Informal and modest place, up to 35 seats with communal dining, no menu in English, and an essential – almost unattractive - décor that should not discourage you to try the food…every dish is thick with flavor. You can try the artichoke pie but if you really want to taste a piece of heaven order the butter-roasted chicken. Reservation is a must.

Via del Porcellana 25/r, Florence

+39 055 212691

For a small bite while shopping in Florence, stop at this special gastronomic venue and order some truffle sandwiches and a glass of prosecco. Your experience will be elevated a notch!

Via Tornabuoni 64red, Florence

+39 055 211656

http://www.procacci1885.it/it/firenze

A romantic place in Oltrarno area with a youthful atmosphere which is both welcoming and stylish. Very good food and large selection of wine. – next door Il Santino, is a wine and Italian tapas bar from the same owner – perfect for aperitivo!

Via di Santo Spirito, 64/66, Florence

+39 055 211264

http://ilsantobevitore.com/

Located in the city historical center, this casual restaurant serves authentic Florentine cuisine. In summer, outdoor seating overlooks one of the most characteristic corners of Florence. Reservations are a must, especially for outdoor seating.

Piazza della Passera, Florence

+39 055 218562

https://www.4leoni.it/

For the best pizza, Neapolitan style, do not miss the recently opened stylish yet essential venue. Choose among mouthwatering toppings such as burrata and truffle, mozzarella di bufala or a classic Margherita, to enjoy this ultra-italian specialty at its best. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Largo Pietro Annigoni, 9, Florence

+39 055 245829

Something of a Florentine institution, Trattoria Cammillo, located on the south bank of the Arno, by the Ponte Vecchio, was founded in 1945 by the grandfather of Chiara Masiero, the present owner and part-time chef. Unusually long and varied, the menu consists of meat, fish, and vegetable dishes that change (to a certain extent) with the seasons and a handful of daily specials. Dishes such as gamberi al curry (curried shrimp) with rice and homemade mango chutney have been on the menu for decades alongside classics such as ribollita, lasagna (a nod to Chiara’s Emilian roots), and bistecca alla Fiorentina (T-bone). All desserts are made in-house; the tiramisu (made with persimmons in winter) is a great way to finish. Come here with anyone who wants to sample top-notch Florentine cooking in an unpretentious atmosphere.

Borgo S. Jacopo 57R - Florence

+39 055 212427

Located at the heart of the buzzing Sant'Ambrogio market area, Cibrèo Trattoria does top-notch renditions of Florentine and Tuscan classics at a third of the price of its grown-up sister restaurant (Cibrèo). Be prepared to wait in line and share a table at peak times; this is a popular place and you can’t book ahead. There's no pasta on the menu at Cibreino, as it's known locally, but in its place is a series of fantastically good seasonal soups. This place is great for an upbeat, food-focused evening with a small group (there are a couple of tables for four or six) or a date.

Via dei Macci 122r - Florence

+39 055 234 1100

https://www.cibreo.com/en/cibreo-trattoria/

Housed in the vaulted ex-cellars of 15th-century Palazzo Antinori, the Cantinetta breathes aristocratic Old Florence. The atmosphere is upscale and slightly hushed; tables are laid with crisp white cloths; and crystal glasses gleam. Menus are based on Tuscan classics with some seasonal variation. This place appeals to an older crowd of well-heeled tourists looking for a quiet meal with top-notch service. There are also Florentines among the diners, many of them friends of the aristocratic owners.

Piazza degli Antinori 3 - Florence

+39 055 292234

https://cantinetta-antinori.com/en/

Part of Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele’s magical mystery tour that is the Gucci Garden museum and retail outlet, this jewel box of a restaurant is all forest-green velvet, pea-green boiserie, and custom-made Ginori porcelain in the brand's pretty floral Herbarium design. Although Massimo Bottura’s name is on the menu, it's Mexican chef Karine Lopez who's in charge of the kitchen, and the dishes are a palate-teasing mix of re-worked Emilian and world classics, along with influences form Lopez’s background. Service from the smiley staff—dressed in preppy button-downs with floral aprons and Gucci trainers—is efficient and utterly charming. Timing is good and everyone knows the details and intricacies of the menu.

