La Giostra
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A friend recommended La Giostra to me before visiting Italy. I'm so glad she did because this is one of the best restaurants in Florence. The ambience of this place is just very cool. Dark inside with the walls filled with a Who's Who of celebrities who've dined here. The owner/chef, Soldano, is well known and it was awesome that he came out to meet us and take pictures. While Soldano is well known, the star of the show here is the food. After starting off with some wine, we were served a complimentary appetizer sampler platter. Delicious! I loved the eggplant. We ordered a Caprese appetizer with buffalo mozzarella. For entrees, I had one of the signature dishes, the pear and cheese ravioli. My wife had the Tagliata (grilled beef) with rosemary and olive oil. We topped off dinner with desserts of Tiramisu and an Apple Tart with vanilla ice cream. Outstanding meals! This is a very popular restaurant so we made reservations weeks in advance. If you're visiting Florence and you want to try the best restaurant in town, book that early reservation!
I went with a group of 14. We had a set menu. If I was picking the menu I would have changed some things. The burrata was very good. The Parmesan cheese that was with the tomatoes was delicious. I liked the ragu. The pear ravioli was good. But I do think it had a lot of dough. I also don't know if I could have ate a whole order. I was glad to only have 2. I like something more savory. The florentine steak came out way too raw for my liking, I am aware this is how they serve it. Skip the chocolate cake it was not good. I did like the tiramisu though. The staff was great!!
Had a reservation at 9:30, we were then finally seated at 10pm. We started with the servers recommended red wine, which was very good. No appetizers besides the complimentary bread and toppings - they were okay. I ordered the sliced steak with potatoes, asked for medium but it was more on the medium well side. The entree was pretty good but nothing to write home about. I've had better steaks at longhorn steakhouse back in the states. It was a good experience but was shocked that we didn't get seated until a half hour past our reserved time. This place is also very warm, I was starting to sweat a bit within my long sleeve shirt. The atmosphere is cool and the service was nice.
5 stars 500 times over is what La Giostra deserves!!! Dining at La Giostra was nothing short of unforgettable. Dinner reservations were hard to find and we grabbed ourselves one for lunch. Absolutely loved the experience. From the moment we stepped inside, we were transported into a world of warm hospitality, rich Tuscan ambiance, and food that speaks to the soul. We settled in and were served a platter ( on the house) that had richness, flavors and amazing taste written across the board. The house bread is amazing as well and has a very unique taste associated with it. Post that, we ordered ourselves the Pear Ravioli and Steamed Octopus carpaccio with boiled ( finely sliced potato) which were so delicious ( big quantity served as well).We took our time to enjoy each of these a morsel at a time and they were simply sumptuous. For our main course we ordered Grilled steak with garlic, olive oil and rosemary ( which I didn't taste though got amazing reviews for it) and Baked Branzino with zucchini, tomatoes, olives and capers. The fish was cooked to perfection and the veggies added the much needed fiber alongside and as well were cooked to just the right degree. Loved the bites immensely and took our sweet time while we devoured through the meal :) After the check formalities were done and we were headed out, we ran into the man the legend, Soldano who happens to be the owner and runs a perfect culinary orchestra at La Giostra. Had a fun little conversation with him and definitely left with a lot of good feeling, vibes and felt that truly amazing customer care that they have built in the very fabric of La Giostra. It wouldn't be remiss to say that his warmth and charisma are reflected in every detail of the experience. La Giostra isn't just a restaurant -- it's a story, a tradition, a feeling. If you're in Florence, this is an absolute must. Thank you, Sandro and team , for making our lunch so memorable. This definitely has been a bright shining highlight of our trip!! Absolutely recommended!!
This place is worth the hype. The owner is super funny and interesting to talk to. I went there because of course when in Florence why not. Order the steak its delish and buy the bottle of wine with it. Pricey but the ambiance, the people, the food is worth it, Questo posto ne vale la pena, e quando sei in Italia perché non spendere i soldi? Adoro questo posto.
We have made this a staple to our Florence trips. We always save one night for dinner here. The atmosphere is always business casual. The service is always fantastic and the food is always delicious. We always bring our friends and family here so we definitely recommend this for your visit to Florence.
For foodies only. If you want the best, make a reservation here. What can I say that has not already been said. The house special pasta, the Bistecca alla fiorentina and the tiramisu are amazing. Get there early and order the house Negroni, relax at the bar, enjoy the vibe as people come in dressed for dinner. (Oh yeah, dress for dinner!) If you don't find this place the best, there are many pizza shops and street vendors that can make you a meal.
