FIRENZE :: FOOD

This restaurant seems like it's been around forever and for good reason. It's located in one of the most beautiful piazzas and has a large terrace. Its casual menu has something for everyone including pizza, pasta, salads, and meats at reasonable prices.

More of a formal style restaurant with excellent dishes, popular with the locals.

Located in the heart of the Sant'Ambrogio's market, Cibreo has become an institution in Florence. Flamboyant owner/chef Fabio Picchi provides his patrons with a wide variety of dining experiences: an upscale restaurant on one side, a casual trattoria (affectionately known by the locals as 'Cibreo povero') on the other side. And across the road, Cibreo caffè offers great coffee, snacks and a few light dishes. Fabio has now opened up his latest place, across the road from his caffè, Teatro del Sale which brings food and theatre together. There is a daily buffet served with live theatre performance.

Check out Danny Rock when you crave a great home-style burger in Florence, as they have the best ones in town. Also known for their crepes with Nutella, this Italian style pub attracts mostly locals (believe it or not) and is most likely packed on the weekends.

Located just outside the old wall of the city, this place is perfect for lunch on a warm sunny day. They have a large selection of wines and an even larger assortments of crostoni and salads if you're feeling snacky.

Popular with i Fiorentini for years if not only for the food, for the presence of flamboyant Chef and owner Garga. A truly inspired interior, the walls of the restaurant have been frescoed by Garga. The menu is very interesting and eclectic.

Located in my favourite piazzas in Florence, Santa Croce. This casual tratorria has a nice patio and simple, reasonably priced menu.

This place makes excellent Neapolitan style pizza!!! It's always packed but well worth the wait as they also offer other southern specialties like melanzane alla parmigiana.

This place is a very typical trattoria. It's loud, chaotic, open till the wee hours and the food is excellent. The service is not the greatest but you'll hardly notice it when you're starving for pasta at 1 in the morning. They have a great wine list and the menu has really interesting spins like alio e olio con Chianti, cleverly called Drunken Spaghetti.

There's always an air of familiarity the moment I step into this restaurant - it reminds me of the chaos in Napoli. Located near the Sant' Ambrogio fruit market, you can always count on Semolina for fresh, quality dishes. Owned and managed by two brothers Alfonso and Paulo, this place welcomes tourist and locals alike, making it one of the best eats in town. I recommend Paolo's Sopprasatta di Polpo, thinly sliced octopus on a bed of rucola.

Mercato Sant'Ambrogio is very popular with the locals, mostly because it's relatively tourist free and the restaurants near the market are affordable. Inside the market, you'll find a little communal cafeteria serving up delicious home-cooked Tuscan dishes. It's a favourite with the students from the university across from the market. They serve lunch only and the menu changes daily. Wine is charged "da consumo" by how much you drink from the flask.

A popular place with i Fiorentini. The place has simple Tuscan dishes at reasonable prices and a great outdoor patio in a quite piazza. Closed Wednesdays in the winter months.

Yellow Bar has great pizzas and excellent gnocchi. It's a place we usually go to for a casual meal, especially late at night when most of the other restaurants have closed their kitchen.