Favorite Spots in Florence, Italy
Planning a trip to Florence, Italy and looking for local recommendations? Four years ago (ugh, how has it been that long?!) exactly I just came back home from living in the European city for a whole month while studying abroad in college and got to know a lot about the area, so I got you covered!
I was originally planning on posting this blog a year after my trip to Italy as a well to celebrate, but it felt like an awkward time due to the global pandemic 😂 But hey, but later late than never! So without further ado, here’s a list of my favorite places and things to do in Florence:
Food:
Pino’s Sandwiches
One of my favorite places to go for lunch. The owner actually held a food tasting for me and some other students in my classes, and their paninis are insanely delicious!
The Small
This was the first restaurant I went to when I first got to Italy. My friend Jill and I went for some white wine and pasta, and it was a perfect way to celebrate the start of a month-long trip!
Regine Pizzeria
I absolutely loved the environment and setting of this place. Their pizzas and red wine is absolutely divine!
Fionrino D’Oro
Their calzones are ginormous. That’s not even an exaggeration, just check it out for yourself!
I Ghibellini
My friends and I came here after class for a pizza party and it was divine. It also has a great patio for outdoor seating!
1950 American Diner
If you’re feeling homesick, definitely check this place out for some traditional American meals. It literally looks like a diner out of the 50s, and they play songs from Grease in the background which I think is so fun!
Ristorante Tijuana
Some of the BEST frozen strawberry margaritas I’ve ever had!
Trattoria Zà Zà Firenze
I went here with some friends for dinner during our last week in Florence, which was honestly kind of bittersweet. But their pizza is so good and it’s cute inside!
Cafes (Coffee & Pastries):
Shake Cafe
I went here for lunch quite a few times after classes. One of the BEST açaí bowls I’ve ever had, as well as iced Americano and pastries!
The Habitat
While I was abroad, I probably came to this particular spot at least two or three times a week, and I would always go in the morning to catch breakfast before class. It was a very short walk to my apartment which made it so convenient (and dangerous lol). They seriously have THE best Nutella croissants I’ve ever had!
Corona Cafe
I came here a few times for breakfast before class as well. It’s one of the most popular places for coffee and pastries in Florence, and their doughnuts and croissants are phenomenal!
La Milkeria
Their Nutella crepes are AMAZING! It’s also for sure one of the cutest cafes in all of Florence!
Gelato:
Piazza Della Signoria
This definitely was my absolute favorite shop to go for some gelato. You can two flavors to choose from and they’re very big scoops, and they top it off with some waffle wafers! 1,000/10 recommend 😋
Amorino Gelato Al Naturale
To be honest, I mostly tried this place out because of the aesthetics and how they made the gelato look like rose petals, basically just so I could get a cute pic for my Instagram 😂 They do have amazing flavors and cones!
Gelato Artigianale
Another favorite for gelato, and it was the closest to my apartment. Their chocolate is my favorite go-to flavor here!
Bars:
The Lion’s Fountain
The oldest Irish pub in town, with some of the best bar food and drinks. They’re also a very big college bar, even having souvenirs on the walls and ceiling from the biggest universities across America! It’s so fun and worth checking out!
Reserve
There’s a WIDE variety of drinks and cocktails to choose from. The inside decor and style is so cool, too!
Daunbailo Irish Pub
Another Irish pub that my friends and I visited occasionally. The bartenders are super friendly, as well as make amazing drinks and food!
Move On
My friends and I came here after our classes were over one day and had some wine. It’s a nice and chill environment, especially after being stuck inside for class all day and still feeling jet-lagged! 🤣
Museums:
Palazzo Vecchio
This by far has to be one of the best museums for tourists to check out! The architecture and art galleries is absolutely surreal. It’s truly breathtaking!
Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
Another iconic location for tourists! The gardens and galleries are absolutely stunning, and we actually had a scavenger hunt here for a class! Just be make sure to bring comfy shoes and water because there’s a great amount of walking lol 😅
Churches:
The Duomo
Probably the most iconic architectural building in the whole city, as one as the whole country of Italy for that matter! One of my biggest regrets during my trip was not climbing up to the top, but it was still surreal to walk past it every day. I definitely recommend checking it out inside, even if you prefer not to go up to the top!
Shopping:
Motivi
I got a sheer maxi skirt from here and a yellow off-the-shoulder dress that I wore for my sister’s rehearsal dinner and a cousin’s wedding a few months after! I’m wearing it in this blog post 💛
Have any of y’all traveled to Florence and have any recommendations I didn’t list? Comment below and share them!