What to eat in Florence
Lampredotto from a street stall, two soups built on the same stale bread, and a steak ordered by the kilo, not by the piece.
- Lampredotto
- €5–6, a sandwich from a stall
- Ribollita
- €10, a thick bread-and-vegetable soup
- Pappa al pomodoro
- €10, bread and tomato
Florence has four dishes that repeat on every menu: lampredotto from a street stall, two thick soups built on bread and vegetables, and a steak ordered by the kilo. A lampredotto sandwich is €5–6, and the steak for two is €44–50/kg per kilo.
A sandwich from a stall
Lampredotto is a cow's fourth stomach, simmered for hours in a spiced broth and sliced into a panino dipped in the same liquid before it's closed. It's sold from mobile stalls across the city — rarely in restaurants — and the sandwich is €5–6. It's eaten standing up, as a quick meal between two sights.
Ribollita and pappa al pomodoro: two soups from the same bread
Both soups start from stale, unsalted Tuscan bread. Ribollita adds beans, kale and vegetables and cooks long enough for the bread to turn thick, almost solid — the name means "reboiled". Pappa al pomodoro is simpler, bread and tomato with olive oil, and usually arrives as a starter before the main course. Both cost around €10.
Ordered by the kilo
The bistecca is a T-bone steak, grilled rare inside, and ordered by the kilo — the price is €44–50/kg per kilo, and a portion for two usually weighs between eight hundred grams and a kilo. It's shared at the table, so this is a dish for a long dinner, not a quick bite.
A meal for €12–18
At noon restaurants offer a set menu, usually soup or pasta and a main course, for €12–18. Off that menu, a main course in an ordinary place is €16–24, no drink included, and a coffee at the counter is €1–1.50.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
What is lampredotto?
A sandwich made from a cow's fourth stomach, simmered in a spiced broth, sold from stalls around the city. The sandwich is €5–6.
Why is bistecca ordered by the kilo?
Because it's a sharing portion — the price is €44–50/kg per kilo, and two people usually order eight hundred grams to a kilo.
How much does lunch cost in Florence?
A set lunch is €12–18; a main course off the menu is €16–24.
Ready for Florence?
Where to next
The best time to visit Florence
→Florence has no season when it's empty — only one when it's less full. If you only pick one month, it's…
San Gimignano · 38 km
→Walls with fourteen surviving towers out of what was once seventy-two, seen from the road before you even reach the gate.
How well does Florence suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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