Between the architecture, the culture, and the beauty within Florence, Italy, the city is just bursting with beauty. The sunsets just hit differently, the Italian sandwiches are so fresh and flavorful, and visitors are just surrounded with stunning art and architecture everywhere they turn.
This is my third trip visiting Florence, and it's one of those destinations that is difficult to get tired of. For these reasons and more, I put together a list of some of the food, activity, and drink recommendations I've compiled from my unforgettable visits.
Breakfast
Ditta Artigianale
I came to Ditta Artigianale for its cold brew and cafe environment. This specialty coffee company brews its coffee daily right in the heart of Florence, and it's a great place if you're looking for a sit-down cafe for coffee, lattes, juices, pastries — or even cocktails.
Base V Juicery
Base V Juicery was my go-to for a morning smoothie and cold brew drink with a splash of their housemate oat milk. This spot offers fresh, non-processed, nutrient-rich, plant based food and beverages. You can choose from items that include superfood smoothies, cold pressed juices, signature toasts, salads and bowls, wraps, acai bowls, coffees, super lattes, as well as vegan and gluten free desserts. I tried a new smoothie each morning that I was in Florence, and my absolute favorite one was the Sweet Boy, which included oat milk, raw cacao, peanut butter, banana, dates, and cacao nibs. This smoothie is a protein-filled treat that is perfect for after a day of touring!
Shake Cafe
Shake Cafe was another great option for your morning cafe stop that has a little bit of everything. This spot offers wraps, salads, coffees, smoothies, and bowls and emphasizes health, freshness, simplicity and quickness in its cafes.
La Ménagère
La Ménagère is a popular, beautiful restaurant for a sit-down brunch (which is also open for dinner). I unfortunately didn't get a chance to make it here this past visit, but La Ménagère is on my list for a weekend brunch with friends the very next time I'm in the city. A combination of a flower shop, cafe, restaurant, cocktail bar, and home goods retailer all in one, you can get some morning eggs, sandwiches and coffee in an amazing atmosphere.
La Milkeria
La Milkeria was the other brunch spot that I didn't get a chance to visit, but it's a must for the next time I step foot in Florence. A quaint parisian style cafe, La Milkeria serves coffee, bagels, prosciutto dishes, crepes, pancakes, waffles, and gelato — all in one spot. One of the nutella-filled crepes will be the first thing I plan to order when I'm there next!
Lunch
Pino's Sandwiches
This sandwich shop offers an incredible, authentic experience, between the fun sandwich combinations, the hospitality, and the environment. A family-owned business since 1965, Pino's serves authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of the city. Sandwiches and wine are Pino's specialties, and you have the options of either indoor or outdoor seating — which is a rare find for sandwich shops around Florence.
I ordered the Kacie Rose Special, which included baked ham, burrata, sun-dried tomatoes, salad, and truffle sauce. Every component of the sandwich came together so well, and I seriously was in food heaven for each bite I had.
Mercato Centrale
If you're looking for more lunch choices than an Italian sandwich, I'd recommend heading to Mercato Centrale. It's an indoor food market with Italian food and beverage vendors, where you can find all types of options here.
All’Antico Vinaio
Yes, All’Antico Vinaio had to make my Florence list, and no, it certainly is not overrated. It truly is Florence's most popular sandwich shop for a reason, serving delicious square stuffed sandwiches of meats, cheeses and spreads. It's so popular that you should expect long lines — but let me assure you, it's worth the wait. I personally recommend having a late breakfast, like a smoothie, and then grabbing a very late lunch here to avoid all lines! This sandwich shop will also cost a bit more than the other classic Italian sandwich shops, but it's definitely still worth having for at least one of the days that you're there.
I ordered the La Paradiso, which I'd highly recommend for any other pistachio lovers out there. It's made up of mortadella, cream of pistachio and stracciatella cheese with chopped pistachios. I've also gotten this same sandwich and subbed prosciutto for the mortadella, which I loved even more, since I'm a huge prosciutto fan! However, you can't go wrong with anything you order here.
