Tag: Restaurants near Ponte Vecchio

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Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco Restaurant Florence

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco is located between the famous Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Trinita. After you walk off Ponte Vecchio, go south and make an immediate right onto the first road, which is Borgo San Jacobo. Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco will be on your left. The name translates to White Boar. The restaurant is situated on the ground floor of an ancient fourteenth-century tower.

The atmosphere is cozy, small and intimate. Tables are a bit close to other patrons. However we ended up talking to several other families nearby and found it to be a most enjoyable experience. When we were there for dinner I noticed there was a mix of locals and tourists. The owner was friendly and warm. He stopped by our table to chat and entertain us for a little bit. We found the service very attentive. Our waiter was knowledgeable and spoke English. He made excellent suggestions that we found helpful.

We started with a few appetizers. The crostini with chicken liver pate had a nice texture and enjoyable flavor. We also chose the assorted cheese platter served with jam. The quality of both was very high.

For our main course we sampled each other plates. Everything we ordered was wonderful. The ravioli in cream sauce was sensational. The cream was delicious and the homemade pasta was incredible. Seafood risotto was a big hit at the table. The risotto was so creamy and cooked perfectly. It had an abundance of seafood that was fresh and tasty. The roasted pig was tender. The side of herbed roasted potatoes was large and very good. My son, who loves pork, said it was the best pork he ever had. We had their famous wild boar stew over polenta. It was very tender meat served in a delicious rich tomato based sauce. We ordered the house wine. It was very good and they give us quite a lot of it.

For dessert we had terrific panna cotta. You have the choice of berry, caramel or dark chocolate topping. We also ordered the fresh strawberries and mascarpone. Both desserts were extraordinary. All desserts are made in-house.

If you want a professional and attentive staff that serves authentic Florentine cuisine, you should not miss Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco when you are in Florence. The prices are terrifically reasonable. Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco fills up quickly. Reservations are recommended.[/tab]

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Phone number: +39 055 215706

Address: Borgo San Jacopo, 43, 50125, Florence, Italy

Hours: Monday and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Saturday and Sunday 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Wednesday Closed[/tab][end_tabset]

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Trattoria Antico Fattore

Trattoria Antico Fattore is very close to Ponte Vecchio and situated behind the Uffizi Gallery. It’s not the easiest to find, but take the time you will be more than glad you did. The small lovely setting of Trattoria Antico Fattore is tucked away on a side street. The area is beautiful and will remind you that you are in Florence.

Trattoria Antico Fattore offers a relaxed, rustic atmosphere with very good, hearty Tuscan food.

When we walked into the restaurant I noticed a lot of locals sitting. I always believe that is a good sign. Most of them appeared to be eating what looked like an aromatic and delicious wild boar stew.

Our experience with the staff was hundred percent positive; they were charming, knowledgeable and helpful. Our waiter could speak some English so ordering wasn’t a problem for us.

The menu is extensive and delicious. We began with two starters. We had the highly recommend crostini with kale and cannellini beans. It had very good flavors that married well together. The prosciutto and melon was also wonderful.  We had the freshly made gnocchi in black truffle sauce. The flavor of this truffle sauce is outstanding and should be tried. The veal involtini was excellent as well. It is thin veal wrapped around sage leaves with bacon wrapped around the veal. The combination of textures and flavors is delicious. It was salty, savory and rich. Tuscan roast chicken (half) with roasted herb potatoes was spot on. I highly recommend the Osso buco (veal shanks braised with vegetables). It was extremely tender, perfectly cooked, with quite honestly a good portion. All four dishes were a big hit at my table and I would order them again. After our dinner we had desserts and coffee as well. Coffee was nice and strong, just the way I like it. All of the desserts were simply decadent and perfectly prepared. You should try the house wine. It’s very good and reasonably priced. Overall my family was completely happy with the food and service.

Would we most definitely go again to Trattoria Antico Fattore. I recommend trying this restaurant. You won’t be disappointed. It is a busy place so a reservation is a good idea.

If you decide to dine at Trattoria Antico Fattore you should go to their website. When you are on the site click on the button that says “ a gift for you”. If you print out the page and bring it with you they will give you a lovely gift when you leave. We had printed out the page and they gave us a nice dish and small bottle of wine.[/tab]

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Phone number: +39 055 288975

Address: Via Lambertesca, 3, Florence, Italy

Hours: Monday through Saturday 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm to12:00 am

Sunday Closed[/tab][end_tabset]

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Cafe Gilli

Cafe Gilli is located on the corner of the famous Piazza Della Repubblica and across from the Savoy hotel. It is just a short walk from Ponte Vecchio and is situated in a great spot to take a break in between sight seeing.

