40 cheap eats rooms in Florence, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Florence: the places editors actually return to. All Florence food.
Forno Pugi ★ 4.8
santa-croce · Viale De Amicis 49r, 50137 Firenze
Forno Pugi in Florence has been the wood-fired neighbourhood forno since 1925, with three shops across the city baking schiacciata, pizza al taglio.
Tip: Counter only; cash and card. The Viale De Amicis original is the largest; smaller shops on Via San Gallo and Piazza San Marco.
Caffe Gilli ★ 4.7
centro-storico · Via Roma 1r, 50123 Firenze
Caffe Gilli in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica is the city's oldest cafe-pasticceria, opened in 1733, with the original baked-on-site cantucci.
Tip: Counter price is half of table service; cantucci ship vacuum-packed.
Rivoire ★ 4.6
centro-storico · Piazza della Signoria 5r, 50122 Firenze
Rivoire in Florence's Piazza della Signoria has poured the city's benchmark hot chocolate since 1872, with a chocolate-making lab in the back.
Tip: Counter pricing is half of table; the piazza terrace fronts the Palazzo Vecchio.
Da Nerbone ★ 4.6
san-lorenzo · Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123 Firenze
Da Nerbone in Florence's Mercato Centrale ground floor has poured the lampredotto panino since 1872, the bread dipped in the cooking broth and stuffed.
Tip: Cash only; closed Sunday. Queue from 11:30 for lunch; standing-only counter inside the market.
Da Nerbone ★ 4.6
san-lorenzo · Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123 Firenze
Da Nerbone in Florence's Mercato Centrale ground floor pours the lampredotto panino for €5.50 since 1872, bread dipped in the cooking broth.
Tip: Cash only; closed Sunday. Queue from 11:30. The plate of bollito-and-broth runs €8.
Santarosa Bistrot ★ 4.5
san-frediano · Lungarno di Santa Rosa, 50124 Firenze
Santarosa Bistrot in Florence's San Frediano runs an Arno-side bakery inside the park on Lungarno di Santa Rosa, with a daily-baked focaccia.
Tip: Open daily 08:00-23:30. Bakery slows from 14:00 onwards; arrive before 11:00.
Ditta Artigianale ★ 4.5
santa-croce · Via dei Neri 32r, 50122 Firenze
Ditta Artigianale in Florence's Via dei Neri is Francesco Sanapo's flagship roastery and cafe, with single-origin filter coffees, espresso and one.
Tip: Open daily 08:00-22:00. The roasted-bean retail counter ships internationally.
I Due Fratellini ★ 4.5
centro-storico · Via dei Cimatori 38r, 50122 Firenze
I Due Fratellini in Florence's Via dei Cimatori has run the mini-panino counter since 1875, a hole-in-the-wall format with 28 panini varieties for €4.
Tip: Cash only; standing room on the kerb. Closed Sunday. The shelves outside hold your wine glass.
I Due Fratellini ★ 4.5
centro-storico · Via dei Cimatori 38r, 50122 Firenze
I Due Fratellini in Florence's Via dei Cimatori has run the mini-panino counter since 1875, a hole-in-the-wall format with 28 panini varieties at €4.
Tip: Cash only; standing on the kerb. Closed Sunday. Shelves outside hold your wine glass.
Trattoria Mario ★ 4.5
san-lorenzo · Via Rosina 2r, 50123 Firenze
Trattoria Mario in Florence's San Lorenzo has run the working-class lunch counter since 1953 next to Mercato Centrale, with a daily pasta carte at €8 a primo.
Tip: Queue from 12:00; lunch-only Mon-Sat. Cash only. Closed all of August.
Forno Pugi ★ 4.5
santa-croce · Viale De Amicis 49r, 50137 Firenze
Forno Pugi in Florence has been the neighbourhood forno since 1925, with three shops baking pizza al taglio, schiacciata, focaccia and the Florentine.
Tip: Counter only; cash and card. Viale De Amicis original is the largest; smaller shops on Via San Gallo.
Fierucola di Santo Spirito ★ 4.4
oltrarno · Piazza Santo Spirito, 50125 Firenze
Fierucola di Santo Spirito in Florence is the monthly Tuscan-small-producer market on Piazza Santo Spirito, every third Sunday since 1984, with 70 stalls.
Tip: Third Sunday only, 09:00-19:00. The piazza fills out from 10:00; Tuscan producers cluster on the south side.
Amble ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Piazzetta del Bene 7A, 50123 Firenze
Amble in Florence's centro storico runs the bakery-cafe-bar format steps from Ponte Vecchio, with a daily sourdough programme, focaccia. Booking recommended.
