The Florence Restaurants Locals Actually Go To (When They’re Not Eating at Home) 

The famous Florence restaurants — the ones on every top-ten list, with a queue out front and a menu in four languages — are rarely the ones Florentines are actually sitting in. Locals here don’t eat out often; when they do, it’s an occasion, and they spend it in small, unshowy rooms they’ve trusted for years: paper tablecloths, a handful of tables, a cook who’s made the same ribollita a thousand times and still cares. No marketing, no Instagram queue — just word of mouth and food that earns the return trip. That’s where locals eat in Florence, and this is what an evening in one of those rooms actually feels like.

What Eating Out Means to a Florentine 

Florentines are very selective about the places they choose to eat out at. This is partly because they often eat at home quite a lot, so when they do decide to go out for a meal, the restaurant must be exceptional and offer something they can’t get in their own kitchen.

The people of Florence don’t go out for dinner as much as people in other places do. A meal in a restaurant is very much an occasion rather than a weekly occurrence, and that’s what makes the eateries here even more special. 

The trattoria is a classic example of what I’m referring to: cozy, intimate dining rooms, regular faces the owners and staff know by name, and none of the overhyped marketing you’ll find on social media.

You’ll rarely find these establishments on top-ten lists. They fly under the radar and don’t even try to gain recognition. They’re known by word of mouth, not through campaigns run on Facebook or Instagram. Their food, atmosphere, and staff do the talking, and the customers follow.

The Rooms Locals Fill, Night After Night 

Across Florence, there are specific restaurants that locals go to consistently, where regulars come and go, and very few tourists ever set foot. 

Photo credit: Osteria I Buongustai

Or you could venture to Osteria I Buongustai near Piazza della Signoria, proof that the center still has honest rooms that haven’t fallen victim to overtourism, with its wooden bar and bench seating. The rich truffle pasta is a flavorful mouthful, and locals rave about the portion-to-price ratio.

Photo credit: Trattoria Sabatino

Like most other Florentines, we’re also big fans of Trattoria Sabatino in San Frediano, with its quaint paper tablecloths, expansive archways and prices that feel like they belong to another decade. The smoky bistecca fiorentina will have your mouth watering. It’s common to be seated alongside people you don’t know, so be prepared.

We’re also big fans of Acquacotta on Via dei Pilastri, the neighborhood dining room with small tables and a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re eating in someone’s home. The firm tagliatelle soaked in wild boar ragù is the star of the menu here, and the kind staff is what locals love, and you will too.

Just be aware that most of these spots are small, cash-friendly, and book out quickly, so you’ll need to plan ahead.

Our Florence evening tours end in these kinds of neighborhood eateries, at the hour locals head out for dinner. We take you beyond the tourist trail, introducing you to the local favorites that are usually found through word of mouth.

Experience the simple pleasure of dining in intimate spaces, surrounded by locals, as you sample some of Tuscany’s most treasured specialties. See a full list of our guided foodie experiences on our Florence food tours page.

How to Be a Good Guest in a Local Room 

To be welcomed into these local rooms and seen as a good guest, you need to follow protocol and do as everyone else does.

This means booking ahead to secure your table, or you may show up and find there’s no space for you. For the most authentic experience, try dining in Florence after 8 pm, when locals sit down for dinner. Florentines like to dine late and rarely go out before then. Follow suit, or else you’ll be eating with the tourists instead at 6 pm.

Ordering from the day’s menu is always a good idea as well. The specials are usually prepared with the freshest ingredients and often reflect what the chef is most passionate about cooking that day. These dishes pair well with the house wine, which is chosen to complement the flavors. 

If you want to match a specific dish with a specific wine, don’t be afraid to ask the kitchen what they think is the best option; they’ll be more than happy to share their expertise with you.

Locals also won’t appreciate you being glued to your phone the whole time when sitting down inside the dining room. In their eyes, restaurants are where people come to slow down, disconnect, and stay present while sharing a meal they’ll remember for years.

Four Rooms, One Line Each 

Photo credit: Trattoria da Rocco

This is our collection of the four restaurants that locals actually go to. Save it, pin it, and get your reservations in as soon as possible.

• Trattoria da Rocco in the Santa Croce district is an authentic trattoria popular for a morning meal, with plates such as tender Florentine tripe being a go-to choice for locals.
• Osteria I Buongustai in Centro Storico exudes old-world charm in a tiny establishment with high table turnover and low prices, with many coming to sample the creamy tiramisu.
• Trattoria Sabatino in San Frediano is an eatery where you show up with the possibility of having to sit with others in a communal space and share irresistible plates such as the roasted, mildly gamey veal.
• Acquacotta on Via dei Pilastri is a family-run joint that makes you feel at home as soon as you enter, with the earthy Tuscan soup made from black cabbage and white beans being the standout for many.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1 Do these places take reservations, and how far ahead?

It depends on which restaurant you want to visit. Trattoria da Rocco, inside the Sant’Ambrogio market, doesn’t accept reservations, as it’s inside a market, which is usually how most establishments in Sant’Ambrogio Market or Mercato Centrale operate. 

However, for somewhere small like Acquacotta, they do accept them, but also allow same-day reservations if it’s not busy. If you’re worried, reserving a table a few weeks in advance is a good idea, especially during high season.

Q2 Will there be an English menu? 

It’s not common to find English menus at the Florence restaurants locals go to, since most of the diners are Italian and don’t need a translation. If you’re struggling, you can use Google Translate’s camera feature to translate the menu, or ask the staff whether they speak English, and they can guide you through the dishes.

Q3 Are they suitable for a special occasion, or too casual?

Many of the Florence restaurants locals go to are low-key, homely, and rustic. Even so, they can still suit a special occasion, since they have a romantic charm, with warm interiors and wooden furnishings creating an inviting backdrop.

In Florence, even places that might seem casual by other countries’ standards are far from lacking in quality. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The food is often better, the service is more personable, and locations like these typically have more character than a trendy restaurant that’s all interior design and no substance.

Q4 What if we only have two nights? (One answer leads naturally to a guided evening tour)

Two nights is still plenty of time to go where locals eat in Florence, but doing so on your own will be difficult, since you’ll have to seek them out one by one. 

Booking a guided evening tour, on the other hand, means all the work is done for you. A local guide takes you to some of the finest spots for regional dishes, and you get to interact with Florentines in a way you never could alone. 

If you’d rather be led straight to the corner table, join us for an evening in the Florence locals keep for themselves. 

Sources:

Da Rocca Trattoria. (n.d.). Da Rocca Trattoria. https://www.daroccotrattoria.com/

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Florence food tours. https://www.eatingeurope.com/florence/

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Florence after 8pm: Where locals eat. https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/florence-after-8pm-where-locals-eat/

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Florence Sant’Ambrogio Market vs Mercato Centrale. https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/florence-santambrogio-market-vs-mercato-centrale/

Osteria Il Buongustai. (n.d.). Osteria Il Buongustai [Restaurant listing]. Tripadvisor. https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d1023837-Reviews-Osteria_Il_Buongustai-Florence_Tuscany.html

Trattoria Sabatino. (n.d.). Trattoria Sabatino. https://www.trattoriasabatino.it/

Acquacotta. (n.d.). Acquacotta [Restaurant listing]. Tripadvisor. https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d1102455-Reviews-Acquacotta-Florence_Tuscany.html