Cafe Gilli is one of the oldest cafes in Florence. In my opinion it is definitely the most beautiful historic café in the city. The building is amazing in the inside. When you walk in you are embraced with the charming atmosphere of the place with its elegant decoration. The beautiful marble countertops, frescoed ceiling and arches will convince you that you are in a special place. There is also a bar area where people can stand to enjoy their coffee and a quick bite. If you don’t wish to sit inside you can enjoy the outdoor seating. The lovely terrace offers sunshade and a view for people watching. We stopped here to have lunch. My family and I chose to sit outside and enjoy watching tourists interacting with the vendors selling their merchandise.

The menu selections are extensive. Our waiter was friendly and polite. He spoke beautiful English and made wonderful suggestions. We enjoyed the club sandwiches and salads. Both were fresh and tasty. But honestly we came here for the sweets. So after lunch we had some of their delicious desserts. We enjoyed watching their preparation of the cappuccino and macchiato as much as drinking them. The pastries are delicious and you must indulge in a few different kinds. The cannoli Siciliani had creamy ricotta, chocolate and candied fruit filling. We had some amazing tasty chocolate pastry puffs. My son’s favorite was the torta del nonno (cake of grandma). It had a silky pastry cream in the center of a delicate pastry crust. It had a wonderful flavor and texture. My favorite was the tiramisu. It was remarkable. The rich and creamy flavor mixed with the coffee-soaked ladyfingers left me wanting more.

There is also a restaurant in the back. They serve fine dining with the staff performing admirably.

I recommend trying Cafe Gilli. It is a little bit on the pricey side, due to its history and touristy location. But everything is delicious, well worth the money in my mind. If I ever make it back to Florence I will definitely stop here again.[/tab]

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Phone number: +39 055 213896

Address: Via Roma 1, 50123, Florence, Italy

Hours: Monday, Wednesday through Sunday 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Tuesday Closed[/tab][end_tabset]

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Buca Lapi Restaurant Florence

Buca Lapi is situated in a nice neighborhood not far from Ponte Vecchio. The restaurant is set in the wine cellar of Palazzo Antinori on Via Tornabourni. It is said that Buca Lapi is the oldest running restaurant in Florence. The building itself is one of the beautiful buildings in the historic city. The ambiance is a relaxed formal spread decorated in a very creative and simple way. The walls and arched ceilings are adorned with many travel posters from all over the world.

We were sent here on recommendation of the front desk at our hotel and we were not disappointed. As we walked in the owner Luciano personally greeted us as if we were old friends. He could communicate quite well in English. He is very hands on and truly cares about the quality of the meal they serve you. His staff is seasoned, friendly and efficient. They speak very good English and are helpful with recommendations when asked. The open kitchen in the front dining room provides a view of the chefs creating their masterpieces.

For the starters we shared a delicious antipasto of Tuscan sausage and ricotta cheese canapés. We all ordered different dishes. However, my family loves to try different meals so we all have a little bit of each plate. The pappardelle with wild boar was delicious. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the deep rich color of the sauce that coated the pappardelle was a beauty to look at. The roast chicken was very moist and tasty. The side of spinach was cooked perfectly and had the right amount of garlic. The veal chop Milanese came out tender and very tasty. The steak Florentine was grilled to perfection with an irresistible crusty exterior. It was rare, juicy and as flavorful as any beef I’ve ever had.  Don’t think about ordering it any other way even if you think you like your steaks cooked a little more. They know what they are doing.

The wine that our waiter recommended we was a local Chianti, and was one of the finest wines I’ve ever tasted.

We shared the house special chocolate tart that was very rich and chocolaty. The Crème caramel was rich, smooth and had a terrific caramel flavor. The coffee was strong and very flavorful. The lovely owner sent us complimentary limoncello that finished our meal off perfectly.

If you are searching for an old school Italian restaurant then Buca Lapi should be on your list. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Buca Lapi is a bit pricier than other restaurants but so well worth it. [/tab]

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Phone number: +39 055 213768

Address: Via del Trebbio, 1, 50123, Florence, Italy

Hours: Monday through Saturday 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm

Sunday Closed[/tab][end_tabset]

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Il Santo Bevitore

Il Santo Bevitore is located in Oltrarno, on the other side of the Arno River. It is situated a couple blocks from the Ponte Vecchio.

We heard alot of good things about this restaurant so we very eager to have dinner here. We arrived early, so we decided to have some refreshing Prosecco at the bar while we waited for our table. The main bar area has a beautiful old-fashioned look with its marble surfaces and wood finishing. The rest of Il Santo Bevitore is also impressive. The dim lights, candlelight and wood floors set the tone for an ideal night.

The menu is extensive and we were very pleased by all of our choices. The staff speaks English and they have an English menu available upon request. Our waiter was terrific and keen to keep both our water and wine refilled. We found him to be attentive, yet not intrusive with the service. He was helpful and knowledgeable about the best wine to pair with our meal.

