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Florentine cuisine ranges from simple and traditional to innovative and exciting, made with local, seasonal produce. From classic trattorias to panini bars, we look at 10 of the best places to enjoy delicious Tuscan food near Florence’s civic center – the Piazza della Signoria.

Piazza della Signoria

All'Antico Vinaio

Bar, Sandwich Shop, Italian

Salumeria Verdi Florence, Italy
© Mark/Flickr
This is a genuine Italian fast-food eatery with a lively atmosphere. Its popularity is apparent, full of interesting characters piled into the tiny bar and spilling out onto the street. All’Antico specializes in crusty bread rolls with fillings inclufing porchetta, stuffed roast pork. In the early evening reasonably priced bite-sized snacks are available to accompany a chilled glass of prosecco or a help-yourself glass of Tuscan red.

Salumeria Verdi

Cafe, Sandwich Shop, Italian

Salumeria Verdi is consistently lauded for its delicious paninis. The business started in 1900 in the historic center of Florence and is well-known in and around the area, gaining appreciation from a vast variety of Florence residents. Salumeria Verdi offers comfortable and spacious indoor seating, an unusual feature for a Florence panini shop. Specialties here include schiacciata with mortadella or spicy salami and ‘La Bomba,’ a sandwich with a kick! Salumeria Verdi also serves a selection of daily pasta and meat specials.

Il Bufalo Trippone

Sandwich Shop, Italian

Cheese and Wine
© IsabellePuaut/Flickr
Il Bufalo Trippone is primarily a wine bar but also offers typical Tuscan food in the heart of old Florence. A wide range of high quality products of Tuscany are available, as well as excellent sandwiches and a rich selection of cut pork and cheeses. The sandwiches on offer are always freshly made on site. These include a traditional Florentine schiacciata stuffed with delicious cold cuts and cheeses. The owner pays attention to the quality of his products, preferring those sourced locally.

Cacio Vino Trallallà

Cacio Vino Trallallà has been described as a meeting point for open minds and curious palates. Focusing on selected wines and new artisan beers, and specializing in cheeses and cured meats, Cacio Vino Trallallà aims to attract the people of Florence as well as tourists. You can take tasting courses, where patrons learn the art of pairing food and wine. A traditional meal of cheese tasting can be accompanied by four to five different wines. They also dedicate a complete tasting menu to truffle lovers, with specially created dishes using fresh truffles from San Miniato. Ora D’Aria | © Ora D’Aria

Ora d’Aria

Restaurant, Wine Bar, Italian, Vegetarian, European

Ora d’Aria is a popular restaurant which combines the integrity, depth, and quality of Italian cooking with a belief in its continuous evolution. Head chef Marco Stabile, who grew up in Pontedera, Tuscany, has quickly risen to prominence in Italy. Ora d’Aria aims for a different kind of eating in Italy, one that swaps the simple plate of pasta for art on a plate.

Coquinarius

Cafe, Restaurant, Italian

Ravioli
© Stefano/Flickr
Coquinarius produces genuine, homemade regional food. Coquinarius is a romantic setting for dinner and has gained a reputation for being a popular spot to propose. The chefs are skilled at giving each dish a unique and recognizable taste. Specialties include the ravioli with pecorino and pears, and piatti unici,single dishes that can be ordered on their own, usually served at lunch along with a selection from the well-curated wine list, focusing small Italian producers. The rustically elegant space features old stone vaults, wooden tables, and a refreshingly modern air.

Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori

Restaurant, Wine Bar, Italian

Fratellini’s in Florence
© HorsesItch/Flickr
This charmingly tiny restaurant, with only 18 seats, is nestled right in the thick of things just off Piazza della Signoria and boasts a genuinely authentic Italian atmosphere. Vini e Vecchi features a short, hand-written traditional menu, which changes on a daily basis depending on the seasonal produce. The pasta includes the unusual, wide-tubed paccheri with classic sauces, such as a particularly good ragu. Another highlight is the homemade zuccotto, a Florentine version of tiramisu: sweet, light, and generously portioned. The service is that of a traditional trattoria, friendly but straightforward; this is a prime example of a truly good, family-run Florence restaurant.

I Due Fratellini

I Due Fratellini is old-school sandwich shop serving paninis and wine by the glass to sidewalk patrons. There are around 30 stuffing combinations, including cinghiale piccante con caprino – spicy wild boar salami, spread with creamy goat’s cheese in a split, crunchy roll. Other highlights include ham and salsa, as well as fishy combinations like anchovy with parsley sauce. Run by two brothers, the name ‘I Due Fratellini’ translates into ‘The Two Brothers.’ This place has been dishing out mouthwatering paninis since 1875. The quality is excellent, as apparent from the crowd of locals that throng the sidewalk – a perfect spot for an urban picnic in Florence. La Bussola | © Gail/Flickr

La Bussola

Restaurant, Italian, European, Vegetarian, Seafood

Inside La Proscuiterria
© AaronPeterson/Flickr
This traditional pizza restaurant features an authentic pizzeria counter with just 12 seats, the perfect place to eat alone whilst watching the creations of the pizza chef. Along with pizza, La Bussola also creates excellent fish dishes and a vast array of traditional Italian fare. The cellar houses around 150 wine labels, with a deliberate focus on the Tuscan reds. La Bussola also offers interesting beers, made by craftsmen from Tuscany. The unusual brews are served in wine glasses, designed to be sipped and savored like fine wine.

La Prosciutteria

Deli, Cafe, Sandwich Shop, Italian

La Prosciutteria is a narrow room with tables sat under clusters of hanging prosciutto and salami. La Prosciutteria’s philosophy is to serve the best Tuscan food and wine, sourced locally and prepared in the traditional regional style. It specializes in made-to-order sandwiches and platters of carefully cured selections of fine meats, cheeses, and accompanying sauces from a small farm in Tuscany. Many of the products on offer here are organic, the producers priding themselves on their traditional methods. The tables are made from old wooden wine boxes, the lampshades from tin cans, and the walls are covered in artifacts from Tuscan days of old.
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