Best Street Food in Florence: Schiacciata, Coccoli, Gelato & More!

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Toscana’s capital city is a place of food Elysium, and should be at the top of any list for foodies out there reading this — like, now! Thanks to Firenze’s positioning in Tuscany, farms, groves, and vineyards are literally on its doorstep, which means the freshest produce, whether talking olive oil, cheese, meats, or dairy!

The markets in Florence are heavenly, and the food scene is my personal favorite in the country. I’ve never had a bad meal or food experience here, whether dining out or from the locals. If you’re visiting the city and curious to know more about the street food in Florence, you’ll want to bookmark this list of iconic bites. 

Florence isn’t close to the ocean, and so seafood isn’t as popular as destinations such as the Amalfi Coast, or Naples. However, just like cities such as Rome, you will come across it, but it’s not a street food hero. Instead, meat is the hero, along with bread, cheese, and other farm-fresh produce. From street vendors to trattorias to the mercatos; there are plenty of places for street food bliss in this city! 

Best street food in Florence: 8 dishes you must try

1. Schiacciata

Obviously, no matter where you go in Italy you’re going to find pizza (and pasta), but that doesn’t necessarily mean every.single.city is famous for it. Case in point: Firenze. Having said that, this Italian city does love its dough, but in the form of schiacciata.

Schiacciata is easily the most popular street food in Florence. You just have to look at the endless schiacciata shops around the city to back this claim!

So, what is schiacciata? It’s a traditional Tuscan flatbread (remember, Florence is the capital city of the Toscana region). It’s almost like a focaccia — but don’t let a local hear you say that — except it’s a lot lighter and more crisp. Two pieces are used for the sandwich base and then it’s stuffed with a glorious amount of meats, cheeses, and other antipasti from bringel to tapenade. 

You find them everywhere: sandwich shops, markets, even supermarkets. If there’s one place for it, it has to be All’Antico Vinaio; the most famous sandwich shop in not just Florence, but all of Italy. We went back twice on our first time in Florence, and then every time we’ve returned to the city since. Don’t stress about the lines, it moves quickly, and even the 10-15-minute wait is worth it. Simply order from the board, or make up your own.   

Best place to try schiacciata in Florence: All’Antico Vinaio 

2. Coccoli

Biting into a freshly (deep) fried coccoli ball is unbeatable, especially as the hot cheese dribbles down, and all bursts into your mouth. It’s best eaten in one bite! 

Made from dough, traditionally coccoli are stuffed with prosciutto and ultra-creamy white cow’s milk stracchino cheese. They are deep-fried in olive oil. This is the traditional way, however, you do also find many renditions. I was at an Italian wedding in Florence and we also munched down on coccoli during cocktail hour stuffed with cheese and spinach — divine! 

Grab them from street food in Florence vendors, where they come in a paper cone (similarly to the way pesce fritto al cono is served), as a bar snack at the local bars, or from a trattoria, or pizzeria. 

Best place to try coccoli in Florence: Enoteca alla Sosta dei Papi; Trattoria Palle d’Oro and Sgrano (for gluten-free coccoli)

3. Panino con il Lampredotto

Any adventurous eaters in the house? 

Growing up, my dad loved cooking tripe, i.e., animal’s stomach lining, usually sheep or cow. The smell of it boiling through the house was enough to put me off it for life, but I did give it a bash — once. During our first time in Florence, around the corner from our apartment in the Jewish Quarter, we saw this street food in Florence stand always bustling, and my husband and I always wondered what the fuss was about. 

We soon learned that the constant queues were to try one of Florence’s greatest specialties: panino con il lampredotto, which basically means tripe sandwich. This one is made from cow’s stomach. The tripe is thinly sliced and added generously to a round semella bun. 

This panino con il lampredotto vendor is also conveniently located around the corner from the Sant’ambrogio Market, and we later learned from local Florentines that it is in fact the best place for it in the city! 

Best place to try panino con il lampredotto in Florence: Tripperia Pollini (Sergio Pollini Lampredotto)

4. Crostini Toscani 

How cute is this: crostini translates to “little crusts” and if you’ve ever munched down on crostinis (often served as a canape in plenty places around the world), you’ll know that the bread is in fact like biting into a hard little crust. While the crostini itself doesn’t have one particular city that it originates from in Italy, they are extremely popular in this city and a must-try street food in Florence! 

However, Firenze does have its own rendition: the crostini toscani. The little toast is spread with chicken liver pate, and that’s it. It’s ridiculously delicious and is perfect with a glass of white wine. 

