Where Florence shops, snacks and lunches: the markets worth your morning.
Food markets, farmers markets and covered halls: where Florence shops, snacks and lunches.
Mercato Centrale in Florence's San Lorenzo is the city's main covered market in a 1874 cast-iron Giuseppe Mengoni building, with butcher and produce stalls on the ground floor and a food hall above.
Go for: Lampredotto, Bistecca, Fresh pasta, Cheese, Fish
Tip: Ground floor closes 14:00 Mon-Sat (closed Sunday). The first-floor food hall is open daily until midnight.
Mercato Sant'Ambrogio in Florence's eastern quarter is the second covered market, a 1873 cast-iron building, with produce stalls, the Trattoria da Rocco market lunch counter and Tuscan small-producer stands.
Go for: Vegetables, Bread, Cheese, Olive oil, Tuscan small producers
Tip: Mon-Sat 07:00 to 14:00; closed Sunday. Da Rocco's lunch counter inside opens at 12:00.
Mercato del Porcellino in Florence's Centro Storico is the 1547 Mercato Nuovo loggia, now mostly leather and souvenir stalls, with the lampredotto cart that holds the street-food line for the centre.
Go for: Leather, Souvenirs, Lampredotto cart, Trippa
Tip: Open daily; the lampredotto cart runs from 09:00 and packs up by 19:00.
Mercato delle Cascine in Florence's Parco delle Cascine is the city's largest weekly outdoor market, every Tuesday morning, with 250 stalls of produce, clothing, cheese and the contadini olive-oil sellers.
Go for: Produce, Clothing, Cheese, Olive oil, Florentine specialties
Tip: Tuesday only, 07:00 to 14:00. Bring cash and a tote; the produce stalls are at the eastern end.
Fierucola di Santo Spirito in Florence's Oltrarno is the monthly small-producer market on Piazza Santo Spirito, every third Sunday, with 70 stalls of Tuscan organic farmers, cheese-makers and bakers.
Go for: Tuscan small producers, Organic, Cheese, Bread, Honey
Tip: Third Sunday only, 09:00 to 19:00. The piazza fills out from 10:00; Tuscan producers cluster on the south side.
Mercato di Piazza Santo Spirito in Florence's Oltrarno is the daily morning produce market on the piazza, Monday to Saturday, with 25 contadini and forno stalls and a small artisan-cheese counter on Wednesday.
Go for: Produce, Tuscan small producers, Bread, Olive oil
Tip: Mon-Sat 08:00 to 13:00. The piazza-side cafes open at 07:30 if you want a cornetto first.
Peak food season in Florence is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Florence rewards trust.