Florence foodie guide: where locals eat and drink

Piazza Piattelina, 10; 00 39 055 217879

Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino – for offal

In Florence’s cutest piazza, Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino specialises in making offal undeniably delicious. The house antipasto plate is a must; their lampredotto meatballs will turn even the pickiest eater into an offal fan. The pear and taleggio cheese risotto is definitely worth a trip.

Piazza della Passera 2; 00 39 055 215969

Trattoria Mario – for a busy trattoria

You can’t come to Florence and not have lunch at Trattoria Mario. It’s very busy, with a no-bookings policy, so you may well find yourself eating elbow-to-elbow with other diners, but it’s a Florentine institution – and worth the crush.

trattoria-mario.com

Le Volpi e L’Uva – for natural wines

For a glass of wine, look no further than lovely wine bar, Le Volpi e L’Uva. The carefully chosen (and often changing) list of boutique or natural wines here means you’ll always find something wonderful to drink. The crostini with lardo, honey and black pepper or a platter of Italian cheeses go down well, too.

Piazza dei Rossi 1R, 50125; 00 39 055 2398132

Cafe Verrazzano – for coffee and pastries

My favourite spot for a snack is Cafe Verrazzano. It serves some of the best coffee in town as well as delicious pastries, focaccia and cecina (thin, crêpe-like pancakes). There’s not much space to sit, so sip your coffee standing up, as locals do.

verrazzano.com

Zeb Gastronomia – for a family-run atmsophere

Mother and son Giuseppina and Alberto Navari serve fresh spring flavours at the 21-seat Zeb Gastronomia. Sit at the gallery table and enjoy dishes such as pecorino and pear ravioli, which are made to old family recipes.

Ditta Artigianale – for coffee

Redolent of cafés in New York and Melbourne, Ditta Artigianale serves rare coffee blends by barista Francesco Sanapo. At night, gin sommelier Cecilia creates sublime cocktails – try the Gin Mule.

via dei Neri, 32; 00 39 055 274 1541

Il Mercato Centrale – for street food

The recently opened food hall at Il Mercato Centrale is a worthy addition to Florence’s legendary culinary scene. Head to SUD for southern-style pizza or go for the local delicacy, a tripe sandwich, at Il Lampredotto.

Taste Florence – for foodie tours

Visit some of the best food spots in town by joining one of Taste Florence’s morning walks (9.30am–2pm, €79). You’ll discover San Lorenzo’s renowned food market and family-run shops, with tastings of cheeses, salumi, sweets and wines.

La Prosciutteria – for a quick bite

When exploring Florence, a panino is the ideal quick bite between galleries. At La Prosciutteria choose from an array of freshly sliced meats in ciabatta; other fillings include truffle cream and marinated aubergine.

Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina – for Tuscan wines

Oenophiles should head to Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina, where brothers Eduardo and Zeno Fioravanti’s extensive list of Tuscan wines range from bold Brunello to softer Chianti Classico. Resident chef Donatella’s delicious Tuscan cuisine complements the booze.

La Bottega del Buon Caffè – for Michelin star dining

Riverside restaurant La Bottega del Buon Caffè received its first Michelin star in 2015. Chef Antonello Sardi creates delicate dishes from the finest Tuscan produce, much of which is grown at the restaurant’s country farm.

Gelateria Santa Trinita – for gelato

No Italian trip is complete without sampling the local gelato. Gelateria Santa Trinita next to the Santa Trinita bridge hand-makes its selection every morning. Try sesamo nero (black sesame seed) or cioccolata fondente (dark chocolate).

Words by Emiko Davies and Nardia Plumridge

Photographs Getty, Phototravel/Corbis, Rob Streeter