What to Eat in Florence: Traditional Dishes and Lunch Staples

Italy has a strong food culture, so when visiting, it’s a good idea to lean into it. What most people only realize once they arrive, though, is that each region, and even each city, has its own food culture. While places share some similarities, they’ll have ingredients and cooking methods specific to that region. 

When traveling in Tuscany, it’s important to know what to eat in Florence, Italy. It’s a tourist hotspot, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find authentic dishes, especially for those who know what to look for. This article addresses what to eat for lunch in Italy and the specialties to try when visiting.

Rustic Food

Eating out in Florence involves a range of culinary delights. The main characteristic of the cuisine is rustic food. That relates to the style and sometimes the presentation, but not to the flavor profile. It’s varied and comes from a range of classic Tuscan ingredients, including truffle, cheeses, olive oil and cured meats.

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Travelers wondering what to eat in Florence Italy, should seek out the dishes that seem more like home-cooked food. That includes pizza and pasta, of course, but also Bistecca alla Fiorentina (steak), chicken in butter, roast beef and potatoes, white beans, and polpette frita, which are fried meatballs. 

Local Specialties

It’s a good idea to balance the popular ingredients that bring the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet with something more specialized. Tuscany is famous for lots of ingredients, including its wines and pecorino cheese. Also worth trying is truffle sausage and the Florentine classic ribollia, which is a vegetable, bean, and bread soup.

When deciding what to eat in Florence Italy, it depends on an individual's comfort zone. For example, one particular specialty is lampredotto, a traditional type of street food made using tripe. For the less adventurous, crostini neri is a Tuscan antipasto classic to try. It’s toasted bread topped with chicken liver pâté.

Lunch in Florence

Lots of the traditional dishes work well at lunchtime. If you don’t want something as heavy as steak, here’s what to eat for lunch in Italy. Sandwiches are a popular choice in Florence, especially those that use good local ingredients. Italian bread, such as ciabatta or focaccia, usually forms the base. 

Fillings are usually cured meats, cheeses, olives, peppers and green or red sauces. While most Italians have lunch at home, there is a trend for working adults to frequent cafes, restaurants and food stalls in markets. 

Something Sweet

In Italian dining, ingredients are the stars of the show. That’s true for the sweet treats too, which use pistachios, lemons or fresh milk. You’ll find markets and cafes selling pastries, cantucci and cannoli, which are often enjoyed with a hot chocolate in the colder months.

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In summer, or anytime of the year, really, it has to be gelato. For the best fresh and authentic flavors, look for a gelateria artigianale, where they make the gelato on the premises. It’s not about the look, it’s the taste.   

By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Unsplash