Alexander Meddings
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10 Guests Max
3 hrs
Flexible TravelIf there’s one dish that symbolises hearty Tuscan cuisine it’s the Florentine steak (bistecca alla fiorentina). Stubbornly served rare, this juicy chunk of T-bone is a simple yet delicious dish, at most drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and a side of fries, roast potatoes, or white cannellini beans.
Restaurants all across Florence feature Florentine steak on their menu, but only a select few are actually worth trying. After all, if you’re going to savour a sizeable steak you may seek out the best.
Florentine steak should be at least four fingers tall. Anything less is a carpaccio. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina comes from the Chianina cow, the most revered breed beyond the borders of India.
Florentine steak is always rare and bloody. Ask for it well done and you’re guaranteed to upset your waiter and likely to receive a crash course in Italian swearing. That’s because overcooking a Florentine steak ruins the meat, making it tough as leather (sinful in a country that takes its cooking as seriously as its Catholicism).
You typically order your steak by the kilogram, which costs anywhere from €35 – 50. Don’t ask for sauce. Don’t even think about it. A sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil is all you’ll get – and all you’ll need.
Finally, keep your side dishes simple: roast potatoes (or chips if you’re feeling sinful), sautéed spinach, or white cannellini beans are the perfect sides for a sinfully delicious steak.
Located a stone’s throw from Florence’s Central Market, this small family-run restaurant has been a staple in Florence’s steak scene for more than 70 years. It doesn’t take bookings, and you can expect to sit packed in next to others as you chomp through your Florentine steak, but trust us when we say that it’s 100% worth it.
Mario’s menu changes every day, but Florentine steak, ragù, and ribollita always feature. If you’d like to watch a 25-minute Italian documentary — and let’s face it, who doesn’t — made in celebration of Trattoria Mario’s 60th anniversary then check out the video below.
Open: Monday - Saturday 12 pm - 3 pm (also open 7:30 - 10 pm on Thursdays and Fridays)
Only certified local products feature among the three-restaurant I Tuscani franchise. Its meat-heavy menu is typically Tuscan and includes tartare, lampredotto meatballs, and fillets or sirloin cuts with optional truffle sauce. All steaks are cut from the Chianina, Maremmana or Pisana breeds, guaranteeing quality, but be sure to try its meat (salumi) cheese (formaggi) platters too.
Open: Thursday - Monday 12 pm - 2:30 pm and 6 pm - 11 pm
Florentine Steak at I Tuscani
Florentine Steak and Chips at I Tuscani
You would usually do well to avoid restaurants situated right in the city centre and overlooking one of its main monuments. But despite its location across the street from the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Trattoria Sergio Gozzi is a historic, simple, unpretentious eatery that specialises in local hearty pasta and meat dishes.
You can spot this unassuming trattoria a mile off because of the line snaking out of its doorway around lunchtime, and that’s because Trattoria Sergio Gozzi does not take reservations. But don’t let the long line put you off. This long-standing trattoria offers one of the most homely, hearty and reasonably-priced dining experiences in Florence, and its steak is simply to die for.
Open: Monday - Saturday 12 pm - 3 pm
Situated close to the centre and the Basilica of Santa Croce and yet far enough away from the tourist traps of the centre, Da Que’ Ganzi is a firm favourite for Florentine steak and other meaty Tuscan dishes.
Local, seasonal ingredients take centre stage here, resulting in a regularly changing menu. The Florentine steak is a staple, however, and consists of either a T or L bone cooked on coals. Head chef and sommelier Domenico is always on hand to recommend the right wine to pair with it.
Open: Thursday - Monday, 12 pm - 2 pm, 7 pm - 10 pm; Wednesday 7 pm - 10 pm
For finer dining away from the hustle and bustle of Florence’s city centre, you can do no better than Perseus. Situated a 15-minute walk from the Duomo, just off Piazza della Libertà, this traditional Tuscan steakhouse is the best in the business for Florentine steak and fresh, seasonal sides.
Interior of Perseus Restaurant in Florence
While its online presence is lacking (and likely not needed since word of mouth does the job), Perseus’ Instagram page gives a good idea of what you’ll get.
Open: Monday - Saturday 12 pm - 2:30 pm, 7 pm - 11 pm
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Nowhere does food like Florence. Voted the best city in the world for food, the Tuscan capital specialises in hearty meat dishes and full-bodied wines that charm the palates of all who visit. Our Florence Food Tour takes you on a culinary journey through the artisan district of Oltrarno to sample the best of Tuscan cuisine and eat and drink like a local in Florence!
After whetting your appetite with crispy schiacciata bread, and light, fruity Chianti wine (or non-alcoholic options for our sober friends!), you’ll be indulging in Florence’s local food culture in a local trattoria. Your foodie guide will share all their expertise about the history and evolution of Florence’s traditional cucina povera and introduce you to the most famous dishes in Florence and the locals who make them. Come curious, but most of all come hungry.