Panini Toscani
Panini Toscani was a favorite on the trip for most of the people we were with! Besides serving delicious sandwiches that emphasizes the quality of the meats and cheeses, Panini Toscani let's customers sample the meat and cheese options to ensure they make the best choice for their creation. To paint a picture, there are seven choices of bread, four choices of cheese, three choices of meats, and eight choices of veggies.
I ordered the salami with the aged pecorino on the walnut grain bread with lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, and spicy sauce for my three choices of veggies. The sharp cheese with the bit of spice from the sauce and salami balanced out perfectly with the fresh grain bread. Yes, I was in sandwich heaven.
i Fratellini
Another hole-in-the-wall, old-school sandwich and wine shop that is a must is i Fratellini. This spot has been serving meats and cheeses in paninis since 1875. The best part? Their sandwiches are only four euros a piece.
I went simple and got the prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich, but I'd recommend getting the #15, which is what Aubrey ordered!
This sandwich is comprised of tuscan salami, fennel, and cream cheese, and she added rocket salad — this combination was the perfect combination of flavors with the slightest kick.
Touristy
Ponte Vecchio
Taking a photo in front of the Ponte Vecchio is a touristy move yet so necessary when visiting. Known as the Old Bridge, the Ponte Vecchio crosses over the Arno River and is just a beautiful sight to see. If you choose to walk the Ponte Vecchio bridge, you'll pass by the many shops that sell gold and jewelry. It's a landmark in Florence that is a must to see. I also love walking along this river, taking in the views of the Ponte Vecchio for sunset with a gelato in hand.
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is a very prominent art museum that is located in the heart of Florence. The Uffizi is also Italy's top visited museum. Most of the art is from the Renaissance period, and most of the art stems from between the 12th and 17th centuries.
Florence Cathedral
Known for being the most important landmark in Florence and the fourth largest church in the world, Florence Cathedral, also known as the Duomo and formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is an absolute stunner.
The Dumo is an Italian Gothic style building made of green and white marble. The public has the option to climb to the top of the Duomo, which includes a 463 stair trek to the top. The views at the top are known to be so worth the climb.
Accademia Gallery
The Academia Gallery is an art museum in Florence that exhibits the largest number of Michelangelo's sculptures in the world and is home to the David. It's a must-see gallery for any first-timers in Florence.
Pitti Palace
Built in the second half of the 15th century, the Pitti Palace includes multiple museums as well as the Boboli Gardens, which is a historical park in Florence that serves as one of the first and most important examples of the Italian garden. The Pitti Palace was originally designed for the Medici, an Italian family and dynasty.
Santa Maria Novella
Santa Maria Novella is a church in Florence, Italy, which is located opposite of the main train station. This was the first great basilica in Florence, and it is the city's principal Dominican church. Tours are offered at this church, as well, and if we had more time, we would have stopped in to explore what the Santa Maria Novella has to offer.
Activities
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Described as the oldest pharmacy in the world, Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is known as the location where perfume was invented. The perfumery has a few locations throughout the city, but it's so worth visiting the original location, which was created in 1221.
The products are still made with ancient recipes. This is such an authentic experience in Florence, and I'd highly recommend checking this spot out and taking a few scents home for yourself or your loved ones. There are multiple rooms to check out while in the perfumery. Between the scents, the paintings, and the decor, this is experience is one that any visitor should enjoy.
Gucci Garden
Located in the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia, the Gucci Garden is a museum dedicated to the one-and-only iconic Italian fashion house, Gucci. The gallery showcases exhibition rooms that are so intriguing for anyone into fashion, beauty, marketing, or pop culture. With classic clothing and handbags weaved into the various seasonal exhibits and themed rooms, visitors get a unique view of the 360-degree vision of Gucci's renowned campaigns.
The space features a Gucci store with one-of-a-kind items that you can only purchase at this location as well as the restaurant, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, by a three-Michelin-star chef.
Day Trip to Siena
If you're looking to take a day trip from Florence and happen to time your travels with the Palio, I'd highly recommend spending a day in the medieval city of Siena.
We started our day at Taverna di San Giuseppe for lunch, where we shared truffle gnocchi and stratcheylla ragu for lunch. This spot is very popular in Siena, as it's known for its elevated Tuscan dishes and its ancient wine cellar, so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time.
