time sitting and enjoying it.

But I did enjoy a pistachio espresso with whipped cream at the Biblioteca delle Oblate, a library with a cafe.

Bistecca Fiorentina

Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a famous Tuscan recipe that focuses solely on the quality and flavor of the meat and doesn't include much in the way of herbs or seasonings. The steak is usually priced by weight and averages in at about 1-1.5 kg. The meat is cut thickly (5-6 cm) and then grilled over a fire until the outside is perfectly done while the inside remains bloody. The steak is cooked over blazing coals and shared between friends and family. The dish highlights Tuscan cooking, from its simplicity, to its use of quality ingredients, to the rustic feel of sitting down to a slab of perfectly cooked steak.

Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916

Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916 is a small stand that sells probably the best Roast Pig in the region. The sandwich is made of sliced roasted pork meat, slivers of flavorful fat, and chopped heavenly crispy suckling pig skin. The sandwich is simple with crusty bread and sliced pork, and there are different sauces to add to it. It’s definitely worth trying if you’re by the Santa Maria Novella train station and need a quick bite to eat.

During the trip we usually ate out for lunch and had dinner in. We went to the supermarket and bought some cured meat, cheese, bread, fruits, and vegetables. So, we didn't over eat but still got to try a lot of Italian food.