Florence, like more or less all Italian cities, has a special kind of baked dough. It is salty and crunchy, its name is schiacciata. Usually we cut it in two halves and fill it with cold cuts (such as prosciutto, mortadella and salami), cheese, vegetables and some spread. In my life I've never seen it done as well as at All'Antico Vinaio. They use genuine ingredients and mix them skilfully, in order to get flavours that are hard to describe. The outcome is a big crunchy sandwich filled with generous portions of all the ingredients you've chosen.
They have everything; pecorino cheese, rucola, many kinds of prosciutto crudo, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, aubergines, truffle sauce and so on, and will help you to choose your filling, but, please, don't ask them for any pesto, they will just make fun of you because pesto is from Genoa, so you cannot have it on a schiacciata in Florence.
The only downside is that, since this place has become very famous, there is a long line of people waiting and it can take a while before you get your food (up to 45 minutes during weekends in summer), even though they've opened a second shop in front of the first one, making the very same sandwiches.
Find your way with 108 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"Babae" in Florence is a restaurant with an ancient 'buchetta del vino', a traditional wine window used to offer wine to wayfarers. It's beautiful inside!
by
"Alla Sosta dei Papi" Florence it's not just a bar and not just a wine shop: it's the kind of place I visit once/week for an aperitivo & the relaxed vibe.
by
"Caffè Lietta" in Piazza della Libertà in Florence has delicious cakes & you can even find a bunch of flowers inside. It's just really relaxing & cozy...
by
"Sdrucciolo de' Pitti" in Florence is a vintage street that has kept the neighborhood's old-time attractiveness! Come discover its secrets...
by
"La Raccolta" was the firs natural foods shop and café that I found in Florence and still I love. The bakery is probably my favorite part of this shop...
by
"Burro & Acciughe" in Florence is a place to experience some of the best fish in the city. Their bread and butter and anchovies are just amazing...
by
Everybody knows "Banki Ramen" in Florence. This Japanese/Italian restaurant seems really cheap, as if stuck in the '80s, but the food wins everyone over!
by
"Libreria XXVII Aprile" Florence isn't fancy, and you're not going to find any new releases in this book shop. But if you're a true bookworm, buckle up...
by
"Caffè del Verone" in Florence is literally on the balcony where they'd hang the clothes when this place was an orphanage. But what a view and atmosphere!
by
"Cenacolo di Ognissanti" is just the place for you if you're in Florence and love art. This is a masterpiece that most tourists (or locals!) don't see...
by
108 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 108 Insider Tips