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Paoli

4.1 (80 reviews)
ModerateTuscan
Closed 12:00 pm - 10:30 PM

Paoli Photos

PAOLI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Romantic
Moderate noise
Dressy
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Paoli

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Beef tartare and meatball antipasti

In Florence for a honeymoon and we were recommended this establishment by the concierge of our nearby hotel and we couldn't have been more impressed by our experience here! We liked it so much we visited it three times while in Florence. Our server Emanuel was truly amazing; so much so we asked for him every time we visited. He went above and beyond for us and was so knowledgeable about everything on the menu, helping us make choices, and provided us with a five star experience every single visit. With him it was always service with a smile and he went overboard to ensure we had the best time. He is a huge asset to this restaurant! Every dish we enjoyed was amazing and making choices on their extensive menu was tough. We especially enjoyed the beef tartare and carbonara pasta with truffle. It's a special place and the atmosphere is warm; the food is incredible and the portions are plentiful. I never felt rushed and the little touches went a long way. Inviting us to send free postcards to our loved ones back home and writing in their guest book. We will definitely be back and encourage everyone to have a meal or two with them!

Leo L.

Service, food, and ambiance were all fine for this restaurant. In fact, I really enjoyed the food. The dishes were well prepared and pretty delicious. But it has an absolutely disgusting restroom which totally ruined my appetite and my experience...i hope the management could look into it.

With boar sauce.
Cindy H.

Dinner for 2. Our 50 anniversary. Delicious food, fun servers, & we were in our one little world.

Carbonara
Dain S.

This restaurant was recommended by our local tour guide and their food was fantastic! Inside of the restaurant was stunning with a painted wall and we loved the ambiance. We've tried dishes that our tour guide and server recommended: 1. T-bone steak (7/5) - my family is not a big fan of steak, but their steak was really soft and juicy (ordered medium rare). Paired perfectly with their mini red wine which was also very good. Portion was big too. 2. Carbonara (7/5) - they had the best carbonara I've tried in Italy! Love how rich and creamy their sauce was. 3. Home Pasta (5/5) - forgot the name of the pasta (it came with thick sauce with beef and diced veggies). This was recommended by our server - pasta tasted ok but don't think it was special. *most restaurants in Firenze were crowded but this place was nice and quiet. It gets a bit busier later in the evening. *they take reservations. *this would be a great place for a couple or family. If you are planning to visit Firenze, you must try this place. Absolutely amazing!

Bistecca a la fiorentina
Bob S.

We were visiting and had heard about this fantastic steak dinner that we had to try well in Florence. It is called Bistecca Alla Fiorentina and it was honestly the best steak I've ever had in my life. My sister and I shared it and we're fighting over the last few pieces. Highly recommend!

Outside of original restaurant
Russ M.

We came here 21 years ago when it still was the original family owned restaurant and the food, service and ambiance was top notch. So we returned and the food was absolutely delicious. Never have we tasted porcini this delicious. It is the oldest restaurant in Florence! One thing to know is it has now been purchased and franchised so you may see others around the city but the original is the one you want to try because the gothic interior can't be replicated so we posted a photo of the front entrance. Make reservations at least one or more days in advance because it books up fast & ask for a table towards the back to get the best experience.

Tiramisu
Allison R.

My friend and I went to dinner here for our last night in Florence. The overall ambiance is amazing. They have a great wine selection in all price ranges. The food was amazing. The service was a little slow but we were enjoying our amazing dinner. Definitely would go back.

Dining al Fresco...
Avram L.

