The best gastronomies in Florence

Where to buy excellent products for a dream festive lunch

Tuscan cuisine is a must all over the world and in Florence there are true temples of taste, small and large delicatessens where you can buy all kinds of cold meats and cheeses, fresh pasta, bread and excellent bottles of wine.

Today we take you by the hand inside the best delicatessens in Florence to discover with you the specialities that will make your Christmas lunches and dinners a real wow effect!

Pegna
Via dello Studio, 8
ph. +39 055 282701

A few steps from the Duomo, is one of the most famous Florentine historic shops in the world. An old grocery, full of all sorts of specialities: mainly Tuscan, but also national and foreign (such as Fauchon). Worth mentioning is the deli counter where expert assistants explain to you and serve valued cheese, salami and every kind of ham. There is also a wide selection of wines, colonial imports, spices, coffee, tea and chocolate.

Gastronomia Enoteca Galanti
Piazza della Libertà, 31r
ph. +39 055 490359

Since 1960, Gastronomia Galanti has been synonymous with haute gastronomy and has its precious roots in traditional peasant cuisine. Cult dish: handmade chicken galantines with a careful selection of ingredients including salted tongue, pistachios, parmesan cheese and eggs. Must: liver or fish sauces for crostini, salmon aspic, ricotta and spinach cannelloni with cherry tomatoes, crespelle alla fiorentina, swordfish in a leek and pink pepper crust, classic chicken galantine or truffle galantine, orange arista as well as many assorted side dishes.

Gastronomia il Giglio
Via Pisana, 56r
ph. +39 055 5120300

Located near the San Frediano arch, Il Giglio deli was taken over in 2016 by Mirco Abrignani, a young chef in love with traditions. Every day he churns out schiacciata all'olio for his customers, faithfully following the recipe that his grandmother handed down to his mother Sabrina and which then came to Mirco along with the secrets of many other traditional Tuscan dishes. At lunchtime unmissable classic dishes and at aperitif time tastings of the best wines accompanied by gourmet dishes.

Gastronomia Boschetti
Borgo Ognissanti, 121
ph. +39 055 213078

A cosy, family-run place where you can buy the best Tuscan specialities at the counter. Cult dish: the Russian salad. Must: the chicken in galantine, the voulevant with mushrooms or shrimps, the salmistrata tongue, the delicate Tuscan crostini dough, the mostarda and salsa verde, as well as fresh handmade tortellini and ravioli.

C.BIO
interno Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio
ph. +39 055 247 9271

C.BIO is a large shop-market located in Sant'Ambrogio. It is the place where you can do good shopping because it is of raw materials that are good for the spirit and the body, it involves local companies and each product is chosen with respect for a fundamental principle: sustainability. In the C.BIO butcher's shop there is a careful selection of Mugello, organic Chianina and delicious Piedmontese Fassone meats, sold when they have reached the right maturity. Also in the Sant'Ambrogio market is Buonacosa-Pane Vero, organic milk, fresh pasta by C.BIO, the counter with all the breads from the bakery, Giotto Biolatte, light and delicious, and handmade fresh pasta.

Dolce Emporio
Borgo S. Frediano, 128r
ph. +39 055 3897066

It is one of the most historically rich shops in Florence, reopened as a taste boutique by chef Fabio Barbaglini. Here the speciality are the boxes of Fuà, the foie gras from the Fiori di Spezie line signed by Barbaglini himself. We recommend two specialities for the festive season: the duck liver torchon au naturel, marinated in Marsala and a special spice composition, and the foie gras with strawberries in mustard and pink pepper or that with candied mandarin and Timut pepper.

Gastronomia Omero
Via del Pian dei Giullari, 47
ph. +39 055 220053

Not just a trattoria but an excellent trattoria. Cult dish: Penna strascicata Omero with beef ragout and a touch of cream. Must: pasta and chickpeas, ribollita, pappardella with duck, wild boar stew.

La Botteghina Dell'Augusta
interno Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio
ph. +39 055 234 6667

High quality products from all over Italy, especially from Tuscany and Calabria. Cult: tortellini, ravioli filled with buffalo and porcini mushrooms or pecorino and pepper. Must: tortellini for broth, ravioli filled with ricotta spinach, stuffed with pumpkin, pecorino and sliced meats.

Deli 1891 Firenze
Piazzale di Porta Romana, 1r
ph. +39 055 221074

Tuscan cuisine not taken for granted at Deli 1891. Cult: aubergine parmigiana and lasagne with home-made pasta and beef ragout from the owners' farm. Must: meatballs, home-grown vegetables, fresh pasta from their in-house pasta factory.