Perfect for families, foodies, and anyone looking for a unique experience in Florence, our Food Tour of Florence is packed full of personal stories and insider recommendations. Book now as spaces fill up fast!
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Enjoy Traditional Drinks and Scandalous Stories in the Heart of the Renaissance City.
This isn’t your typical tour. The Tipsy Tour in Florence is the perfect blend of fascinating history, tasty drinks, and making memories with newfound friends. Explore the vibrant nightlife of the Renaissance City and sample signature Italian cocktails, wine, and shots. Along the way you’ll hear about Florence’s less savoury past with some saucy stories and dark history, all the while getting tipsy of course! This tour is all about bringing people together so if alcohol isn’t your thing, not to worry! We’ve got some alcohol-free options for travellers who want the social experience without the hangover.
Your fun-loving guide will wow you with scandals from Florence’s history. Sip away as you learn the life stories of some of Florence’s most notorious figures. The Medici are a great starting point – specifically, Catherine de Medici, believed by many to have had a penchant for poison and a dabble in the dark arts.
As we travel from bar to bar, tracing the steps of prisoners and sex workers alike, your guide will immerse you in the bloody tale of the Pazzi Conspiracy, where Lorenzo de Medici and his entourage were attacked in Florence’s cathedral during High Mass on Easter Sunday. Then you’ll find out what happened to the Pazzi family, too.
Spoiler alert – it was way worse.
During the experience, we’ll visit at least two vibrant bars and enjoy drink stops outside famous sights. Plus, we’ll order shots from a wine window on the street, like a true Florentine. You might wonder why wine from a window never became a worldwide phenomenon, and trust us – we don’t know either.
When the Tipsy Tour is over, the night out officially begins. We’ll enjoy the city long into the night, making unforgettable memories with our Tipsy besties.
Spaces fill up fast, so book your Florence Tipsy Tour today!
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Florence’s Accademia Gallery houses one of Europe’s richest collections of art and sculpture. Hone in on its highlights on a tailored tour and come face to face with the world’s most famous sculpture: Michelangelo’s David.
This private Accademia tour is perfect for art enthusiasts looking to broaden their knowledge and fill in the gaps. It covers the evolution of western art from the Giotto’s gilt gold of the Florentine Gothic to Botticelli and Lippi’s humanist masterpieces the High Renaissance.
See for yourself why the statue of David is considered one of the most life-like sculptures ever carved and learn the historical context that saw the Florentines adopt the biblical David as the symbol of their city.
Learn about the artists behind the work, their history and the techniques they used. Gain insider knowledge of lesser-known works like Michelangelo’s Prisoners or Slaves, and enjoy free time at the end of the tour to wander through the museum at your own pace.
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Most people are familiar with the Uffizi’s international reputation as a gallery. Its halls house masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, and Caravaggio. But the Uffizi didn’t start life as a gallery. Deriving its name from the Middle Italian for ‘the Offices’, this 16th-century complex constitutes the most beautiful and architecturally innovative administrative office complex ever designed. And while going into the office isn’t something you typically associate with being on holiday, here you must make an exception.
The Uffizi was designed by the architect and biographer Giorgio Vasari, under the patronage of Cosimo I. After Cosimo died, his heirs lost interest in politics. His eldest son, Francesco I, brought his private collection of artworks and made the Uffizi his private museum. The collection they accumulated over the coming centuries is what you see today.
And our private tour of the Uffizi brings you face to face with its highlights.
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Every cobble in Florence tells a story. Its 14th-century walls contain such a wealth of archaeological and artistic treasures that the city centre itself is a UNESCO site – a global centre of cultural importance. This private walking tour of Florence tells the story of Renaissance city through the monuments it leaves behind.
Accompanied by your expert, licensed guide, you’ll explore Florence’s streets and discover its attractions, being transported through its illustrious history – from its founding as a Roman colony through to its patronage by medieval Europe’s most powerful bankers and merchants (not least the infamous Medici).
Your private walking tour takes you through Florence’s world-famous sites. Gaze up at Brunelleschi’s 15th-century Duomo – the dome of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – and the Golden Doors of Paradise on its adjacent Baptistery. Learn to decipher the symbols and reliefs that adorn the Tower of Giotto beside the Duomo and learn why the Florentine’s chose them and what they said about their city.
Stroll past Piazza della Repubblica, Italy’s most important square in the mid 1800s when Florence was the country’s capital, and admire the statues that line the niches of the nearby Church of Orsanmichele. Florence’s most picturesque piazza lies just a short stroll away: Piazza della Signoria, in the background of which loom the medieval fortress of Palazzo Vecchio and the Renaissance offices converted into the world’s most famous gallery: the Uffizi.
Head through the vaulted arches of the Uffizi and you arrive at Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous bridge, which dates back in its current form to the days of the Medici. Absorb its rich history, and some of its seldom shared secrets, as your expert guide shares their expertise and answers all your questions.
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