Hey you with the pretty face Welcome to the human race A celebration, mister blue sky's up there waitin'.. And today is the day we've waited for.. Eating dinner at Paoli... We started w. a small bottle of delicious red Italian Wine.. The Misses enjoyed a plate of "Homemade Pappardelle Pasta w. a Wild Boar sauce", it was perfecto, from just the right thickness/al dente pasta w. a rich & delicious earthy sauce. The Lad enjoyed a plate of Fresh "Tagliolini Pasta w. Porcini Mushrooms", This was most scrumptious, taking you to an Italy farm, sitting w. family flavours, worth the airfare, pasta plate. Shared was a dessert plate of "Panna Cotta" w. nectarine, dark chocolate, biscotti crumbles and truffles, it was the perfect ending to dining in the est. 1827 historic Tuscan restaurant/meeting place for intellectuals such as Leoncavallo and Puccini. Hey there mister blue We're so pleased to be with you Look around see what you do Everybody smiles at you..:) Ciao mi Amicos, Avram ELO Jr.

Traci H.

Ambiance was really nice and filled with history. One of the oldest restaurants in Florence. The food was delicious. Our server was a little abrasive but we still had a great time. Recommend checking it out for sure.

Dan A.

Our Hotel Concierge recommended this spot for traditional Tuscan and also mentioned it was the oldest (opened 1827) restaurant in the area. I also saw that Puccini spent some time here. Okay, I'm in! Walked in around 7:45 and surprisingly tables were available. We booked for 8:30 but ended up returning around 8 after a short walk and not finding a bar close by for an Aperitif. Semi formal atmosphere but all were dressed casually. Beautiful frescos throughout with some Tuscan coat of arms from way back. We started with Aperitifs-Negroni and Aperol Spritz- both excellent. They had a dizzying amount of choices for Carpaccio. We decided to order the classic as well the Artichoke salad for Antipasti. Maybe being in Firenze added to the flavors of the Carpaccio but it was amazing. Artichoke salad was tasty also. Simple, quality ingredients compiled with care. Oh yes! For wine, it had to be Chianti tonight. Our server made a recommendation which didn't disappoint (Ricasoli-2019) A couple of pasta dishes for main-Tagliolini Al Funghi Porcini (light sauce with tasty mushrooms), Pappardelle Al Sugo Di Cinghiale (thicker noodles with wild Boar sauce) Both were delicious! Not much room for dessert but we couldn't pass up trying a traditional Tuscan Dolci. Cantucci e vin Santo. Dip the Cantucci (cookie with nuts similar to a Biscotti) in the Vin Santo (dessert wine) and wow! We found it was best to dip the cookie and let it sit so the wine soaks in and softens the cookie and blends in. A must try! Unexpectedly, music playing was European smooth jazz versions of hit songs like Hotel California, September, Livin on a Prayer and Satisfaction. (Might we suggest anything Italian) No outside seating and that's ok as the beautiful interior is not to be missed. Our servers took great care of us. So many great restaurants in the Duomo area, this one is a must stop!

Entrance to the restaurant
Leanh E.

My husband and I loved this place while on vacation in Florence. If you want to dine somewhere special for a lovely evening, this is your spot. It is such a beautiful restaurant that I didn't want to leave. The food is spectacular and to be honest, it was the first time in my two weeks in Italy that the coperto bread basket was actually good. If you are celebrating a special occasion or just want a nice relaxing evening, come here. This historical restaurant in Florence is not to be missed. The Gnudi I ordered was delicious with the pumpkin purée and truffle. The peppercorn sauce steak is melt in your mouth good. Next time in Florence, I am coming back.

bistecca alla fiorentina
Berta B.

This restaurant is an upscale restaurants which gets busy quickly, so reservations are recommended. I made reservations for an early lunch to avoid the crowds. The restaurant is romantic and beautiful. We ordered a bistecca alla fiorentina and some other side dishes. The star of the show was the steak, truly the best steak I've ever had. The steak comes out rare but you can cook it a little more in the hot plate they serve it In. I wouldn't over cook it though, it melts in your mouth soft when it's not overly cooked. I can't wait to go back one day!

florentine steak

very amazing steak, the ambience was awesome. service was a little slower than other spots nearby but was fitting for the size of the steak.

Pasta & Lobster

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7 years ago

I call BS.... $100 FOR 2 people. Charged us for Everything that they didn't even ask us about. And the food was sub par

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8 years ago

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9 years ago

Can I give less than one star? This place was dreadful. Rude staff, mediocre food, cheesy tourist-y atmosphere.