P.za della Signoria 10 - Florence

+39 055 062 1744

https://www.gucciosteria.com/en

Part of the Ferragamo-owned Hotel Lungarno, Borgo San Jacopo sits right on the south bank of the Arno. Northern Italian chef Peter Brunel has won a Michelin star for his modern take on his native culinary traditions. Well-honed techniques and a large dose of creativity turn ingredients such as humble potatoes into stars; one of Brunel's signatures dishes, in fact, is spaghetti di patate. Some dishes (pici pasta with wild boar sauce) come straight from a classic Tuscan culinary manual; others are more off-piste. BSJ, as it's known, has made a name for itself among smart Florentine gourmets who come for Brunel’s inventive cooking and enjoy the sophisticated, yet relaxed, surroundings. There’s a fair number of well-heeled visitors and guests of the Hotel Lungarno in the mix, too. For a pre-dinner drink, head for the hotel’s Picteau Lounge Bar, next to the restaurant, where cocktails like Window on the Arno and Italian Job come with river views.

Borgo San Jacopo 62 - Florence

+39 055 281661

https://www.lungarnocollection.com/it/borgo-san-jacopo

The Michelin-starred La Bottega del Buon Caffè, its floor-to-ceiling windows and terrace looking toward the Arno river, has a hushed, luxe feel that's evident from the moment you walk in. The menu gives equal billing to fish and meat, with lots of emphasis on seasonal vegetables, too; dishes have a firm grounding in regional traditions, but rise to another level through modern techniques. Underlying it all is a passionate farm-to-table philosophy. Signature dishes, all exquisitely presented, include the extraordinary crème brûlée of foie gras with a red onion sorbet and pigeon-stuffed cappelletti pasta with butter and thyme. As you would expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant, the service is as smooth as silk; happily, it's also far from being pompous.

Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini 69 - Florence

+39 055 553 5677

https://www.borgointhecity.com/it/la-bottegadel-buon-caff

Other Michelin Starred Restaurants in Florence

Enoteca Pinchiorri - https://enotecapinchiorri.it

La Leggenda dei Frati - http://www.laleggendadeifrati.it

Ora d’Aria - http://www.oradariaristorante.com

Il Palagio - https://www.fourseasons.com/florence/dining/restaurants/il_palagio/

Winter Garden By Caino - https://www.wintergardenbycaino.com

Just off Florence, Osteria di Passignano - http://www.osteriadipassignano.com/#osteria

Excellent Tuscan cuisine at elegant old-world restaurant. The best tables are on the ground floor, but there is also outdoor seating. Delicious handmade fresh pastas (small portions). Don't miss the desserts! Watch out for the small step down as you walk in!

Via del Porrione 33, Siena

+39 0577 480 13

Casual atmosphere under a vaulted ceiling, market to table seasonal ingredients divinely cooked, extensive selection of wine.

Via dei Termini, Siena

+39 0577 44329

Michelin starred restaurant (in 2016!) in a very traditional sophisticated atmosphere. Outdoor seating also available.

Localita Colombaio, Casole d'Elsa

+39 0577 949002

Great restaurant with excellent food, set in a wine and extra virgin olive estate. Not only you can buy wine and olive oil produced on the estate, they can even ship it internationally.

Località Dievole, 6 (fraz. Vagliagli) Castelnuovo Berardenga

+39 0577 322613

This restaurant sits right inside the ancient medieval city walls of Colle di Val d'Elsa. Just a two minute walk from the free parking areas nearby the city gate called Porta Nuova. The menus are seasonal and utilize fresh local ingredients grown by nearby farmers. Enjoy true Tuscan food.

Via Gracco del Secco 86, Colle di Val d'Elsa

+39 0577 921 796

Please note: this is very close to San Gimignano as well!