Top 5 Pasta Dishes in Florence
Don't be upsetti, eat some spaghetti.
by TAYLER BRADFORD ★ MAY 31, 2018
As you walk down Florence’s cobble stone streets and look up at the Duomo, you hear a local musician. The smell of pasta, pizza and gelato fills the air. Every two steps you take, a different restaurant comes into view. In the mood for pasta? Here are the top 5 places in Florence.
1. La Giostra
Borgo Pinti, 10,18 Rosso, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy
Reservation Needed - +39 055 241341
This hot spot is definitely on the fancier and expensive side, but nonetheless, a must-see. With firefly lights lining the ceiling, La Giostra exudes a relaxing, romantic atmosphere. You even get a bubbly glass of Prosecco when you sit down. Go here for a special occasion, maybe when your family is visiting, your birthday is coming up or you are going on a date.
Make sure to order the pear ravioli! It is absolutely unreal. The wine is a bit pricey, so if you’re trying to save some money definitely go for the house wine.
2. Trattoria San Lorenzo
Borgo S. Lorenzo, 53R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
No Reservation Needed - +39 055 267 0414
After a long day spent at the leather market, stop by Trattoria San Lorenzo on your way home. Start off with a caprese salad accompanied by a refreshing glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Not only is the mozzarella is super fresh, but it quite possibly may be the best mozzarella you will ever have. Finish your meal off with the spinach ravioli. La pasta è deliziosa!
3. Osteria Santo Spirito
Piazza Santo Spirito, 16/R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Reservation Needed - +39 055 238 2383
If you spend the day at Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, head to Osteria Santo Spirito for dinner. Across the Arno, this restaurant is a little smooched, so try to snag a table outside. When you get there, you will immediately smell something amazing. That’s the truffle gnocchi. Even though it comes out sizzling, you may catch yourself taking a bite when it’s still too hot because you cannot resist the temptation. Soaked in creamy, white sauce, this gnocchi is mouthwatering. And with truffle sprinkled on top, this dish is even better than it sounds.
On your way back home, stop by Gelateria La Carraia. It’s only a five minute walk from the restaurant.
4. Osteria delle Tre Panche
Via Antonio Pacinotti, 32/R, 50131 Firenze FI, Italy
Reservation Needed - +39 055 583724
Less than a 10 minute walk from Syracuse University Florence, Tre Panche serves the best truffle ravioli in Italy. The sauce is thick, smooth and beyond satisfying. Super tiny, this restaurant only features three benches for seating, hence the name “tre panche” which means three benches in Italian. Although the restaurant is small, the environment is intimate. Afterward, head to Badiani’s for gelato, or if you're in the mood for a canoli, stop by Caffè Lorenzo - Viale Volta, only a five minute walk from the restaurant!
5. Ristorante Il Profeta
Borgo Ognissanti, 93/r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Reservation Needed - +39 055 212265
Let’s talk about that tiny portion of wide pasta drenched in sauce you have definitely seen on your Insta feed. Known for its John Travolta pasta dish, this restaurant serves aesthetically pleasing dishes. Take a look at that beautiful rose tomato. People tend to split the dish because it’s on the expensive side, which is why it seems so tiny on social media. But fear not, the dish is exquisite and filling. Not to mention, the staff brings you perfectly toasted bread to dip in the leftover sauce. You won’t want to leave a drop leftover.
One of Italy’s most favorable qualities is the freshness of its food. If you eat at these restaurants, you will never want to eat pasta in America again.