Like most major Italian tourist destinations, dining in Florence can range from the sublime to the dispiriting, so it pays to do a little research before you arrive. The Tuscans love their bread, and reuse it in simple-yet-delicious dishes such as panzanella (bread salad with tomatoes and basil) and pappa al pomodoro (a bread and tomato soup). They are also big on meat, from wild boar sausages to and the famous bistecca alla fiorentina; a slab of beef faultlessly grilled over hot coals (one serving is often enough for two). Other chalkboard classics to consider include pici, a light, flour and water pasta (it leaves room for the main event, you see) and ribollita, a hearty bean soup. Trattoria Del Fagioli Corso Tintori, 47r, Tel. + 39 055 244 285 “You won’t find international cooking here, because we have no interest in making it,” Antonio of Del Fagioli has stated. “This is Florentine cooking.” The family-run Trattoria Del Fagioli is one of Florence’s oldest and most well loved restaurants, the type where the clientele spans the full run of society, from celebrities and businessmen to clued-up tourists and local office workers. The cram into Del Fagioli’s simple, wood-paneled rooms ...

There are many excellent restaurants in the Santo Spirito district of Florence and below is a select list of what is generally considered to be the finest: • Caffè Pitti overlooks the stunning Piazza Pitti and is a mix of a restaurant, a tea room, a coffee-shop, and a bar. The interior décor is phenomenally elegant and contains fabulous furniture, magnificent mirrors and loads of fascinating ornaments. Astrology is a key element of the restaurant and there are Tarot card readings and various astrologers to entertain diners on Wednesdays; on Friday and Saturday nights there is good live music. The food at Caffè Pitti includes a mix of pasta dishes and a variety of grilled meats, complemented by antipasti and some outstanding desserts. • Tratorria Omero is on Via Pian dei Giullari and offers two dining areas and superb Tuscan cuisine that is complemented by the freshest of ingredients. In this delightful restaurant, there is a wonderful choice of oils, vegetables and meats that is savoured whilst enjoying magical views. To wash down the fabulous food, the wine cellar stores some excellent local wines offering a choice of two hundred labels. • Osteria Santo Spirito is located at Piazza Santo Spirito ...