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

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12 years ago

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14 years ago

We stayed next door in Residenza della Signoria and they recommended this restaurant. It was nice traditional food in a good atmosphere.

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11 years ago

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the BEST #Italian food I have ever had, beef carpaccio!

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Paoli Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Paoli

My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of eating at Paoli during our first night in Florence and it was fantastic.

Mentioned in 23 reviews

Read more highlights

La Buchetta - Linguine in clam sauce

La Buchetta

4.8(310 reviews)
0.5 kmDuomo
€€€

Another excellent spot we tried in Florence. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and seated…read moreimmediately. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was Nugo. He was awesome and had us laughing the entire night. We peppered him with a lot of questions about the menu, he answered everything and also accommodated my father-in-law, who is GF. He had his own GF bread basket and was able to order almost anything on the menu. We ordered a nice bottle of Montepulciano red for the table that was $48. Others had the Hugo spritz. For app I had the anchovies with roasted red pepper, sea salt and oil over grilled crostini, very good. I skipped first course and ordered the ribeye steak for my main course. Bone in, medium rare, sprinkled with sea salt and a side of onion marmalade. The steak was very good and had way less fat than I expected. The waiter suggested a huge steak for the table, but I was the only one ordering steak that night. Maybe next time. Others ordered the fillet and it was cooked perfectly, the angels and demons gnocchi, and the veal scallopini. Everybody was pleased Really cool spot with a very good wine selection, drinks, excellent food and a fun atmosphere that you don't find at many places. Nugo was an A+ server.

Fyi there are two locations, make sure you go to the correct one (only two blocks apart)…read more Wonderful, laid back but inviting ambiance. Waiter was super friendly, taking time to explain their wines in detail and food options. They even have a kids menu with sizeable portions for older kids. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and it was definitely the best wine we had with meals in Florence. Gnocchi and wild boar taglietelle were outstanding. Had we had come earlier in our stay we might have come back again They also do a wine window which I wish I'd known about earlier because the other one we tried for fun was not good

Photos
La Buchetta - A gigantic cork arched walkway. All corks came from wine opened here.

A gigantic cork arched walkway. All corks came from wine opened here.

La Buchetta
La Buchetta

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Trattoria Zà Zà

Trattoria Zà Zà

4.2(1.7k reviews)
0.6 kmSanta Maria Novella
€€

Looking for a place to eat, found this gem and realized I wanted to try it. Everyone had told us…read moredinner reservations were a MUST here, but didn't think about it. Not many places actually have yelp reviews, but this one had so many with great feedback. The food looked amazing. When we arrived we thought they were closed, but that is because they moved to a bigger restaurant a few doors down. When we arrived at the front, the gentleman asked if we had reservations, which we didn't. He directed us to the line with no reservations. The line was a bit long, but doubled in size almost immediately. It also started pouring rain during this time and we were ALL getting drenched even with an umbrella. The non reservation line was not really moving unless people left the line. We waited a good hour. As we inched closer and closer, the lines were now both outrageous and getting seated seemed like a distant memory. The staff came out and gave out Sangria and Bread bites to help those in line feel welcome. We did finally get seated and we were so glad we waited, it was worth it! We ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, the lobster spaghettini and the chicken breast with roasted potatoes. We also ordered sangria. Everything was so good and our total was 83 €. Prices were unbelievable! We were amazed at the quality, the service and how large the restaurant they relocated to was. It was like a well oiled machine. The food coming out quickly and efficiently. I will 100% be back if I return to Florence!

What a maze of a restaurant, super interesting decor and set up. Such a cute restaurant with so…read moremany "rooms". Definitely can tell the old building and maybe they had expanded over the years. The service was amazing and the food delicious. This is one of the places that friends recommended and it's also on the list of many influencers. Tourist trappy, maybe. But the food was totally worth it. We were in the area around 4:30PM and decided to stop in, totally not expecting much as we didn't make a reservation but figured if they're open and not busy, why not give them a try. The most memorable dish we had was the appetizer we order - fried polenta with mushrooms and chicken liver pate, the polenta fried crispy, the mushrooms creamy and the chicken liver pate so smooth and savory. We also ordered 2 pasta dishes - wild boar sauce pappardelle and spaghetti alla carbonara. So tasty and with depth of flavors. Paired well with the house white wine we ordered as well. Definitely a spot you don't want to miss when in Florence.

