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RESTAURANTS
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About the restaurants here are some of the best we can suggest you, we’ll try to avoid touristy and too-well-known restaurants, we guess you prefer some special “hidden” places where mainly locals go. Please notice that all the restaurants for dinner in Florence are closed until 19:30. Just let us know if you wish to reserve it.
This is Tommaso’s favorite place! Over twentyfive years ago, a Hapsburg Prince and his 3 children, joined together to share their family traditions and ancient recipes with the people of Florence. And so the “legend” of La Giostra began…
News of a noble family managing with dishes and napkins made headlines, but it did not come as a surprise to everyone. Friends who were accustomed to gathering around the table of the Prince, at his family castle in the Chianti countryside knew very well the magic of his food and had often suggested he open a restaurant. What is our secret? Well it is simple, we are children of time. Ancient flavors, stirred with passion and heritage.
Our “legend” goes on, merited by the passion of our “La Giostra” family. Led by Soldano, who personally supervises the wine cellar and runs the restaurant with a deep respect to his heritage, touching each guest with his warmth and charm, just as his father did for so many years..
10 minutes walking from the hotel.
This place has been a restaurant since 1800. in fact in one of the internal rooms there is also a fresco by Annigoni. The food is excellent and the staff is really helpful and friendly. One of their best dishes is the “Fiocchetti”. Some special kind of ravioli filled with pieces of asparagus, slices of pear and gorgonzola cheese. And the topping is some more melted cheese and spices … wonderful taste! They also have some outdoor seating in one of Florence’s most intimate and unique small squares and a wide selection of red wines. I would not miss their Montesodi by Nipozzano or one of their “Brunello di Montalcino” or “Nobile di Montepulciano”. And during dinner Gabriele will be there to help you choosing the dishes and telling you the story of the place. This restaurant is one of the less touristy so the menu is in Italian, it gets very crowded after 20:30 so a reservation for 19 or 19:30 is usually highly recommended.
15 minutes walking from the hotel.
Here the outdoor seating, the warmth of the place and the people but above of all the EXCELLENT food will really leave out of breath! Trattoria al Trebbio has a nice mix of locals and tourists in a homey atmosphere. This is the perfect place to have a quick dinner but also to unwind for three hours eating a wonderful, languid meal and sipping wine until 11pm. In particular, you will be very impressed with the Caprese (fresh mozzarella and tomatoes). But at this restaurant you eat it and go “oh man! that’s what this is supposed to taste like!” The Crepe Florentine is also delicious, as is a veal dish with artichoke. The beef with rosemary and tortelli with ragu is also good. Of course it is a Trattoria so the service can be slower and more “informal” than in other places but the food as surely no equals. Very informal dress code and a lot of fun definitely.
7 minutes walking from the hotel.
A new entry but definitely special. This restaurant is about 300 yds from us but very, very good. In the last two years it became very famous and it also has a VIP wall where all the pictures with famous people that had dinner there are shown. But don’t worry, their prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is funny and relaxed.
Being so requested this places has highs and lows on reservations, sometimes it is very easy to reserve but some special days they lock reservations to 19:30. This place is really typical of Florence as each room has been made similar to one of Florence’s small streets and on the walls there are old signals used about 50 years ago in big houses or streets.
10 minutes walking from the hotel.
Well, maybe you know this: it is one of the oldest and most known places here. The classic “Trattoria” with big tables, very good for Florentine steak and for everything else i would say:) It has a funny loud atmosphere where sometimes strangers are sharing the same table. Usually there is a long line outside.
In fact that is one of the places where you will stand up from the table FULL! Lots of antipasti and some wine will reach you when you wait in line and you will have the chance to try even some free cakes after dinner. This is a little bit more expensive than the others but definitely very good but always fully booked so we have to make reservations in advance and at 19:30 or 21,15 only.
7 minutes walking from the hotel.
Fish, fish and again fish!
If you get to have dinner at the Vittoria you will find the service excellent and the restaurant lovely. The food of course is something quite special as in Florence it is really hard to find fish and at the Vittoria they not only have A LOT OF IT… they have it very fresh! The warm seafood salad is one of the best appetizers you can eat here but also any first course with “seppie” will astonish you.
25 minutes walking from the hotel.
10 minutes by tax Euro 13,00 around.