Tip: Closed Monday. The seating is limited; loaves often sold out by 13:00 at weekends.
Cantinetta da Verrazzano ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Via dei Tavolini 18r, 50122 Firenze
Cantinetta da Verrazzano in Florence's Via dei Tavolini runs a wood-fired forno inside its wine bar, with bread, focaccia and warm schiacciata.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The schiacciata-to-order counter is on the right of the entrance.
Caffe Gilli ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Via Roma 1r, 50123 Firenze
Caffe Gilli in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica is the city's oldest cafe, opened in 1733, with the same marble counter and the original Belle Epoque.
Tip: Counter pricing is half of table service. Open daily 07:30 to midnight; the terrace seats 60.
Rivoire ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Piazza della Signoria 5r, 50122 Firenze
Rivoire in Florence has poured the city's benchmark hot chocolate at the Piazza della Signoria corner since 1872, with a chocolate-making lab in the back.
Tip: Counter pricing is half of table; the piazza terrace is worth the €15 minimum for the Palazzo Vecchio view.
Caffe Cibreo ★ 4.4
sant-ambrogio · Via del Verrocchio 5r, 50122 Firenze
Caffe Cibreo in Florence's Sant'Ambrogio quarter is the all-day cafe-and-bar of the Cibreo group, with a walnut counter, daily-baked Cibreo pastries.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The walnut bar seats 12; arrive at 08:00 for a stool.
Procacci 1885 ★ 4.4
santa-maria-novella · Via de' Tornabuoni 64r, 50123 Firenze
Procacci in Florence's Via Tornabuoni shopping street is the 1885 truffle bar, with the white-tile counter, the panino tartufato and a Prosecco glass for €5.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Counter only; standing-room two-deep at 18:00 aperitivo.
Ditta Artigianale Oltrarno ★ 4.4
oltrarno · Via dello Sprone 5r, 50125 Firenze
Ditta Artigianale Oltrarno in Florence's San Frediano quarter is the Sprone-corner sister room of Sanapo's flagship, with the same single-origin filter.
Tip: Open daily 08:00 to midnight. The Oltrarno room runs the cocktail program later than Via dei Neri.
All'Antico Vinaio ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Via dei Neri 65r, 50122 Firenze
All'Antico Vinaio in Florence's Via dei Neri has run the schiacciata-counter format since 1991, with the Mazzanti family stuffing the 30cm flatbread to order.
Tip: Four shops on Via dei Neri now (1r, 38r, 65r, 76r). The Via dei Neri 65r counter is the original.
Trippaio del Porcellino ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, 50123 Firenze
Trippaio del Porcellino in Florence is the lampredotto cart at the Mercato Nuovo loggia, next to the Porcellino bronze boar, with the lampredotto and trippa.
Tip: Cash only; the cart moves around the loggia. Standing only; lunch is the busiest hour.
All'Antico Vinaio (Via dei Neri 38r) ★ 4.4
santa-croce · Via dei Neri 38r, 50122 Firenze
All'Antico Vinaio's second Florence shop, also on Via dei Neri, runs the same schiacciata-counter programme as the original since the 2010 expansion.
Tip: Queue runs the block from 12:00; the Via dei Neri 65r original is across the street.
All'Antico Vinaio ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Via dei Neri 65r, 50122 Firenze
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.
Tip: Four shops on Via dei Neri; the 65r is the original. Eat on the steps of Santa Croce.
Trippaio del Porcellino ★ 4.4
centro-storico · Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, 50123 Firenze
Trippaio del Porcellino in Florence is the lampredotto cart at the Mercato Nuovo loggia next to the Porcellino bronze boar, with panini for €5.50.
Tip: Open daily 09:00-19:00. Cash only; standing room around the cart.
Casa del Vino ★ 4.4
san-lorenzo · Via dell'Ariento 16r, 50123 Firenze
Casa del Vino in Florence's San Lorenzo has been the 1898 wine bar behind Mercato Centrale, with panini at €5 a piece, a 200-strong by-the-glass list at €3.
Tip: Closed Sunday; standing only. €3 glasses; €5 panini. The shelf outside the door holds your glass.
Ditta Artigianale ★ 4.3
santa-croce · Via dei Neri 32r, 50122 Firenze
Ditta Artigianale in Florence's Via dei Neri runs a sourdough-and-pastry programme alongside the roastery, with a daily-baked focaccia, sourdough loaves.
Tip: Open daily 08:00-22:00. The roasted-bean retail counter ships internationally.
