There are so many choices to choose from. I found a business that had mostly locals having lunch…read more I ordered a tomato pasta, a side of tripe, vegetables and potatoes. The portions are a good size , I finished the tripe and vegetables. Ate half of the pasta and potatoes. The service was quick and very effective. They have tables and chairs for their customers to set, enjoy their lunch and beer or wine.

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 brought my friends here thinking we were going to a rooftop bar. It wasn't quite that, but a…read moredecent spot to sit and have a drink. Since it is a library there were a lot of students studying.

This cafeteria worked perfectly for our schedule. We had a day trip to Florence from Siena. In the…read moremorning we visited the Uffizi Gallery and in the afternoon the Accademia Gallery Museum, so were planning to have lunch someplace near the Duomo. A friend whose daughter had studied at the university in Florence suggested this cafeteria. Outstanding location, nice outside seating with a view of the very close Duomo, solid value fare, and surprisingly friendly service. FOOD: 3.5. Excellent value. - Pasta Ragout. Very good. - Spaghetti with cherry tomatoes. Very good. We also had two espressos. AMBIANCE: 4.0. Inside and outside (covered) seating. Outside has view of Duomo. Pleasant. SERVICE: 4.0. Considerate and prompt. After ordering and paying, we sat at an outside table. Our order was then brought to us. NOTE: Google maps gave us walking directions that took us to opposite side of block from entrance, so we walked around block until we found the entrance. Upon entering the university grounds the cafeteria can be a challenge to find; we had to ask someone.

I give these guys a solid 5 stars. Now that I have moved back to this neighborhood, my morning…read morecoffee stop is without a doubt Piansa - which is a fairly new shop. I call it "coffee with the newsies". Always greeted with a smile from either a groovy pair of glasses or a couple friendly guys with newsboy caps. It's definitely hipster and the decor reminds me of a cosy brooklyn coffee shop. My kinda place. I have become a regular and I might add that the coffee is quite good as I take my espresso senza zucchero (without sugar) so I really experience the taste of every coffee i drink and this coffee is smooth! They also have a lovely selection of morning pastries. Yesterday I finally stopped with a friend for aperativo. Good move. We had some nice apero spritz and they brought us a charcuterie tray. We had some fun conversation with the newsies and were asked to sign their espresso machine. Christened as regulars!! Great way to start out our night. Of course I have already been back today for my morning coffee.

Really cute cafe just a little ways from the amazing bakery up the street. The baristas are well…read moremannered and snappy and the espresso very clean, creamy and light. My espresso was out in a minute after ordering, and I shot mine down with some Italians from the neighborhood. There isn't quite enough room at the bar to drink, but if you sit down you'll be charged a fee, so the cafe is best if you're looking for a quick espresso, unless you plan on staying there long term and sitting down to eat, read, relax. It was fairly quiet in the cafe, so it'd make for a good place to work or catch up with a friend.

So great! This place was located right next to our Airbnb so we hung out here while we waited for…read moreour host. The owner was so helpful! We ordered our food, he explained each dish to us, and gave us extra fruit in our sangrias haha. When we asked him what sights we should see if we're on a time constraint, he brought us a map and showed us exactly where we should go. He even helped me with my Italian aha. The food though was also amazing, bruschetta was to die for, especially the proscuitto, and the pesto! When it was time to go, he served us and some other travelers a lemoncello shot, and we all cheers-ed and took one together. Definitely will be back when I travel though Florence again! :)

Excellent place for coffee or a quick lunch. Had both and loved the food and coffee. The host is an…read moreamazingly friendly person. And speaks English. No charge for sitting and having a coffee. Highly recommend.

I came to Florence not for tourism but for a conference and for working in labs . I was finally…read moredone today and wanted to have a quiet drink to celebrate the work that our team accomplished. Everywhere in Florence were mine of tourists. I had passed by Scudieri every day for two weeks and hadn't gone in. I walked in and noticed there was a bar after I was at the dessert cases. The tall young bartender asked what I wanted and I didn't want something as strong as a martini but wanted something gin based. He asked me if I liked basil and I do, so he made a really beautiful gin-basil cocktail. It was AMAZING. Absolutely amazing. If I come back here, I will definitely stop in earlier than later. Bravo bartender, that was talent.