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Trattoria Zà Zà - The African zoo room

The African zoo room

Trattoria Zà Zà - His and hers

His and hers

Trattoria Zà Zà - Boccalona style Spaghettini

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Boccalona style Spaghettini

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - Steak Florentine

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco

4.6(366 reviews)
0.5 kmPalazzo Pitti
€€

Beautiful inside, about of twists and turns and we were in the patio , at the back of the…read morerestaurant. Amazing experience ! I highly recommend this restaurant as a stop in Florence . As recommended by Stanley Tucci , we had to stop here and enjoy their amazing delicious dishes. Reservations are highly required! The staff goes out of their way to make sure you have the opportunity to enjoy your meal in Florence . Everything was delicious from the veal lombatina to the pappardelle cing, to the onion flan , to the filetto Chianti ....just delicious . Of all of Florence this was my favorite restaurant.

Believe the hype. And trust me, I was incredibly doubtful at first, afraid it would be overrated…read moregiven the absolute fandom around this being one of Stanley Tucci's go-to. On top of the pain of securing a reservation (they only take these over the phone; no online system), the only slot I could secure even as a solo diner was as soon as they opened, at 6pm, and via a bar seat. When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by several of the staff, all warm/kind. One of them offered me a table, even though I humbly mentioned I'd be fine with whatever was convenient to them. I looked around and saw what seemed to be majority American tourists so I had very standard expectations. Well, what commenced...my god. I'm getting chills now thinking about the entire experience. Just the absolute perfect dinner my first night in Florence. Everything on the menu looked fantastic and I was even tempted to order 2 Primi (pastas) but my server discouraged it, said they were quite large. Instead she guided towards the "must" appetizer, the "onion flan with pecorino cheese and truffle" followed by their signature pasta, "pappardelle with wild boar ragù" The appetizer literally brought me to tears as soon as I took a bite. I didn't think I liked truffle but this was life-changing. And the pasta was served piping hot and also to die for. I complemented the meal with a delicious glass of white and red and ended with the utterly divine tiramisu. I will be dreaming about this meal for years to come. So epic.

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Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - 6pm (1st seating upon opening was only reservation I could secure)

6pm (1st seating upon opening was only reservation I could secure)

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - Pappardelle with wild boar ragu

Pappardelle with wild boar ragu

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco - Delicious Vermentino wine

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Delicious Vermentino wine

Vini e Vecchi Sapori - Paccheri with with zucchini flower & saffron

Vini e Vecchi Sapori

4.6(322 reviews)
0.1 kmDuomo
€€

One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. No wonder it's always fully booked here!!The…read moreowner is so welcoming and kind, taking the time to introduce himself, the menu, and provide personal recommendations. The servers check in frequently and are quick to help with anything you need. The ambiance is lively with popular music, laughter, and conversation. We chatted with the table next to us on the way out and met some fellow Texans! On our way out, the owner also remembered my name and started introducing me to other tables to make friends. What a fun place to be! The food was absolutely amazing. When we saw them slicing the salami right in front of us, we decided to order the salami plate and we were so glad we did! The zucchini flower and saffron pasta was bursting with flavor and the pasta was so perfectly cooked. I couldn't get enough! The duck ragu pasta was also hearty, rich, and delicious. The sauce was so good, my family soaked up every last bit with our bread. The ricotta spinach ravioli was also amazing!! Again the sauce was such a standout. The ravioli was so fresh with the perfect amount of bite. The green pepper sauce steak was soooo good. Cooked perfectly, with such a unique sauce that the whole peppercorns added perfectly to in texture and spice. Finally, the raspberry tiramisu. We were so full, but when they set these down our dessert stomachs were ready. They were amazing! Not the strongest raspberry flavor, but still such a delicious end to the meal. Side note, you MUST have a reservation to eat here, and they only take reservations by call. Because I didn't have a way to call them, I asked my Airbnb hosts who did it for me (also amazing people). While we were eating, there was a crowd forming outside of people waiting to get in but unable to. It's so worth it to visit Vini e Vecchi Sappori! I'll definitely have to come back next time I'm in Florence.

