The food-market quarter east of Santa Croce around Piazza Ghiberti, home to Cibreo Trattoria, Da Rocco's market lunch counter and Pasticceria S. Ambrogio.
Cibreo Trattoria in Florence's Sant'Ambrogio quarter is Fabio Picchi's no-pasta trattoria, the casual side of the Cibreo group. The polpettine and the pappa al pomodoro run the menu since 1989.
Signature: Trippa alla fiorentina, Pappa al pomodoro, Polpettine di pollo
Order: Polpettine di pollo, pappa al pomodoro and the trippa alla fiorentina.
Tip: No reservations and no pasta on the menu. Queue from 19:45 for the 20:00 first seating; lunch is the calmer service.
Ristorante Cibreo in Florence is the formal flagship of Fabio Picchi's empire, with the yellow-pepper passato, cresta di gallo cockscomb and the eponymous cibreo offal stew since 1979.
Signature: Passato di peperoni gialli, Cresta di gallo, Cibreo (offal stew)
Order: Passato di peperoni gialli, the cibreo offal stew and any cockscomb course.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday; lunch is one fixed tasting. The trattoria around the corner is the easier-priced entry.
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 for the stall-keepers at €12 per person.
Signature: Pasta al pomodoro, Ribollita, Polpette al sugo
Order: The daily pasta, ribollita and a quartino of house red from the bar.
Tip: Lunch only, Mon-Sat 12:00 to 15:00. Cash only; come at 12:30 to beat the stall-keepers' second rush.
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 and the lunchtime small-plates carte.
Signature drink: Espresso and Cibreo pastries
Order: Espresso at the counter, the daily Cibreo pastry, the lunchtime small-plates board.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The walnut bar seats 12; arrive at 08:00 for a stool.
Caffe Cibreo in Florence's Sant'Ambrogio roasts the house Cibreo blend served across the four restaurants, with a walnut-counter espresso bar and a retail bean shelf since 1989.
Order: Espresso at the walnut bar, the Cibreo house blend bag, a daily Cibreo pastry.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bar seats 12; arrive at 08:00 for a stool.
Sources from: Brazil, Ethiopia, Italy blends
How they serve: Espresso, Cappuccino, Whole bean retail
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 for two courses and a quartino of house red.
Try: Market-canteen pasta
Order: The daily pasta, ribollita in winter, a quartino of house red.
Tip: Lunch only, Mon-Sat 12:00 to 15:00. Cash only. Come at 12:30 to beat the stall-keepers.
Archea Brewery in Florence is the city's first dedicated craft brewery, founded 2008, with a tasting room near Piazza Santissima Annunziata, six taps of Tuscan-style beers and a daily small-plates carte.
Order: Archea Saison, the seasonal IPA, a plate of Tuscan cheese.
Tip: Closed Monday; dinner only. The 30-seat tap room books a fortnight ahead for weekend.
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.
Order: Tuscan olive oil from Frantoio Buonamici, lunch at Da Rocco, vegetables from the contadini stalls.
Tip: Mon-Sat 07:00 to 14:00; closed Sunday. Da Rocco's lunch counter inside opens at 12:00.
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 and a quartino of house red for €3.
Try: Market lunch menu
Order: The daily pasta, ribollita in winter, a quartino of house red.
Tip: Lunch only Mon-Sat 12:00 to 15:00. Cash only. Arrive at 12:30 to beat the second rush.