Another reason to get out early and start the touring. So many tasty looking pastries and a…read moreCappuccino of course. We are learning as we go to save a little by not seating by drinking and eating standing.

This is a cute, reasonably priced cafe. We grabbed a cappuccino and a vanilla iced latte, along…read morewith avocado and tomato toast. Each tasted great. It is on the smaller side so it gets pretty cozy once all the seats fill up with the line at the front.

The food was definitely delicious! I'm not usually a sweet breakfast or pancake kind of girl, but I…read morehave to admit, the pancakes were amazing. The coffee, however, tasted more like a cup of milk, so that could've been better. My 3-star rating has nothing to do with the ambiance and everything to do with trying to fairly balance the quality of the food with the absolutely terrible customer service I experienced. The tall, darker-haired barista taking orders was genuinely one of the rudest people I have ever encountered. After reading through other reviews, I can see I'm clearly not the only person who has had an unpleasant experience with him. While I was simply trying to place my order, he was raising his voice at me and speaking in such a disrespectful, condescending manner that I genuinely felt belittled. The interaction was so uncomfortable that other customers inside were watching the entire exchange. To make matters worse, when my name was called to pick up my food, I noticed my order was incorrect. Rather than interrupt him while he was helping other customers, I politely waited for him to finish. He looked directly at me and aggressively yelled, "SPEAK!" Excuse me? Would you like me to bark? There is absolutely no reason to speak to a paying customer that way, especially one who has been nothing but polite and patient. What makes this even more disappointing is that my friend, who used to live here, was genuinely excited to bring me to this spot. Unfortunately, what should have been a lovely breakfast experience turned into one of the most uncomfortable customer service encounters I've ever had. It's a shame because the food really is good, but good food does not excuse disrespectful service. Hospitality is just as important as what you put on the plate. I definitely won't be returning, and judging by the similar reviews, this is clearly something that should be taken into consideration. Do better.

This new café has just opened up in this attractive downtown space, known still by locals as the…read more"Casa della Creatività". The courtyard has been brightened up with planters containing fruits and vegetable plants. The inside is larger than it used to be as offices have been moved out. The bar provides gluten free, organic food. It has just opened and so far I have only been to an aperitivo so I will have to review again when I can come to lunch here! I have always eaten at the bar at this location when there has been one so I hope it stands up to the location :)

We went here on our last night in Florence and they had the most delicious gelato we had on our…read morewhole trip! They had tons of great flavor choices and their portion sizes were very generous! They also had great prices! The staff were all so friendly and recommended flavors to us. We really enjoyed this gelato and wish we went more times when we were there!

HAVE AGAIN: Very good gelato. Coppa grande was just right…read more NOT HAVE AGAIN: Tiramisu gelato was too coffee-flavored.

Caffe Megara and I go WAY back. I used to come here 10 years ago when I was in Florence doing a…read morestudy abroad program. I would come after school for a coffee. One of the best things about this bar is the amazing 70s/80s vintage music that they play on their TVs. I laugh every time I come in, because the music is so outrageous, even in my most serious and depressive moments, it cracks me up listening to whaM! and AbbA, music I haven't heard in ages. I almost always come in the mornings now, so I am not sure about the food or aperitivo. But this place is usually filled with people eating lunch or breakfast, so they must be doing something right. The prices are standard bar prices, beware that they do have different prices if you sit at a table. So sit at the bar if you don't want to pay 3 euro for a cappuccino. Free wifi, very comfortable seating, even during the rush hour mornings I can always find a place to sit. Very friendly staff, very attentive and very easy, in the sense that when you come in you are greeted in a friendly manner and can order and pay with out searching out a waiter or wondering where to sit or where to find a menu ... Love it!! I am a friday morning regular : )

Gross! Smells like cigarettes and is dark and dank inside. The prices here are cheap but you get…read morewhat you pay for. The chocolate croissant looked good but was hard and tasted stale. The ham and cheese croissant was underdone, cold, hard and stale. Everything tasted like it was made last week. There are plenty of other cafes to go to!! Go somewhere else!