This might have been the highlight of our Italy trip. This place is great. While walking we came…read moreacross La Bottega del Chianti and absolutely loved the place. The owner treats everyone like royalty, he passes out glasses of wine along with cheeses, meats and bread with olive oil. There is everything from wine, cheese, bread, vegetables and a hole lot of eclectic items for sale. I can't write great enough reviews for this business. If your in Florence you have to stop by for a great authentic Italy. This is our second time stopping in at La Bottega del Chianti and we weren't disappointed. This is still my favorite place to go while in Florence. I can't recommend it enough. All I can say is GO!!

Omg!!! This is just a lovely wonderful fun eclectic beautiful Italian experience. The owner is on…read moreolder very friendly Italian gentleman , pouring us a glass of wine when we walked in the door, then he poured another and another and maybe a few more, and insisted we try his cheeses, meats, olive oils and bread. He was selling wine, fresh deli, fruits, veggies, wine, olive oils, hand made wood cutting boards, copper pots and pans, vintage jewelry and so much more. I wanted to buy one of everything. This is definitely worth making a quick pop in this place just to say hi! Weirdly wonderful!

Shoukd have written this 2 years ago, but I guess better late than never lol…read more By far the coolest little gem of a store/ tasting venue. Yvonne is the most charming hostess; knowledgeable, takes great pride in all her products and very warm and inviting. She offers tastings of her fine olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars as well as the multitude of Conti confections. Not to mention the abundant compliment of wine to accompany any of those tastings. All this is offered in her one of a kind tasting room under the shop, in a stunningly decorated centuries old stone and tile space able to fit 20 or so people . A quick tour of the shop upstairs is a sight for sore eyes. From the colorful hand made serving and dining plates, to the wonderful selection of condiments, pastas and toppings, it is truly one my favourite, favourite places in Virenze!! Honourable mention goes to Stefano the charming other half of this jewel. Oh. And if you're lucky you'll get to pet dear lovable Plum.

Amazing business with the best of people! Stefano and his wife Yvonne are so friendly, and they…read moreoffer authentic Italian goods. They welcomed me and my group of friends on the Florence for Foodies Tour and we had the best time ever!

First of all, while this might have been a Bottega in the past it is now an exceptional restaurant…read moreon the corner adjacent to the Duomo. Do NOT miss an opportunity to dine here. Were it not been for our other-worldly dining experience at Antica Moka, this would have qualified as our finest dinner during our trip to Modena. Our waiter wA fluent in multiple languages, and we were able to easily converse with him beyond our highly sketchy Italian. The additional wait staff was always present and available. Pacing (as we experienced among all our restaurant stops) was excellent. There's never a sense of being rushed through the meal. There are 3 exceptional spaces to dine. There is a large tent right beside the Duomo. Those wishing to be inside will be treated to decor of wine, comfortable lighting, and hanging assortment of aged meats and cheeses. We chose the outside space in the back of the restaurant, which was quiet and possessed comfortable cooling breezes. All the more necessary since the area was being bludgeoned with a northern African heat wave!! The food. The food!!! After multiple dishes of inferior pasta dishes during our first couple days into our visit, the tortellone was perfect! Ideal pasta preparation, good balance of placers from the filling, and just the right amount of sauce. But the star of the show was the guanciale braised in Sangiovese. My god, this was incredible!!! No offense to vegans or vegetarians, but this is not to be missed. The wine list wasn't particularly extensive, but we thoroughly enjoyed a dark DARK Lambrusco reggiano. Our only fault in the entire experience was the supplied bread. A meager 4 small morsels were provided in a small paper bag. Given the quality of baking throughout the city, surely they could have served something more representative of the region. Even with this MIs-step, it didn't shroud our very positive experience.

Enoteca del Duomo is basically a food shop specifically for those who enjoy everything Italian in…read morefoods. The array of offerings are from all over Italy, rather complete, but also with regional specialties not found elsewhere. Enoteca del Duomo is the main shop which is combined with a restaurant that I found to be rather sandwich oriented. Surprisingly they usually have seating without waiting, the sandwiches which I had, prosciutto with cheese and roasted tomato were very good as was the service, Beside Enoteca del Duomo itself there are varying other shops, all of which offer shipping. On that count, if you are planning to take or have items shipped back to the United States, US Customs prohibits and will confiscate any meat products no matter how they are packed. So, if they catch you or if you are honest when questioned, you going to lose any of those wonderfully coveted salamis, prosciuttos or sausages you've purchased.

I found this local gem on accident as I strolled through one of the many winding Firenze streets…read more The line out the door intrigued me. Each day there was a small crowd gathered around this place. People of all ages happily stuffing their faces with schiachiatta (like a panini) which is toasted to perfection. I got a dessert schiachiatta - Nutella and ricotta. The sweetness of the Nutella and the creaminess of the ricotta contrasted nicely with the slight saltiness of their crisp baguette. So good! It seems to be frequented largely by locals which is always a good thing.

