Where to Find the Best Pasta in Florence: Ultimate Guide for 2025

Share This Article

There’s not one single city in Italy where you won’t find pasta; it’s a household staple of Italian cuisine. 

In saying that, each region and city is usually famous for a particular type of pasta. In Florence and Tuscany, the traditional pasta is typically (1) pici, a strand that looks similar to spaghetti, but is thicker and with more bite to it; and then (2) pappardelle, the wider, flat ribbon pasta shape. Pappardelle in Florence is classically accompanied by a ragu sauce, and comes with meat (wild boar is especially popular). 

I love pici as I appreciate how it has more bounce than your ordinary spaghetti — which I don’t go mad for, particularly when it’s not al dente is even worse. 

When considering pasta etiquette, there’s some important Italian cultural nuances which every traveler should know. Pasta, in general, is reserved as a first course, so you’ll notice many restaurant menus are set out this way.

If you’re planning a trip to Florence, you’ll want to keep this guide handy. In short, I’ll be ranking the best pasta restaurants in Florence!

1. Alla Vecchia Bettola: For the best bowl of penne alla vodka 

Two words: vodka pasta! 

While it can be difficult to find a table at Alla Vecchia Bettola (the homely ristorante is not overly massive), it’s all very much worth it if you’re keen on a bowl of their famous pasta dish! Plus, most times it’s full to the brim with locals — which is very telling. 

Its iconic penne alla bettola, or, penne alla vodka, is tomato-based, creamy, and contains the hero ingredient: vodka. It’s always done with penne. It’s become such a household name, that if you want to recreate the recipe yourself at home and Google ‘vodka pasta,’ the restaurant’s name always follows any online recipe!

In my opinion, there really is no other restaurant to visit for the best pasta in Florence, vodka penne-style. 

2. Trattoria Mario: For the best pappardelle al ragu

Fuss-free like all great trattorias, this next spot has been serving the people of Firenze and the city’s visitors since 1953. Right near the bustling San Lorenzo, i.e., the Central Market, it’s not just the foot traffic which brings in customers. I love this trattoria for its laid-back atmosphere which makes you feel personally invited to indulge in a bowl of pasta.

What’s the one pasta dish you must try at Trattoria Mario you may ask? Easy. The pappardelle al ragu! As mentioned, pappardelle is typical to Toscana/Florence, and the broad-ribboned pasta dish is served daily with a four-hour, slow-cooked ragu. The recipe is age-old and doesn’t change. However, what does change is the menu, which swaps out daily and is based on seasonal ingredients. Only three dishes never leave the menu board, no matter what. The pappardelle, the ribollita (a Florentine street food staple), and the Bistecca.

3. Enoteca Pinchiorri: Michelin-status pasta 

The former wine bar (if you didn’t know, ‘enoteca’ is Italian for ‘wine bar’) is famous for many things, especially a huge 16-page water list — not kidding! But this restaurant remains Florence’s only three-star Michelin restaurant. In short, for high quality pasta, you don’t want to miss this place.

With a few tasting menus to choose from, as well as an a la carte, feel free to just order starters and a main, or even just a main and dessert. Because I must say, Enoteca Pinchiorri is pricey, but I guess they can get away with it because of their status, not to mention the quality of the food. 

Cooking techniques and flavor pairings are inventive, for example, ravioli stuffed with roasted guinea fowl served with chicory, grapefruit, black garlic, and sweet olives. Or for a first course, there’s ‘leaves of pasta with herbs, reduced milk with celeriac, white pheasant ragout and marrow.’

This one is definitely a spoil out of the places for the best pasta in Florence, but very much worth it, especially if you’re a foodie! 

4. Trattoria Za Za: 25 pasta options/variations  

I’m, like, absolutely and totally obsessed with the interiors of Za Za, and it’s one of those spots where you’ll find multiple types of pasta dishes during your hunt for the best pasta in Florence! 

Truffle tagliatelle, creamy walnut sauce ravioli, Siena-style pici with sausage sauce, wild boar sauce pappardelle…The list seems endless. 

In fact, there are over 25 types of pasta to choose from, including variations of pici, fettuccine, spaghettini, pappardelle, ravioli, penne, and tortellini. These all form the first-course menu. They also serve gnocchi (I know it’s not “pasta” but hey, if you’re looking, find it here). And in case you were wondering, they’ve been open since 1977.  

5. Osteria Pastella: For the cheese wheel pasta experience 

Straight off the bat, you gotta order the truffle pasta! I’m in love with this spot, which is unequivocally devoted to all things homemade pasta, and their love for the Italian staple shows. They take their pasta prep and making super seriously. 