On that note, loads of the enoteche (wine bars) in Florence serve crostini toscani, as well as other versions. They’re always kept simple. Another popular one is crostini with freshly chopped tomatoes or those with gooey stracchino. It’s the perfect accompaniment during aperitivo o’clock. 

Best place to try crostini toscani in Florence: Il Santino; Vini E Delizie

5. Ribollita

Before anyone goes jumping up in arms about a soup considered a street food, let me ask you something. Have you visited Asia before? Where Japan’s ramen or Vietnam’s phở are literally the most popular street foods. I love a good, hearty bowl of soup, and before I visited Italy the first time, I discovered during my pre-researched must-try foodie lists that Tuscany is the place for soup lovers (of all kinds)! 

Honestly, there’s simply nothing better on a crisp autumn or chilly winter’s day. It can get as cold as 3°C in the peak of winter in Florence! Plus, the street food in Florence isn’t always your grab-and-go vibes. 

If there’s one soup that sums up local traditions, it’s ribollita, and I ate it multiple times. So it’s cannellini beans, Tuscan kale, carrots, and the most important ingredient, stale bread! This is then all blended together in the cooking process. It’s super hearty and filling!

You might find that some places also add in other veggies. I also like to add dollops of parmesan on top. I don’t know if that’s how the locals do it, but it does make it darn delicious!

Best place to try ribollita in Florence: Trattoria Mario; Vini e Vecchi Sapori

6. Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Some might say that the Bistecca alla Fiorentina is Florence’s most famous dish, and rightfully so. This massive piece of meat is every carnivore’s dream. The T-bone shape is a sirloin cut, traditionally from the young Chianina breed. It should be aged for at least 20+ days. 

Again, I am fully aware that this is more of the type of food you’d enjoy as a sit-down meal, based on its pure size, but I feel like it would be a sin to leave off this list of the best street food in Florence. And I am certain all Florentines would agree with me!

As one of the most popular dishes, it’s a hard one to pinpoint where to have the best Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and it would take you a good year trying to eat your way through all the places that serve it on the menu. I’d recommend looking for a restaurant which specializes in the steak. 

Best place to try Bistecca alla Fiorentina in Florence: Trattoria Dall’Oste; Buca Lapi

7. Gelato 

Onto the sweet treats we go — our favorite. Again, gelato is an icon of Italia, and there really is not one single city, town, or village where you won’t find a gelateria. However, in my opinion, the best region in all of the country for gelato is Tuscany. Florence, along with San Gimignano (where the world’s best gelato champions are located, i.e., Gelateria Dondoli), is the best place for gelato in Italy. 

It makes sense really when you think about it. Tuscany is made up of farmlands, and some of Italy’s best produce hails from these parts. This includes all the ingredients used for gelato-making, from fresh cow’s milk to cream. For those who are lactose-intolerant (unfortunately, me), then the sorbet option is just as fantastic. Also, proper sorbet doesn’t have an icy texture like we’re accustomed to outside of Italy. Instead, it should be creamy just like your regular gelato which contains dairy. It just, of course, doesn’t have dairy, and you shouldn’t really be able to notice that it’s missing. 

I also learned an interesting fact from a local Italian. Ready? When you see gelaterias where the front windows are displayed with big heaps of ice cream and christened in bright syrups, this is usually “fake gelato.” The real gelato is typically kept inside behind the counter in silver containers, and is more flat, not whipped up so high that it’s almost touching the ceiling. Sometimes, the containers are even covered. 

As always, must-try flavors across Florence include pistachio gelato or mango sorbet.

Best place to try gelato in Florence: Gelateria dei Neri; Carabè (right near the Accademia)

8. Schiacciata Fiorentina

I spoke of the schiacciata earlier, however, this next sweet street food in Florence is not to be confused with the city’s famous savory sandwich. Schiacciata Fiorentina (also known as schiacciata alla fiorentina, or Florentine schiacciata) is an orange-flavored sweet leavened cake made with lievito di birra, i.e., blocks of brewer’s yeast. 

It rises to about the same height as the savory schiacciata, and the top of the cake is dusted in icing sugar. Traditionally served around Carnival, just before Lent begins (40 days before Easter), in Florence the city’s emblem is marked out in the sugary dust. 

These days you’ll spot it in many bakeries, cafes, and cake/pastry shops. Some places even create two layers of Schiacciata Fiorentina and fill the center of the two layers with flavored or plain chantilly cream. In my opinion, chocolate is a winner. 

Best place to try schiacciata fiorentina in Florence: Pasticceria Marisa; Pasticceria Cosi

Touching on the most famous street food in Florence, if you’re in the mood for a whole sit-down and dine vibe, you’ll want to eat your way through some of our favorite best restaurants in Florence, Italy. 

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