My tips
Food Scene
Restaurants &c
This is my favorite market in Florence, small but with the best choice of all kinds of regional food, bread, fruits and vegetables. Out of the common touristic routes it still keeps the atmosphere of a traditional market (some spots are kept by immigrants, which is awkward in Florence, since we have no traditional foreign communities). Try the street food (lampredotto is a must, a couple of places to choose within the market, or in the vicinity)
405 locals recommend
Sant'Ambrogio Market
Piazza Lorenzo GhibertiThis is my favorite market in Florence, small but with the best choice of all kinds of regional food, bread, fruits and vegetables. Out of the common touristic routes it still keeps the atmosphere of a traditional market (some spots are kept by immigrants, which is awkward in Florence, since we have no traditional foreign communities). Try the street food (lampredotto is a must, a couple of places to choose within the market, or in the vicinity)
It's right nextdoor to the apartment, owners are very nice and updated on the best local organic wines. Good music, sometimes with a live dj act
6 locals recommend
Vineria Sonora
39 r Via degli AlfaniIt's right nextdoor to the apartment, owners are very nice and updated on the best local organic wines. Good music, sometimes with a live dj act
top products, small shop with a tiny tea-room, very good and quick service make it the most appreciated pastry shop downtown
33 locals recommend
Pasticceria Nencioni
24 Via Pietrapianatop products, small shop with a tiny tea-room, very good and quick service make it the most appreciated pastry shop downtown
Il Pizzaiuolo
113r Via dei Maccibest pizza around here -- Neapolitan style
I' Trippaio Di Sant'Ambrogio
Piazza Lorenzo GhibertiFlorence street food
Il Giova
73R Borgo la CroceSmall place, excellent traditional food, nice people, reasonable prices.
Very good cuisine, not just tradizional, excellent pizzas, soft lights.
52 locals recommend
Cucineria La Mattonaia
19R Via della MattonaiaVery good cuisine, not just tradizional, excellent pizzas, soft lights.
Situated on top of the Museo degli Innocenti, here you can eat a dish or drink a coffee under a vast balcony while admiring the beauty of Florence rooftops.
27 locals recommend
Caffè del Verone
13 Piazza della Santissima AnnunziataSituated on top of the Museo degli Innocenti, here you can eat a dish or drink a coffee under a vast balcony while admiring the beauty of Florence rooftops.
Gelateria dei Neri
9 Via dei NeriIce cream
I' Ritrovino De' Servi Di Manetti Simone
89 Via dei ServiFlorence street food
Among the best neapolitan pizza in town, ten minutes walk from your apartment
16 locals recommend
Pizzeria O'Vesuvio
21r Via dei CimatoriAmong the best neapolitan pizza in town, ten minutes walk from your apartment
One of the best restaurants in town, with a top choice of Tuscan wines -- at the price good food and good wine deserve -- must book: it is usually crowded.
293 locals recommend
Il Santo Bevitore
64r Via Santo SpiritoOne of the best restaurants in town, with a top choice of Tuscan wines -- at the price good food and good wine deserve -- must book: it is usually crowded.
one of my favourites wine shops, excellent finger food -- very small, often crowded
89 locals recommend
Le Volpi e l'Uva
1R Piazza dei Rossione of my favourites wine shops, excellent finger food -- very small, often crowded
The typical Florentine Trattoria, very cheap and loved by locals
103 locals recommend
Trattoria Sabatino
2R Via PisanaThe typical Florentine Trattoria, very cheap and loved by locals
Sangelato
17R Via Marco MinghettiVery good, fresh, big and creamy icecream
Vineria Sonora
39 r Via degli AlfaniEssentials
Close to the house and with a decent choice of Tuscan and Italian food
341 locals recommend
CONAD CITY
42 Via PietrapianaClose to the house and with a decent choice of Tuscan and Italian food
Best supermarket, best food (also regional), although this one is not the biggest
224 locals recommend
Esselunga di via Masaccio
274 Via MasaccioBest supermarket, best food (also regional), although this one is not the biggest
Coop
48 Via CimabueLarger market with food items of top quality
Carrefour Express
66 Via dell' OriuoloSmaller supermarket with items of decent quality
Arts & Culture
Great collection of large prehistoric fossil vertebrates (mammoths, sabertooth tigers, whales etc.), all from Tuscany, or from Florence itself
7 locals recommend
Museum of Natural History - Section of Geology and Paleontology
4 Via Giorgio la PiraGreat collection of large prehistoric fossil vertebrates (mammoths, sabertooth tigers, whales etc.), all from Tuscany, or from Florence itself
I love Renaissance art, Beato Angelico paintings, the intimacy of the architecture, and I love this museum not so crowded by tourists
125 locals recommend
San Marco Museum
3 Piazza San MarcoI love Renaissance art, Beato Angelico paintings, the intimacy of the architecture, and I love this museum not so crowded by tourists
Another small art museum with an excellent offer, and no tourist masses around
17 locals recommend
Horne Museum
6 Via dei BenciAnother small art museum with an excellent offer, and no tourist masses around
Fascinating old-style museum, with a huge variety of artifacts from all over the world, a testimony to the 19th Century Florentine tradition to explore the world and Natural History
18 locals recommend
Museo di Anthropology and Ethnology
12 Via del ProconsoloFascinating old-style museum, with a huge variety of artifacts from all over the world, a testimony to the 19th Century Florentine tradition to explore the world and Natural History
It hosts the incerdible collection of arms and costumes ammassed by Frederick Stibbert (1838-1906) -- children will love it!
143 locals recommend
Stibbert Museum
26 Via Federico StibbertIt hosts the incerdible collection of arms and costumes ammassed by Frederick Stibbert (1838-1906) -- children will love it!
Everything Else
Braumeister
12/R Via Madonna della TosseWide choice of craft beers. Also the food is good.
Via Jacopo Nardi
Via Jacopo NardiJust for parking
Drinks & Nightlife
Some good music or other cultural offers for free (not every night), while drinking a beer in a neighborhood that gets busy at night
124 locals recommend
La Cité - Libreria Café
20/R Borgo S. FredianoSome good music or other cultural offers for free (not every night), while drinking a beer in a neighborhood that gets busy at night
Parks & Nature
One of the oldest botanical gardens of the worlds. Small, in need of cure, but still charming
75 locals recommend
Orto Botanico di Firenze
3 Via Pier Antonio MicheliOne of the oldest botanical gardens of the worlds. Small, in need of cure, but still charming
Sightseeing
This square and its church remain in the heart of the people of Florence. The arcade of the Istituto degli Innocenti, along one of the sides of the square, is the early masterpiece of Filippo Brunnelleschi (before he built the dome). Inside the immense baroque church, I love Andrea del Castagno's San Girolamo, a great overlooked example of Renaissance art. Don't miss the Museum degl'Innocenti, if you have time.
53 locals recommend
Piazza Della Santissima Annunziata
Piazza della SS. AnnunziataThis square and its church remain in the heart of the people of Florence. The arcade of the Istituto degli Innocenti, along one of the sides of the square, is the early masterpiece of Filippo Brunnelleschi (before he built the dome). Inside the immense baroque church, I love Andrea del Castagno's San Girolamo, a great overlooked example of Renaissance art. Don't miss the Museum degl'Innocenti, if you have time.