Dishes are inspired by Sunday meals spent with la famiglia, where no table is EVER devoid of pasta, and Osteria Pastella heroes local ingredients and Italian traditions to the maximum. 

Searching for more of Florence’s ristoranti that do the same? Tuck into my expert list of the best restaurants in Florence for a celebration of more localized plates, and then some. 

As with Italian traditions, the entire part of the first-course menu is dedicated to their fresh, handmade pasta, and plenty of Tuscan classics. These include pasta done in the cheese wheel (like their famous ‘flambé tagliatelle with fresh truffle in Grana Padano cheese wheel’), ‘pappardelle with local wild boar meat marinated,’ ‘ravioli stuffed with potatoes, tobacco and broth of pleurotus mushrooms,’ and ‘pici of fresh pasta with Mediterranean red shrimp, tub gurnard fish, mussels and garlic cream.’ 

6. Zeb: Flavors of Toscana 

Whether it’s a local, the ‘Gram, the Michelin Guide (listed since 2015), or even Reddit that you’re asking before you hit the streets of Florence on a pasta mission, everyone will tell you that Zeb is not to be missed when it comes to pasta dishes in the classic Tuscan-style! 

Ingredients all come from the region (Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region), therefore, seasonality is key. The traditions of Tuscany continue into the recipes, all of which pay homage to this part of Italy — as well as Mother Giuseppina’s mother’s and grandmother’s recipes. 

Established in 1985, one of its specialties is ravioli. For something a little different taste the pecorino and pear ravioli, or you can’t go wrong with a classic, like truffle ravioli.

7. La Buchetta Food & Wine: A celeb local 

Incredible homemade pasta: tick! Wine pairings: tick! Out-the-park service: tick! Celebrity visits: tick! Yup, you did read that last one right, and among its accolades of famous faces, the likes of Morgan Freeman have wined and dined at La Buchetta Food & Wine. 

The ‘Pici Special’ is the one to go for: homemade thick spaghetto, Pienza pecorino straight off the cheese wheel, black pepper, and truffles. It is “buono!” If you’ve ever seen a video of when the pasta is finished off with a tossing inside the actual cheese wheel, this is that dish! Gnocchi lovers? This one is out of the park! I know gnocchi is made from potato, but not all places in Florence serve gnocchi so it’s nice to know.

You’ll find two locations of La Buchetta in Firenze, including their secret wine window. 

8. Trattoria Sostanza: Here for over 150 years 

I know there are plenty of long-standing restaurants/places for the best pasta in Florence, but Trattoria Sostanza has been around since 1869! It’s so historic that it’s officially part of the Esercizi Storici Fiorentini (the Association of Florentine Historical Businesses). 

When I say you’re getting heritage food here, I mean it, and the recipes are literally decades old. I’m in love with their soups/broths, and so the combination of stuffed pasta, in this case, tortellini floating in a broth is my idea of heaven! Another tortellini dish to try is the ragu rendition. 

Speaking of must-try pasta, they also serve butter penne pasta. Butter pasta is like one of those staples of Italian home cooking, and although it may seem like a simple dish to the non-Italian, it’s everything to love about the simplicity of the cuisine (not to mention its darn delicious).  

9. La Capannina Bistrot: A local fave and super affordable 

Affordable and offering a wide variety of pasta dishes, many first-time patrons of La Capannina claim that it’s not only the best pasta in Florence but their ultimate pasta experience in all of Italy. 

The board outside reads ten different penne dishes which, in the pukka Italiano way, never contain more than two ingredients. However, this menu does change frequently, and I would say you could classify this spot as a “spaghetteria” — an Italian restaurant that doesn’t just specialize in spaghetti-based dishes, but all sorts of other pasta. 

Everyone goes nuts for the carbonara here, and the cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper pasta always served with spaghetti-type pasta) is also another favorite. Expect large portion sizes. 

Looking for plans after dinner? Unravel Florence’s nightlife scene, hopping between rooftop bars, intimate renditions, local favorites, and even late-night bakeries. 

On a separate note, if you’re vegan and traveling through Florence, here are some wonderful all-vegan options for you to try, including pasta spots! 

---

Read more of our best insights from around the world

• 
  A Day Trip to Türkiye: A Guide to Crossing the Border in Cyprus
• 
  The Ultimate 4-Day Crete Itinerary for 2025
• 
  7 Beautiful Places in Nepal – and a Hidden Gem Few People Know About
• 
  10 of the Best Restaurants in Ravello, Including Sea Views to Gasp Over
• 
  9 Spots For The Best Brunch In Rome For Late Risers
• 
  We Found The Middle East’s Best New Hotel for 2025