If you're planning a trip to Florence, make the effort to book a table at Vini e Vecchi Sapori…read more It's a small, popular restaurant that only takes reservations by phone, and it does seem to book up for every meal. We had our hotel call for us when we checked in and were lucky to grab a 1:30 lunch slot on a Thursday afternoon. We saw the fat physical reservation book when we went, and also saw an attempted walk-in get turned away. We wanted to go for dinner, but I'm just glad we were able to get in at all. Vini e Vecchi Sapori was easily my favorite restaurant in Florence. I loved the cozy, vibrant dining room, snug and eclectically decorated. We were at a table so tiny, I worried about pulling a muscle when I crossed my legs. It was nestled amongst other tiny tables, and abutted a counter where plates were put out for service and the reservation book set down in its glory next to my husband's head. Service was warm, efficient, and attentive. Our waiter basically told what to order and we obeyed him, with excellent results. The one-page handwritten menu, helpfully available in English, presented the day's offerings and this preemptive list of disclaimers: No Pizza No Cappuccino No The Fork No Ice No Spritz No Ketchup FUCK CANCER There was a brief selection of Italian wines by the glass, and we got the Chianti Classico and the Bruno de Montalcino, both lovely. The food was delicious, starting with good bread and good olive oil. We ordered the mixed Tuscany salami and the beef carpaccio as appetizers, and they were both superb and not in the least bit redundant. There were four or five types of salami, every one of them fantastic, and I loved the thin, silky carpaccio, served with rucola, parmesan, olive oil, and black pepper. We shared two splendid pastas, spinach ricotta ravioli in a creamy rose tomato sauce and a hearty pappardelle with duck ragu. For dessert, we had the lush, irresistible raspberries tiramisu. I plan to come back to Florence one day, and will make a point of coming back to Vini e Vecchi Sapori. It's a special restaurant, the kind you hope to find in Italy, a welcoming place with lively ambiance and wonderful food.

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Vini e Vecchi Sapori
Vini e Vecchi Sapori - Pappardelle with duck ragu

Pappardelle with duck ragu

Vini e Vecchi Sapori - Peposo

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Peposo

Trattoria dall'Oste

Trattoria dall'Oste

4.3(404 reviews)
0.1 kmDuomo
€€€€

Excellent food and service! Bistecca Fiorentina was perfect and wine suggestion from our server…read moreperfectly complimented the meal. Wonderful dining experience

We went here for a nice steak dinner. It was recommended to us by one of our tour guides. The…read moreambience was nice, but the food was not good. We ordered steak frites and fries. We asked for the steak to be cook medium well with only a little bit of pink. Unfortunately, it came out bloody and raw. We had to send it back to be cooked again. The fries and steak needed a lot of salt. Once the steak came out again, it was still pinker than we liked, but we tried to eat it. It was really fatty and rubbery. It wasn't because it was cooked that way. Our friends ordered steak and they like it rare. They said their steak was rubbery too. The service was also lacking. The server disappeared and never checked back with us on the food. Then, they tried to overcharge us by $40. I pointed out the error and they only partially fixed it. I had to have them correct it again. There was no apology for their error or food. We were disappointed with the quality, service and price. The next day we went to another steak place we saw two doors away from that place. It was called La Cantinetta Osteria con Cucina. It wasn't busy or fancy, but the food and service was amazing. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a real steak with good service. I would go there in a heartbeat if I am ever in Firenze again.

