I’m a huge fan of Italian food – the taste, the ingredients, and the love that goes into it. So when I was planning my trip to Florence, Italy last year, I knew I had to book a food tour. It was the number one thing on my list. I really wanted to explore Florence’s amazing food scene and try local specialties that I can’t get at home.
In this article, I’m going to share my personal experience and suggestions from the incredible food tour I took in Florence. Hopefully it will inspire you to go on your own Italian food adventure sometime soon!
Choosing the Right Tour Company
With so many tour companies offering Florence food tours, I wasn’t sure where to begin. I started researching online, making a list of potential companies that looked reputable and catered to small groups. Two key factors I considered were:
- Group size – I didn’t want to be herded around with a huge group of 30+ people. A more intimate tour would allow me to better interact with the guide and other guests.
- Local focus – I wanted a tour company that worked with locally-owned establishments, not big tourist traps. Authentic family-run trattorias and markets were key.
Based on stellar online reviews and a 6-person maximum, I ultimately booked my tour with Walks of Italy. They promised an insider’s peek into Florentine cuisine led by a knowledgeable local guide.
Getting Around Florence, Italy
- On Foot: The center of Florence was made for wandering by foot. Almost all major sites like the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio and more are easily accessible via charming cobblestone streets and piazzas. Just wear comfortable shoes!
- Public Transit: Buses and trams operated by ATAF serve Florence and the greater metropolitan area. Tickets can be purchased at tobacco shops and ATAF ticket offices. Validate your ticket once onboard. Useful routes include the #12 and #13 buses which connect the Santa Maria Novella train station with centrally located streets near the Duomo.
- Taxi: Taxis in Florence are white and feature a “TAXI” sign on top. They can be flagged down or found at one of many taxi stands around the city. This is a handy way to return to your hotel or reach outskirts like Fiesole. Keep in mind there are surcharges at night, on Sundays and for excess luggage.
- Bicycle & Vespa Rentals: Renting a bike or scooter can be a fun way to cover more ground while soaking in Florence’s beauty. Many rental shops focused on tourists are clustered near Santa Maria Novella station. Bikes can usually be rented by the hour or full day.
- Tramvia: Florence’s new tram system called Tramvia features 3 lines (T1, T2 & T3) connecting the city center with outlying areas. The T1 line linking Santa Maria Novella Station with Scandicci to the west is most useful for visitors aiming to reach attractions just outside the historic core like the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.
I’d take advantage of Florence’s walkability first then utilize buses, trams or even a vespa ride to hit attractions slightly farther flung! Buon viaggio!
Exploring Florence’s Favorite Flavors
We all met our guide Frederico, who was super passionate, in front of the Piazza della Repubblica on a nice sunny spring morning. The air smelled like fresh-baked pastries. There were 5 other food lovers in our small group, and we all introduced ourselves. We couldn’t wait to start the delicious tour!
First, we went to a family-run wine shop just around the corner. While Frederico told us about Tuscan wines, the owner came out from the back with plate after plate of Italian meats, cheeses, olives, and bruschetta that made our mouths water. They paired perfectly with the wine we tasted. My favorite things were the smooth prosciutto and the soft bruschetta with ricotta cheese on top.
We walked happily with our full stomachs down small cobblestone streets to an old pasta shop. They make fresh mafalde, pappardelle, and tons of other kinds of pasta by hand every day. It was so cool to watch the pastaio (pasta maker) roll out the dough and cut it into thin strips. Obviously, we had to try some, so we sat down and ate big plates of pappardelle covered in beef ragù sauce. The tender fresh pasta made it so much better.
More Than Just Gelato
After nearly 3 hours of indulging in cheese, charcuterie, breads, olive oil, balsamic vinegars, pizza and pasta, we were due for something sweet. But Frederico didn’t lead us to just any gelateria for dessert. He brought us to Festival del Gelato, a temple dedicated solely to artisanal Italian ice cream and sorbet.
The shop features flavors that rotate seasonally based on the freshest local produce available. That day, I tasted and loved fragola (strawberry), cioccolato fondente (dark chocolate) and miele (honey) flavors. The textures were velvety, the flavors clean and vibrant. At Festival del Gelato, even familiar flavors like chocolate and strawberry tasted reinvented, almost like an elegant, upscale version of the ice cream I grew up with.
The Perfect Capper – A Negroni Making Class
Our final stop was a cozy little wine bar and restaurant called C.A.M.P.A.R.I. Hidden in a cute piazza, most tourists would walk right by this place. But Frederico brought us here for a hands-on lesson in crafting the classic Negroni cocktail with the establishment’s seasoned bartender.
As we gathered around the marble bar, the bartender demonstrated how equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari bitter liqueur come together to create the bittersweet, herbaceous Negroni. Then came the best part – we each worked in teams of 2 to craft our own Negroni using professional bar tools. Getting to play bartender and make a complex cocktail entirely from scratch made me feel fancy and accomplished as a budding mixologist!