Cantinetta da Verrazzano ★ 4.3
centro-storico · Via dei Tavolini 18r, 50122 Firenze
Cantinetta da Verrazzano in Florence's Via dei Tavolini is the bakery-and-wine-bar of the Castello da Verrazzano estate, with a wood-fired oven baking.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Wine-by-the-glass list goes deep into Tuscan estates; ask for the Sassello.
Santarosa Bistrot ★ 4.3
san-frediano · Lungarno di Santa Rosa, 50124 Firenze
Santarosa Bistrot in Florence's San Frediano sits inside the Arno-side park on Lungarno di Santa Rosa, an all-day cafe with a garden terrace, breakfast.
Tip: Open daily 08:00-23:30. The park-side garden seats 80; closed when it rains.
Cantinetta da Verrazzano ★ 4.3
centro-storico · Via dei Tavolini 18r, 50122 Firenze
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.
Tip: Closed Sunday.
Mercato Centrale (first floor) ★ 4.3
san-lorenzo · Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123 Firenze
Mercato Centrale Florence's first-floor food hall houses 18 artisan-producer counters under one roof, from lampredotto and bistecca to fresh pasta and pizza.
Tip: Open daily until midnight; ground-floor market closes 14:00. The food hall is the late-night option.
Mercato Centrale food hall ★ 4.3
san-lorenzo · Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123 Firenze
Mercato Centrale Firenze's first-floor food hall houses 18 artisan counters under one roof, from pasta to pizza, lampredotto and bistecca, with most plates.
Tip: Open daily until midnight. Counter format; €15 lunch with a glass of wine.
Pasticceria Buonamici ★ 4.2
santa-maria-novella · Via dei Banchi 39r, 50123 Firenze
Pasticceria Buonamici in Florence's Santa Maria Novella has run a family-owned pasticceria since 1971, with the daily cantucci, the schiacciata con l'uva.
Tip: Closed Monday; cash only on small purchases. Cantucci ship vacuum-packed.
La Menagere ★ 4.2
san-lorenzo · Via de' Ginori 8r, 50123 Firenze
La Menagere in Florence's San Lorenzo is the all-day concept inside a 19th-century housewares shop, with breakfast, brunch, lunch, aperitivo and live jazz.
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to midnight. Live jazz Wed-Sun from 21:30 Cash or contactless, both fine.
Caffe Paszkowski ★ 4.2
centro-storico · Piazza della Repubblica 35r, 50123 Firenze
Caffe Paszkowski in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica is the 1846 Polish-founded cafe that became the haunt of the early-20th-century literary set.
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to midnight. The terrace seats 80; live piano from 19:30 nightly.
Trattoria da Rocco ★ 4.1
sant-ambrogio · Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 50122 Firenze
Trattoria da Rocco in Florence sits inside the Mercato Sant'Ambrogio under the loggia, a market-canteen format with a chalkboard daily carte and lunch.
Tip: Lunch only, Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00. Cash only; come at 12:30 to beat the stall-keepers' second rush.
Trattoria La Casalinga ★ 4.1
oltrarno · Via dei Michelozzi 9r, 50125 Firenze
Trattoria La Casalinga in Florence's Oltrarno just off Piazza Santo Spirito has been the family-run home-cooking room since 1963, with the four pillars.
Tip: Closed Sunday; cash only. Lunch is calmer; dinner books up a week ahead.
Pasticceria Gualtieri ★ 4.1
santa-croce · Via Senese 18r, 50124 Firenze
Pasticceria Gualtieri in Florence's southern Oltrarno corner has run as a family pasticceria since 1937, with the bignoletti cream pastries.
Tip: Closed Monday. Standing-room counter; bignoletti sell out by 11:00 on weekends.
Scudieri ★ 4.1
centro-storico · Piazza San Giovanni 19r, 50122 Firenze
Scudieri in Florence sits directly across from the Duomo's Baptistery, a 1939 cafe-pasticceria with a terrace looking onto the cathedral and a daily-rotating.
Tip: Open daily 07:30 to midnight. Terrace pricing reflects the Duomo view; counter is half.
Trattoria da Rocco ★ 4.1
sant-ambrogio · Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 50122 Firenze
Trattoria da Rocco in Florence's Mercato Sant'Ambrogio loggia runs the market-canteen format under the iron roof, with a chalkboard daily carte at €12.
Tip: Lunch only, Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00. Cash only. Come at 12:30 to beat the stall-keepers.
Trattoria da Rocco ★ 4.1
sant-ambrogio · Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 50122 Firenze
Trattoria da Rocco in Florence's Mercato Sant'Ambrogio loggia runs the market-canteen lunch format, with a chalkboard daily two-course menu at €12.
Tip: Lunch only Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00. Cash only. Arrive at 12:30 to beat the second rush.