Breakfast - in Florence breakfast seems to consist of bread from last  nights dinner (saltless of course) and concentrate jam/jelly that has been sitting at the same table for over a year.  If you are staying in Florence, skip the hotels complimentary breakfast and head on down to Rivore for a cappuccino or hot chocolate and pastry.  They have the world best drinking chocolate – really.

Lunch – customarily, this is the big meal in Italia.  Eat lots of pasta,  nap, and then get after the rest of your day… Here are three can’t miss options:

• La Spada: go for the Bruno Speciale or Lasagna to go and take your meal to the Triangle bridge for a picnic – or- sit down and enjoy the vino di casa with tortellini alla’ medici.
• Antico Noe: the best sandwiches in town.
• Baldovino’s – great for lunch or dinner, these guys know how to do pizza, pasta and more with a nice modern twist. Also, do check out their wine bar around the corner if the trattoria has a long wait.

Dinner: if you only have one night in Firenze, then there is really only one option for dinner: Il Latini.  Get there at quarter to 7 and be ready to spend your entire  evening delighting on a giant jug of chianti, tasty appetizers, tuscan specialities, roasted meats, and a selection of amazing desserts and digestivos. Make sure to ask for the off the menu pre-fixe meal – and let them take care of you.

Other notable eateries in town include:  Beccofino, Buca Mario, Amons, and Aqua al 2.

Also, check out our hotel recommendations in Firenze.

Florence is without a doubt one of the world’s favorite cities.  From the renaissance art and the Tuscan views, to the world class food and the quaint, walkable city centre, the city Florence is enjoyable for a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime.  But, where to stay?  Here’s our top 5 recommendations, with something for all budgets.

Hotel Fiorentina(*): A great location, clean rooms, and a friendly staff make this old Gonzaga haunt an easy place to call home for a couple of days.

Hotel Medici(**): recently remodeled, you can not beat the views of the duomo and baptistry from their rooftop terrace.

VRBO: A vacation rental can be a great way to go. Stay close to the San Lorenzo market, and buy groceries to cook your own feast in your own vacation kitchen.

Grand Hotel Minerva(****): Located right on Piazza Santa Maria Novella you can stumble to lunch at La Spada or run to the train station to catch your train out of town. 

Hotel Savoy(*****): This place is straight class.  You’ll want to pull up in a Ferrari or something fancy as they might not park your Fiat Punto.