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Trattoria dall'Oste - Interior

Interior

Trattoria dall'Oste - Spaghetti with Clams

Spaghetti with Clams

Trattoria dall'Oste - Wagyu steak

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Wagyu steak

La Giostra - My steak cooked perfectly and flavored just enough to be fabulous.

La Giostra

4.2(798 reviews)
0.5 kmDuomo
€€€€

By far one of the most highly recommended restaurants when we were making our plans for Florence…read more Highly recommend making a reservation because the wait without one would have been quite long. This restaurant is such a VIBE. Cozy, romantic and a total scene. Service was great as was the food. It was tough because there was so much on the menu that I wanted to try but we couldn't not order the pear ravioli and the Florentine steak. If I went back I would want to try the ossobuco which I saw at the table next to us and looked dynamite. If you only had one night in Florence this is the restaurant I would recommend.

Food was good but not necessarily the best we had in Florence. Given the reviews and the price I…read morewas hoping for a supreme experience. I shared two pasta dishes with my daughter (the handmade Pappardelle with Maremman Wild Boar Ragu and the Carbonara). Both were very good but not the best we've had. Appetizers were good: Salad with pecorino cheese, oranges, pine nuts and walnuts. We ordered the Octopus appetizer as well. The Octopus was beautifully prepared and presented, but didn't have much flavor. They nailed the Espresso Martini! One of the best I've ever had! We ordered the huge Florentine steak to share between 4 of us and it was more than enough. Ultimately what knocked this review down to 3 stars and what was really disappointing was how they targeted us as tourists with the note at the bottom of the bill (see picture). It read "GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED" in all CAPITAL LETTERS. Also note it was the only thing in English on the entire bill. If it had been our first meal in Florence we might have fallen for this tactic, however it was our last. There's definitely some hostility towards tourists in Florence. Don't get me wrong, some of the people and restaurants we've visited have been very welcoming and friendly. However we recently saw tourist taxes go up significantly, and then you see tricks like this on the bill at La Giostra. This was the ONLY restaurant in Florence where we encountered this. Once jet fuel prices make flying a relic of the past I would argue that some Europeans who depend on tourists for their livelihood may not miss our presence but will certainly miss our spending. Save your money and go research the many other places to eat while in Florence.

Photos
La Giostra - Vibes

Vibes

La Giostra - Steak

Steak

La Giostra - Interior

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Interior

Trattoria Giovanni - Tiramisu

Trattoria Giovanni

4.6(219 reviews)
0.9 kmPalazzo Pitti
€€

Cozy restaurant! I had ossobucco (lamb) and my son had fresh pasta with beef cheeks, both were…read moredelicious!! We also had dessert and white wine! Staff attended us well. We would go back again!

We had a lovely dinner at Trattoria Giovanni. We loved how cozy, spacious, and genuinely local it…read morefelt, like eating at your grandma's house. It's close enough to the lively, bustling part of Firenze to feel connected, yet just far enough to escape the city's never-ending wave of tourists. The service was incredible, and the owner (I'm pretty sure it was the owner?) brought so much energy that he single-handedly turned the whole place into an eclectic little spot during the "rush hour" of the evening. The menu was solid, if a bit "generic" at times. While everything we ordered was delicious, nothing at Trattoria Giovanni felt like a dish you couldn't find elsewhere... and honestly, that's perfectly fine! It was traditional, comforting, and exactly what we were craving. The plate of cured meats and cheese was phenomenal, a great start to the meal. The pastas were really good as well, though one of the meat dishes had a slightly off texture, with the chunks of meat a bit overcooked. All in all, we loved our meal and would definitely recommend this spot if you're in Florence.

Photos
Trattoria Giovanni - Exceptional service with great music selection! Every moment in this restaurant felt like being with a party of friends.

Exceptional service with great music selection! Every moment in this restaurant felt like being with a party of friends.

Trattoria Giovanni - Bistecca alla Fiorentina Chianina

Bistecca alla Fiorentina Chianina

Trattoria Giovanni - Bisetecca Florentino YUM!!

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Bisetecca Florentino YUM!!

Paoli - tuscan - Updated May 2026

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