La Giostra is my favorite restaurant in Florence. Make a reservation. Show up early and grab a drink before your dining experience. Order the pear ravioli and a steak. You won't be disappointed. This is a very special place inside and out. Buckle up, you'll kill 2- 3 hours here but just enjoy the ride.
"We were visiting my college-aged daughter and celebrated her 20th birthday there with a couple of her girlfriends. That dinner was one of the top highlights of our trip - The owner, waitstaff and hostess made us (and my daughter) feel very special. AND, the food was amazing! I must for anyone visiting Florence!"
Because you can't come to Florence and leave without trying a Florentine Steak...and to be sure, the steak was what drew us to this restaurant. We did a lot of research, of course, and after scrolling through countless pictures, reviews and available reservations, we landed on La Giostra. The restaurant is quite pretty inside, filled with tons of twinkly lights that set the mood. The tables were kind of squished together, which made navigating between chairs difficult for some people and having a semi-private conversation difficult for others. The service was great, the staff was attentive and friendly, always greeting us with smiles and small bows, almost overly deferential. They took the time to answer our questions, provide recommendations and ensure we were taken care of. The steak (€130) was cooked to perfection (and to Florentine Steak standards) and, true to what is advertised, there was a lot of it. It was a challenge to finish even with the two of us sharing, but that could also be because of the sides that were included, or maybe the fact that we thought we'd also need to add the Fried Zucchini Sticks (€12) to the main meal *and* the Gran selezione di Salumi di Cinta Senese (€28) as a starter. They started us out with a plate of tiny toasts, with various toppings ranging from marinated veggies to sauteed tomatoes, stuffed mushrooms and a couple other vegetable-based items that we both missed when it was pointed out. We rather enjoyed everything that was presented. The charcuterie board came out next, piled high with meats and a handful of nuts. My husband was in heaven. The steak was presented next, and good heavens, was I already suffering from meat sweats, before I took my first bite. The steak was flavorful, I'll give it that, and simply cooked. It was served with potatoes and carrots, along with a simple side salad of greens and a creamy dressing. The zucchini sticks we (unnecessarily) added on were tasty and salty, crispy and crunchy. We both enjoyed the meal but I was full for the next two days haha.
This was definitely a cool experience. Reservations are a must. We made the reservation a week ahead and 9:15 was the earliest available on a Sunday night. The bar is nice but drinks are super expensive, with nothing under 20 €. We ordered drinks while waiting for our table and the wait was about 10 minutes. The ambience is unique, with soft white lights strung across the ceiling throughout the dining area (this did not allow for great photos unless you used a flash, however). The tables are very close to each other since the space is small but the walls are filled with interesting photos and the vibe is great. The food is delicious and the servers attentive but the menu prices are extravagant so basically you're paying for the vibe. I might have gone 4 stars due to the high cost, but we began our experience with a complimentary starter and ended with comped Limoncello shots so I had to take that into account. Overall, if you're up for the cost, definitely worth a visit.
1 year ago
The Ambiance....Incredible. The service.....top notch The food.....so good! The rice Ice cream off the charts! Oh.....and this guy!! read more
7 months ago
3 months ago
2 years ago
Had the worst experience with La Giostra. Before I get into my experience, I know that you need to have reservations to eat here. My girlfriend and I decided to walk in here on a Tuesday night expecting there to be a wait but to be eventually seated. When we got to the front counter, the hostess told us that we would be seated anywhere between 15 min to an hour because we were walk ins. Totally makes sense and we both agreed to that and knew that it could potentially go over by a bit. So we decided to wait at the bar and wait for our name to be called. Fast forward 2 hours and several drinks and we still had not been called. We asked the waitress multiple times what the wait time is and she kept saying 15-20 min each time we went up. Listen, we get that you have no control over when people leave and what the wait time is but it's absolutely hilarious that you are still accepting walking ins at 11pm when you have a line of probably 10 or more walk in parties waiting to be seated. And not only that, you have reservations walking in and waiting at least 45 min to be seated. What is the point of having reservations if you can't even seat the people that have booked reservations well in advance?! I was talking with a couple that was waiting 45 min to be seated when they had reserved ahead of time and they still had 6 parties in front of them! And now the kicker was that it was 11pm and after already waiting 2 hours and continuously being told that we would be seated soon, I decided to leave and find whatever restaurant would accommodate us coming in late while my girlfriend waited to pay the check at the bar. When she went to pay, THEY REFUSED TO LET HER PAY THE BILL!!! They said that she would have to pay the bill after getting seated and eating dinner. WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!? You want us to wait till 1am to pay the bill? And then not be able to eat dinner