Best Restaurants and Food Spots
Here are some of the best restaurants and food spots to check out while visiting Florence, Italy:
Osteria dell’Enoteca
- Hole-in-the-wall wine bar and restaurant near the Duomo serving incredible Tuscan cuisine in an intimate setting. Known for their steak topped with a melted gorgonzola cream sauce.
Mercato Centrale
- Bustling indoor food market with various vendors selling fresh produce, cheeses, meats, baked goods and ready-to-eat meals. Great spot to grab ingredients for a picnic or quickly snack on some pizza, pasta or panini.
Trattoria Mario
- Beloved, no frills family-run trattoria near the Medici Chapel specializing in Tuscan favorites like ribollita soup, pappa al pomodoro and giant, juicy beef steaks. Expect to wait in line but it’s worth it! Cash only.
All’Antico Vinaio
- Renowned sandwich shop with locations across Florence crafting monster-sized schiacciata sandwiches overflowing with olive oil, meat, cheese and vegetables. Their porchetta is legendary but all their sandwiches are amazing.
La Prosciutteria
- Charming wine bar and shop in Oltrarno focused on high-quality cured meats and cheeses. Order a cheese/meat board or stuffed panini then grab some prosciutto, salami and pecorino to take home.
Il Santo Bevitore
- Elegant wine bar known for their extensive list of Tuscan wines by the glass and seasonally-changing food menu. Come for the meat and cheese boards, stay for a bottle of Chianti Classico and heaping serve of pappardelle with wild boar ragu.
Cantinetta dei Verrazzano
- Historic enoteca and bakery owned by Verrazzano winemakers for over 250 years. Sold by weight, their focaccia genovese, schiacciata con l’uva (grape flatbread) and various tarts make perfect cheap eats on the go.
I hope this list gives you plenty of delicious ideas to fuel your food adventures in bella Firenze! Let your tastebuds guide you to hole-in-the-wall trattorias, crowded markets and wine-splashed osterias galore.
Tips for Maximizing Your Florence Food Tour Experience:
Accommodations:
- Consider staying just outside the historic city center in neighborhoods like Oltrarno where hotels and Airbnbs are cheaper. You can still easily walk or take transit downtown.
- Private rooms in hostels or shared Airbnbs drive costs down through splitting. Just don’t expect a ton of privacy.
Food:
- Shop for fresh produce, cheese and cured meats at indoor markets like Mercato Centrale to assemble affordable picnics.
- Opt for casual trattorias and osterias over upscale restaurants. These family-run spots offer excellent value multi-course meals.
- Street food like pizza al taglio (by the slice) and sandwiches from places like All’Antico Vinaio offer big portions for small prices.
Sightseeing:
- Major sites like the Uffizi Gallery, Duomo and Accademia Gallery offer discounted entry to students under 26 or for reserving tickets online ahead of time.
- Explore free churches and beautiful public plazas which abound for no cost.
Getting Around:
- Florence is extremely walkable so take advantage by exploring by foot to avoid transit costs.
- Purchase a multi-day pass for buses/trams which allows hop on-hop off use if you’ll be covering a lot of ground.
- Joining free walking tours is a economical way to see the city with a knowledgeable local guide.
FAQs
Late spring and early fall are ideal with mild temperatures, fewer crowds and more reasonable hotel rates. Summer attracts hordes of tourists making attractions packed and hot. Winter sees fewer visitors but some rainy/cold days.
3 full days is ideal to see Florence’s top sights like the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Pitti Palace and more plus day trips like Siena or wine tasting. Squeeze everything into 2 packed days or extend to 4+ days for a more relaxed experience.
As the epicenter of the Renaissance, Florence is famed for it’s abundant art from masters like Botticelli and Michelangelo housed in world-class museums. Leather goods, gold jewelry, Tuscan cuisine, Chianti wines and artisanal gelato also represent quintessential Florence.
Yes! Florence’s historic city center is supremely walkable once you arrive. The main sights cluster within around 1 square mile bisected by the Arno River. Wandering between them via charming cobblestone streets and across picturesque plazas and bridges is a joy.
Florence Airport serves domestic and select European routes just outside the city center but most North American travelers fly into larger Rome or Milan airports before transferring to trains that conveniently connect to Florence in around 1.5 hours.
Take Your Taste Buds on an Italian Adventure
This Florence food tour was easily one of the most memorable travel experiences I’ve ever had. The local food was incredible and our small group bonded quickly over our shared obsession. If exploring the flavors of a destination excites you as much as it does me, I couldn’t recommend a food tour more strongly during your Italian escapades. At the very least, loosen your belt buckles and prepare your appetite for the carb-tastic adventure of a lifetime!