For dinner, we dined at Osteria Babazuf, which serves traditional Italian cuisine as well as truffle-specific items when in season. I had some delicious truffle pasta here that I finished every bite of.
Last but certainly not least, if the Palio is running while you're in Italy, it is so worth going and being a part of this horse race that has been a tradition here for so many years. For background, this horse race is held twice each year and always falls on July 2 and August 16. The main medieval square is transformed into a course of the ten horses and riders who represent ten of the seventeen city districts. You have the option to either buy bleacher seats or stand in the square with your peers at no cost. We stood in the square and had the opportunity to take in every element of this renowned horse race, and it was an experience that I'll never forget.
Snack
Gelateria dei Neri
This classic gelato shop is known for being Florence’s oldest gelateria, where I ordered the ricotta and fig flavor in addition to the pistachio. Gelateria dei Neri is absolutely delicious, and there's a reason why there's always some sort of line no matter the hour. Most gelato places in Florence are great, but there's something about this spot that takes the quality of the gelato and the flavors to another level.
Gelataria Santa Trinita
This gelato spot, Gelataria Santa Trinita, is one of the best locations to grab a cone of gelato to bring to the bridge for an evening stroll or sunset view. I got a delicious cone of pistachio and chocolate gelato when I was here.
Two additional gelato spots that were on my list that I didn't get a chance to try are La Carraia and La Strega Nocciola.
Sunset Drinks
View on Art Rooftop
If you're looking for a trendy rooftop bar with beautiful views, you have to check out View on Art Rooftop. Located on the sixth floor of a historic building, this bar has beautiful cocktails, hip decor, indoor and outdoor seating, and the most perfect view of the Duomo.
I'd recommend getting an aperol spritz and having a mini photoshoot up here because this spot offers true Italian summer vibes. This rooftop also serves food up here and is supposedly known for serving a great burger. Next time, I'd try getting here for sunset to take in golden hour with this view.
Gustapizza at Piazzale Michelangelo
This is one of my absolute favorite pizza spots in Italy, and no matter how long the line is, just know that it is worth it. Gustapizza is a wood-fired pizza joint that is known for its fresh ingredients and traditional Italian homemade pizza. You also have the option to have the pizza created in a heart shape, which makes for a fantastic Insta story that still tastes as good as it looks.
You have the option to eat at the restaurant or get the pizza to go. What so many people recommend is getting your pizza to go, grabbing a bottle of wine from the pizza shop, and heading up to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset.
Bars
La Ménagère
La Ménagère is a chic cocktail bar, which made my list for brunch, as well. Even though I didn't get the chance to make it here, this bar seemed to be quite a popular spot for visitors, including celebrities and influencers. If you're looking for a trendy and elevated cafe that offers creative cocktails with music playing, as well, I'd say give this one a shot.
Antico Caffè del Moro
A few of us met up at Antico Caffè del Moro for customized cocktails. Essentially, you give the bartender a desciription of what you'd like, and the bartender surprises you with his take on what you'd enjoy. I had a gin spritz that was light, earthy, and refreshing, which was absolutely perfect for me.
This spot is also great for locals since you can essentially get something new each time you go. I'd highly recommend coming here for a fun cocktail experience.
Dinner
La Giostra
Tuscan restaurant, La Giostra, was one of the most highly recommended restaurants coming into Florence. Even though I didn't get the chance to eat here, La Giostra is supposedly the place to go for a Florentine T-bone steak along with a big wine list and luxurious comfort food.
Trattoria Zaza
Trattoria Zaza is another super popular restaurant in Florence that is known for its pizza al taglio, which is a light, rectangular-shaped pizza. This spot also offers traditional Roman pastas and seasonally inspired salads, soups, and specials. Their weekend brunch which focuses on locally sourced breakfast foods and coffee, is also highly regarded.
You seriously cannot go wrong with wherever you choose to eat, drink, and explore in Florence. There's truly magic in the air in this iconic city, and whether you're a foodie, an art-lover, an architecture enthusiast, or just a person who appreciates a beautiful city, you'll enjoy every minute here. Feel free to send any additional recommendations that I should check out the next time I'm back in the gorgeous city of Florence. Ciao!