anywhere?! She ended up having to threaten to walk out before they sent a manager to talk to her and even then she had to argue with the manager to pay and leave. I don't care how good of a restaurant you think you are or how good your food is, you are a disgrace to good restaurants and don't deserve the star rating you have. LEARN to be fair to your customers and be realistic with wait times and who you accept. Nobody that walks in should have to wait 2 hours to be seated/be told they will be seated even though it's not true to the point that they can't even go anywhere else for dinner and then on top of that the customer can't even pay their tab to leave without you making a big scene. The owner looks like an asshole and his restaurant/staff follow suit. Avoid this place if you don't have a reservation and even if you do, seriously re-evaluate if it's worth waiting well past your reservation time when there are many restaurants just as good if not better near by. read more
1 year ago
amazing dinner with my family. the ambiance here is 10/10 the service was amazing and the food was perfect. this restaurant came highly recommended to us and lived up to all the hype. definitely make a reservation. you will not regret it. read more
1 year ago
What's not to love? Sparkling white Christmas lights. Complimentary appetizers. Badia di Coltibuono special reserve wines. A Florentine T bone steak. The proprietor--an eccentric royal duke ,perhaps, with two arms full of jangly bracelets--walking through the restaurant waving his hands. read more
8 months ago
La Giostra was amazing with beautiful ambience and delicious food. We enjoyed it so much, we came back for a second meal a few days later! Everything was lovely! read more
2 years ago
- beautiful ambiance - definitely not somewhere I would go with kids and/or large groups, more of a intimate conversation and/or date-spot. - AMAZING pear ravioli - would go back just for this. Our steak was good but could have been warmer. - our green apple sorbet was very refreshing. The tiramisu was good, too, but didn't blow me away. Good service! Would absolutely dine here again. Thanks for a great meal! read more
9 months ago
La Giostra is probably one of the most famous restaurants in Florence so I absolutely had to try it. Pictures of celebrities with the owner all over the walls. It did not disappoint! Service was very friendly. We were sat immediately for a 9:15 reservation. Lights are hung up every where and most waitstaff were multi-lingual and answered questions from other tables. We received a free antipasti with chicken pate and bruschetta. So good! For our main course we had the Florentine Steak (1 kg) and a Penne Sentarino. Thes steak was perfectly seasoned and melted in your mouth--don't usually order my steak rare but it was great! We finished off with two on the house lemonciellos. I would recommend this a must-stop if you're looking for at least one nice dinner while visiting Florence! read more
10 months ago
Overall the food was good- but for the price point I was hoping it would be amazing! The restaurant was very cute and had a great atmosphere - and the service was good. Our first waiter was great and extremely attentive. Our tomahawk steak was cooked the way we asked, but I felt that the steak lacked a depth of flavor for the price point. Maybe our fault for not getting the Florentine steak? I felt the same way about the pear ravioli. Was good- but not life changing. Best thing we got were the free crostini appetizers (lol) and the tiramisu! read more
11 months ago
11 months ago
1 year ago
One of the best meals I have ever had. We got the pear ravioli and steak florentine, both were a 10/10. The ravioli was unique but so delicious and the steak was seasoned to perfection and super tender. You have to try both. On top of the food being incredible, the restaurant is beautiful. We were there in December so it was also decorated for Christmas. The waitstaff were so kind and attentive and rounded out the impeccable dining experience. You must go here during your stay in Florence, it's so worth it! read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
While visiting Florence we attended a pizza making class. During the class we were recommended a local restaurant La Giostra. While we did not have a reservation we decided to arrive at opening and see if they could accommodate us. We enjoyed a cocktail and after about an hour or so they seated us. It appeared that they set up the seating for us as it was almost in the fire place, but we felt very lucky to have been squeezed in. We ordered a ton of food wanting to try all the things. It was honestly one of the best meals we have had anywhere in the world. Also while we ate the owner came to our table and chatted with us for a bit about the food, the restaurant, and motorcycles since both of us are Harley owners. The staff were amazing and the food was incredible. We highly recommend giving this place a try, you won't be disappointed. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
