by Janet Pieterse

Created on: July 08, 2011

If you’re visiting Florence, Italy, you’re probably expecting to eat nothing but pizza, pasta and panini. Remember, however, that Florence is in the heart of Tuscany, so don’t miss the opportunity to try out some true Tuscan food!

The centre of Florence is filled with places to eat. Not surprisingly, many of them are aimed at tourists, and mostly you should avoid them. The first thing to know is that many restaurants have an extra cover charge if you sit down; others make a point of saying it is included. If the menu says service isn’t included, you’re expected to tip; if it is included, it will be shown separately on the bill. When evaluating a place to eat, look for information on cover charges and service charges.

The next question is where to eat. There are so many restaurants and food outlets, that it is hard to recommend any in particular. However, there are some general rules of thumb that should prove invaluable. Before any of these come into play, though, you should head off to the Mercato Centrale, at the Piazza del Mercato Centrale. It is quite near the central station, the Stazione di Santa Maria Novella. The Piazza itself is crowded with stalls and people; know where your wallet is at all times.

Wend your way through the stalls and look for an entrance to the market building itself. There is more than one. Inside, you will find the Florence food market. Sure, there are many stalls catering to tourists, but there are also many genuine stalls supplying real food to real Italians. It is also possible to sit and eat there, from a semi self-service outlet: choose what you want from the food on display, and sit down at one of the provided tables to enjoy it. Portions are large, prices are low, and the food itself is excellent.

This food market should be your primary resource if you’d like to assemble a picnic style meal, be it to eat in the Boboli gardens or back at your hotel room. You will find Tuscan meats, cheeses, breads, fruits, pastries, wines - anything and everything you need, at prices Italians pay. You can buy in bulk or by the slice. Many stalls will also vacuum-pack foods for you to take home. Take a good look around the market before making any buying decisions, as you will see that prices vary between stalls.

The market opens early, around 7 am, and closes around 2.30 pm on weekdays. It stays open till 6 pm on Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays.

Once you are aware of the culinary treasures to be found at

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