The thin Tuscan flatbread, baked on a stone oven, split and stuffed-to-order with porchetta, salumi, pecorino, artichoke cream or truffle: the canonical Florentine lunch since the 1990s.
Where to eat it: 4 restaurants across 1 city.
Schiacciata as a flatbread dates to Roman Etruria; the word means 'squashed', from the dimples pressed into the dough before baking. Stuffed schiacciata as a stand-up street sandwich became Florence's grammar after All'Antico Vinaio's 2010 expansion turned the format into a daily queue on Via dei Neri. The schiacciata fiorentina is the version eaten as bread; schiacciata alla fiorentina is a separate dessert, a sweet sheet cake covered with cocoa powder eaten during Carnevale.
Common allergens: Gluten
Tip from the editors. The Florentine version is thinner than focaccia; aim for 2cm tall, never 4cm.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
All'Antico Vinaio in Florence's Via dei Neri is the schiacciata-counter chain with four shops on the same street, with the 30cm stuffed flatbread for €8 across the carte, the queue running daily from 12:00.
Try: Schiacciata sandwich
Order: La Favolosa schiacciata (porchetta, pecorino, artichoke cream).
Tip: Four shops on Via dei Neri; the 65r is the original. Eat on the steps of Santa Croce.
Cantinetta da Verrazzano in Florence's Via dei Tavolini runs a stand-up schiacciata counter alongside the wine bar, with wood-fired bread stuffed-to-order and the Castello da Verrazzano Chianti by the glass.
Try: Wood-fired schiacciata sandwich
Order: Schiacciata calda con prosciutto e stracchino, focaccia, a glass of Verrazzano Chianti.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The schiacciata-to-order counter is on the right of the entrance; €7 each.
Forno Pugi in Florence has been the neighbourhood forno since 1925, with three shops baking pizza al taglio, schiacciata, focaccia and the Florentine pastries daily, with portions at €4 to €8 each.
Try: Schiacciata and pizza al taglio
Order: Pizza al taglio (the chocolate-cream schiacciata fiorentina in Carnevale), focaccia stuffed.
Tip: Counter only; cash and card. Viale De Amicis original is the largest; smaller shops on Via San Gallo.
Why locals love it: A hole-in-the-wall mini-panino counter from 1875 with 28 varieties at €4 and a shelf outside to hold your wine glass.
Tip: Cash only; standing on the kerb. Closed Sunday. €4 panini, €4 wine.
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