We were pleasantly surprised after reading all this mixed reviews. We had one of the best meals in Florence. My steak was delicious and cooked perfectly. Our servers were super nice and efficient. Nothing was rushed. They really paced our meal out which we loved. The only complaint I had was when we started with our entrees a mother seated next to us decided it was a good time to video chat with her child and mom, really? So disrespectful. I told her off and we exchanged words. She clearly did not finish that call. I highly recommend, other than that nasty mother, a very enjoyable meal. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The food... wow! GET RESERVATIONS! We did not have a reservation and Matilda said we could wait and she would do the best she could to get us seated (which rarely happens). 45 minutes later they squeezed us into a great spot... and the food was over the top! It started with a visit from Sahin who shared the menu choices and served us some Preseco and bruschetta appetizers. We finally got our meal of spinach ravioli and steak. It was credible! We finished the night with Isabella offering us some choices for dessert and had probably the best tiramisu we have ever had! This is a must visit location! At the end of the evening we shared a few laughs with the owner and ended the night feeling better than when we walked in the door... Thank you again! Matilda, sahin Isabella read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
Hands down the best restaurant experience I've ever had in Florence. Every single thing was perfect. The service, the food, the ambiance, everything. As a recommendation- try the burratta with grapefruit and fig compote, the tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, the fresh asparagus and the tiramisu. Absolute perfection. Do NOT miss this restaurant if you are in Florence. Tiny quiet street away from the hordes of people. Perfection. Seriously. read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
The service was exceptional. I wish we had another day in Florence just to eat here again. The Florentine steak, although pricey, was worth every euro spent on it. read more
1 year ago
La Giostra was amazing! Definitely need to stop here when you're in Florence. The service was excellent, the server recommended some great wine and dishes. The food was phenomenal. I had the Filetto Kalvill Con Fegato D'Oca Fresco E Mele All 'Armagnac very delicious and my wife had the parpadelle fatte a Mano Con ragú which was also excellent. The ambiance was very romantic and inviting! read more
1 year ago
Amazing ambiance, excellent service and exceptional food!! The owner is super cool as well!!! It's a do not miss in Florence!! read more
2 years ago
The food was amazing. I removed a star due to seating. Our table was very close to another table basically touching another table. At one point, I had to stand up to let other guests to get to their table. They do bring around a complimentary appetizer. The homemade ravioli was absolutely delicious. The stealer of the show was the Fiorentina T-bone steak. Hands down would return to have the steak again!! We also ordered fried artichokes and friend zucchini but should skipped these. Our eyes were way bigger than our stomachs. read more
My friends and I made reservations way in advance and this was our last dinner in Florence. We were really looking forward to this night but were disappointed by the service. They were just rude, pretentious, and charged us for a bottle of wine that was way above the price point we had discussed. The initial server seemed impatient so we had another server help us, but then the first one came back. It was just inconsistent and we left pretty unhappily. It's sad because admittedly the food was great and the florentine steak was delicious but our server shamed us for ordering such a "basic" dish. So I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
First and foremost, all the poor reviews revolve around issues with not having a reservation. Don't be stupid. Book in advance and expect the restaurant to be busy. It's for a effin reason. My wife and I had the greatest meal of our lives and felt extremely appreciated. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the owner, the amazing hostess, and the nice bartender happily made us a drink and personally brought it to our table once we were called. Aside from the hospitality and beautiful ambiance, here's what we ordered. The pear ravioli dish nearly made me shed a tear upon first bite. This dish is to DIE for (seriously don't go unless you order this). We also opted for the wild boar ragu and tagliata (steak) with Parmesan/arugula, both of which were incredible. Overall, there's a reason this place gets busy. Soldano and his staff operate like a well oiled machine providing a touching, genuine, and delectable dining experience. read more
Look, here's the thing - this place may have been great & special one day, but don't think it has that distinction anymore. Very slow service, over-hyped, the quality didn't match what we expected. There are celeb pictures all over the lobby, always crowded, lines to get in, but man, we were disappointed. We had SO MANY amazing meals throughout Italy, but La Giostra was not one of them. The place itself is beautiful, lights across the ceiling, but truly not much more than that. They graciously bring you an primi sampler of sorts (on the house), but we didn't really enjoy any of it. I ordered a shrimp pasta and my husband ordered a tagliatelle ragu, and we got a side of a 'unique' pear/cheese side, which we were excited about. The pastas were both subpar, and the pear "side dish" was simply a cheese board - nice, but nothing special. Not super down on this place, but wouldn't recommend it - set your expectations accordingly! read more
2 years ago
Loved it here! We had so many people recommend La Giostra on our trip to Florence we had to try it. The string lights along the roof made it such a welcome and relaxing environment, especially since the day we had our reservation there was a severe thunderstorm out so it was perfect. The appetizer plate they give was delicious and the pear pasta was fantastic with an amazing flavor. Paired with wine it was a perfect lunch. read more
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La Giostra - tuscan - Updated May 2026
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