This little hidden sandwich shop is a gem! Seems to be a more local place to go. The sandwiches…read morewere absolutely amazing. I recommend the #1 (salami, fresh cheese, and balsamic vinegar -- I added sundries tomatoes) it's absolutely wonderful. Only 4 euros per sandwich! They also gave us free bread bites with cheese and truffle Inside, another delicious add on. Super pleased!!

The best olive oil in all of Italy! This artisan oil shop in the center of the Centrale market…read more(indoors) brings in only the best from Italy at reasonable prices you won't find elsewhere in Florence. Don't take my word for it, The proprietor will pour some for you to try. I only wish I hadn't also bought some earlier in the week....oh well, more to go around. He is passionate about his products! Did you know extra virgin olive oil is only the first press of the olives? Or that balsamic is aged 5 times. In the US we see 5 year. Best stuff is 18 or 25 years aged and has the consistency of syrup -- it reduces down by another 50% during the maturation process. I guarantee you won't go home without something from Biocorner. I'll never look at olive oil the same again.

B!ocorner has the best olive oil and balsamic vinegar in Florence, plus a really joyful gentlemen…read morebehind the counter. What a great guy who spoke Italian to us and we roughly translated it as he explained to buy a can of olive oil that was a better value than the very best olive oil for almost the same price (and get twice as much). Of course, we tried his recommendation from the can against the very best olive oil ($$$$), and we couldn't tell the difference, so we brought back more with the can per his recommendation (and we are very happy we did). What a fun place and the smiling gentlemen behind the counter made our day!

Amazingly delicious and enormous portion - - porchetta sandwich upstairs at the central market…read more Unfortunately, I don't recall the name of the restaurant, but certainly worth seeking out. If I go back one day, I'll have the exact same sandwich again!

Located in the San Lorenzo district, just a few minutes' walk from the main train station of Santa…read moreMaria Novella), Mercato Centrale is a vibrant food hall experience housed in a historic market building (very similar to the Time Out Market franchise across Europe). From the outside, it looks like a grand, iron-and-glass structure typical of European markets; inside, it opens into a bustling, multi-level space filled with food vendors, communal tables, and constant movement. The vibe is energetic, social, and slightly chaotic in a fun way - perfect for grazing, group dining, or trying multiple cuisines in one visit (from Italian to American to Mexican!). We stopped in for a quick lunch at around 2pm on a Wednesday; there was plenty of seating at high-top tables, and QR codes on paper menus make it easy to explore all the different food vendor options. It's also a fun activity to peruse the market, taking in different sights, smells, and flavors. All of us ended up opting for Schiacciatas (large Italian sandwiches that are a staple in Florence) from Massimiliano Parri, which all ended up ranging from €10-12, depending on toppings - yes, it's more expensive than what you'd get from a traditional schiacciateria, but you're also paying for the market's location and convenience. We appreciated the fact that they shave the meat right in front of you! My schiacciata came with freshly shaved ham atop crusty white bread, slathered with burrata cheese, and sprinkled with arugula and figs (I opted for no additional olive oil, since I found the ham quite rich already). I loved the contrast of textures and flavors, though I will say that the bread ended up cutting the roof of my mouth! All in all, Mercato Centrale is a bit touristy, but still miles better (and cheaper) than most "Italian" sandwich places you'd find in the US (pro tip: save your receipt for free use of their bathrooms). The variety can't be beaten, prices are reasonable for a central market, and it's steps from some of Florence's most iconic spots.

I was looking for Lu cookies for a tea and no store had them. Pegna did. Pegna has most things…read morethat other stores do not. They carry the higher end delicacies the you won't find in the normal supermarkets and small shops. The display is beautiful, like you are walking back in time 100 years. Everything is elegantly displayed and organized in a way that makes things grouped and easy to find. I found items I'd not seen before but definitely have to try. The store is conveniently located about a block from the back corner of the Duomo- so easy to find and return to often in travels around Florence. The staff were very helpful and suggested a few things I hadn't thought of. What I liked was they left me alone to discover on my own and did not hover but were kind and attentive. I highly recommend Pegna if you're craving something nostalgic or even something special. They had the best selection of over 30 stores I visited, and carry brands from elsewhere where in Europe that I could not find anywhere else in a 6 mile radius.

"They have cheddar cheese!! Expensive, but they have it. Pegna has a great variety of specialty…read moreitems as well as everyday"

The truffle pasta is out of the world! Pasta was fresh and cooked with just the right amount of…read moretruffle. It is on the pricer side for a good market at 22 euros but it is worth every dollar!

I've been dreaming of the truffle pasta ever since I took my first bite. This spot is located in…read morethe Mercato Centrale, and I'm so glad we stopped by for lunch, given all the other amazing options in the market. The truffle pasta was creamy, with generous shavings of truffle. When I tell you I almost cried...it was the perfect dish and introduction to Florence! Everyone there was so friendly and we even ended up buying a couple of their sauces to take home!