Eat Your Way Through Florence: A Guide to 3 Days of Dining

Eating in Florence means you have the best of Italian dining at your fingertips. It can be hard to narrow it down, but I'm sharing a few favorites on both sides of the Arno river that are primarily northern-Italian based so that you can get a flavor for the region and Tuscany.

Dessert

Every good food tour, at least in Italy, should start with dessert - gelato is not to be missed. In Florence, steer clear of most gelaterias near the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio as they're more expensive with lower quality gelato. Avoid stores with gelato that has bright colors and is stacked high (it'll be full of preservatives). The edges of the tourist area, and side streets are where you'll find the best.

Try Gelateria la Carraia, just over the Arno on the other side of the bridge Ponte alla Carraia. Their ricotta and pear flavor was one of the best I've had in Italy.

Perchè No! is a Florentine classic, locally owned and delicious.

Carabè is a good choice if you're visiting Michelangelo's David, and serves fresh flavors in the Sicilian tradition.

Lunch/Dinner

Trattoria Zaza pleasantly surprised me - this is a great place if you want to try a lot of Tuscan classics, at an amazing price point. Their wine selection is amazing, and their appetizers (try the bruschetta and a traditional Tuscan dish, grilled bread with white beans) are worth sharing (or not!). Make a reservation in advance and you'll get right in, or risk waiting in the line that wraps down the sidewalk.

4Leoni is a little more upscale than Zaza and great if you're looking for a special, delicious night out in Florence. They specialize in traditional Florentine steak, and the server said they're known for their pear and asparagus pasta. Can confirm: athe pasta is incredible and includes a variety of non-traditional flavors in a beautiful, traditional cheese sauce.

Drinks

There's plenty of wonderful sidewalk cafes for an afternoon aperitivo, and one of my favorite things to do in Florence is wander the side streets until I find one that has great ambiance.

If you're looking for a unique, atmospheric drinks experience, head across the Arno to the Torrino di Santa Rosa. Yes, it's a fortress with flags. But just below they have fairy lights strung up, bistro tables set up and plenty of wine and spritzes to choose from as you watch the light change on the water (it's more of a stumble-upon spot, so the aperitivo spot doesn't have a location on Google Maps. Just search for the Torrino, and it's right next to it!).