Map – you can see our recommended restaurants by using the following link:
Icecream – gelato
In Florence you will see a lot of ‘tourist places’ in the main streets and they have mounds of brightly coloured ice-cream more or less artistically covered with fruit etc. This is almost always industrial ice cream – you can make your own decisions about this, its freshness, likelihood that it will contain additives and of course its price.
You might want to try our favourite which is “Perche’no” ( WhyNot) which is close by us in Tavolini street. Go out of the door, make a right and walk straight (or almost straight) for about 150 metres. Ask for a €2.00 cone or cup and choose two flavours from their selection. This ice-cream is made every day from organic ingredients without the use of additives, colours and preservatives. There is often a queue of Italians – this probably tells its own story.
There is another place which is hugely written in the guidebooks for some reason, but we find the quantities small, the prices high and the service brusque.
Trattoria Bordino
is a charming rustic Trattoria with reasonable prices situated just across the Ponte Vecchio. The menu is typically Tuscan, the service friendly and the prices are reasonable. Additionally, they serve very good set meal lunches with €8.00 or so getting you a pasta or rice dish, some meat or fish and a vegetable. In the evening, the atmosphere becomes more intimate and the menu is a la carte.
Via Stracciatella 9red Tel 055 213048 – Sunday closed
Trattoria Baldovino
is a well run trattoria situated in the Santa Croce area, in Via San Giuseppe just to the left of Santa Croce Church. They specialise in an imaginative seasonal menu and a lively atmosphere. We find the house wine is usually very good – order by the litre or half. They do pizzas and really quite excellent salads. I particularly like their chocolate cake desert – the best I have ever had although I always ask them to lay off the squirty cream with it – lowers the tone of any dish I think – ice cream is much better. They are open every day and most lunchtimes too. In the summer they have outside tables – I always opt for inside. They are open long hours
Tel 055 241773
Coquinarius
WineBar – very popular, well reviewed and quite small so it is really important to reserve ahead. Is very close to DeiMori, just go right out of the front door, make a right at the end of the block, walk two blocks, make another right into Via delle Oche and it is just there, on the right. They have an imaginative menu and guests always love their Via pear ravioli in a pecorino cheese sauce. Similarly, the Grande Antipasta Coquinarious is a good choice to share – at €18 is a wonderful first course, being lots of great tastes on one big wood platter. Superb salads and great selection of House wine
Via delle Oche – Tel 055 2302153 – Open Long Hours
La Pentola Dell’oro
Via di Mezzo Tel 055 241808 – Historical menu and more – Mr Alessi is crazy for cooking. At the Studiolo you have the GOURMET menu and at the Bettola you have a more simple selection from which to choose. We love the Ribollita and the peposo – a sort of peppery beef stew. Closed on a Sunday.
il Gatto e la Volpe
very conveniently located in Via Ghibellina, only 5 minutes from DeiMori. Very good Pizza, Danny likes the ‘Green’ He also likes their drought beer, particularly the red beer. Plenty of tables, recently restored to a very good standard. Good atmosphere, a well run place. Telephone Tel 055 289264
Trattoria Anita –
reasonably priced place with a wide menu – basically Trattoria. Run by two brothers from South Italy, Gianni and Mauro. They do a very good value lunch Monday to Friday – two courses for €8.00. Closed on a Sunday. Via del Parlascio 2/r Tel 055 218698
La Spada –
Via della Spada 62/r Tel 055 218 757 Open Every day – Typical Tuscan Food with meat emphasis. Excellent Ribollita.
Il Pennello –
right down the street from DeiMori – just left out of the door and 20 metres down the street. Dined there last night and for 4 of us, the bill was 118 Euro – that is three courses each, one coffee, one litre of perfectly adequate house red and 4 limoncellos ‘on the house’. We all had something different, were all happy and a very pleasant evening with excellent service. Plenty of Italians in there which is always a good sign. Closed Sunday. Telephone 055 294848 – situated at Via Dante Alighieri 4. They claim to be one of the oldest restaurants in Florence. Pennello means paintbrush.