For the starters, we shared their signature charcuterie and the Tuna tartare. We really enjoyed the selection of meats and cheese. The flavorful layer of tuna marinated in olive oil and oregano was vibrant and fresh.

We had a number of items to share and each food was an amazing dish after dish. The grilled octopus was lightly flavored and very tender without being mushy. The risotto with squid ink and baccala was very tasty indeed with the right amount of salt and seasoning. The spaghetti Martelli with marinated anchovies, friggitelli peppers and pine nuts was amazing. My son raved over the Spaghetti alle Vongole. It had a good amount of fresh clams and when he was finished he took his bread and soaked up all the brothy sauce.

After dinner we all had coffee and split a couple desserts. We ordered the molten chocolate lava cake with lemon sorbet and an orange sauce. And the second was the cheesecake al limone. Both of desserts were rich and delicious.

If you’re looking for a fabulous meal in Florence, consider Il Santo Bevitore. My whole family enjoyed it. If we return to Florence in the future, we’ll be stopping by again.

Il Santo Bevitore is very popular in Florence, be certain to make a reservation as the restaurant fills up very quickly after opening.[/tab]

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Phone number: +39 055 211264

Address: Via di Santo Spirito, 64/66, Florence, Italy

Hours: Monday through Saturday 12:30 to 2:30 pm, 7:30 to 11:00 pm

Sunday 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm[/tab][end_tabset]

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Trattoria 4 Leoni

Trattoria 4 Leoni is located about a block from the Ponte Vecchio. It has a traditional Italian tavern style that is quite stylish and comfortable. The half exposed brick and nooks make this restaurant very warm and inviting. The antiques and the hardwood rafters also add a nice touch. You have an option for sitting outside or inside. We were warmly greeted and seated at a good outdoor table. If you can, try and sit out on the terrace where you can get a great view of the Arno River and the beautiful Ponte Vecchio.

The staff is attentive and professional. Service was warm and welcoming, and our waiter spoke excellent English.

The dishes at Trattoria 4 Leoni are a tasty reflection of the local cuisine. They offer interesting flavor combinations and excellent execution.

For the appetizer we ordered the burrata with fig and prosciutto. It was so creamy and delicious. It was incredibly fresh and tasted even great paired with the prosciutto and figs.

We had their signature pasta dish. Sacchetti pasta pockets stuffed with pear and taleggio cheese. The pasta pockets were sensational. The subtle sweetness of the pear was wrapped in perfectly cooked pasta. The shape of the pasta looked like a candy wrapper sitting in a creamy, but light Alfredo sauce. We should have all ordered this dish because they were so good. It has been our quest to replicate this dish since returning home. We had the lemon gnocchi too. It was buttery, very light and fluffy despite all of the cheese.  There is also a potato ravioli with meat sauce that was fresh and delicious. We also ordered the braised beef tagliata with balsamic glaze. The chef cooked the meat to perfection and the balsamic and arugula was a perfect addition.

After dinner we had some delicious cappuccino. We shared the tiramisu and the cheesecake with chocolate sauce. Both were very creamy and flavorful and a perfect ending to our perfect meal.

Overall, Trattoria 4 Leoni serves excellent quality food at a very fair price, in a lovely atmosphere.

This is a very popular restaurant in Florence, so I would advise to book well in advance.[/tab]

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Phone number: +39 055 218562

Address: Via dè Vellutini, 1r, 50125, Florence, Italy

Hours: Monday through Sunday 12:00 pm to 12:00 am[/tab][end_tabset]

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Trattoria Ponte Vecchio

My family came across Trattoria Ponte Vecchio while walking towards the Ponte Vecchio. We were first attracted to this restaurant by the fresh pasta on display in the window. We were all very hungry so we gave it a try and were glad we did. We were welcomed by the very nice host/owner Salvador with a warm smile.

We were seated on the upper level by a window with a terrific view of the crowds coming off the Ponte Vecchio. We were served very promptly and all dishes were of a good size and great quality.

The staff is friendly, pleasant, and they provide you with an outstanding dining experience. The waitress that served us spoke English and was so delightful. She did a wonderful job recommending the wine (a beautiful bottle of Chianti) and helping us choose the menu. She followed up several times after serving us, asking if everything was fine and if there was anything else we needed.

We started with a wonderful Caprese salad and bruschetta on her recommendation. Following the appetizers came some of the amazing dishes we had in Florence.

Ravioli stuffed with some sort of cheese, walnut and a touch of honey covered in a light cream sauce with shaved truffles was awesome. The rabbit dish had great subtle flavors. It was delicious and luscious with a velvety texture. We also had the huge Florentine steak for two. It was cooked just right. It was tender and delicious. The side dish of cannelloni beans with lemon was very good.

After dinner we had cappuccino and a dessert sampler that included small samples of the tiramisu, chocolate cake, and fig pie. It was on of the best desserts we’d ever had.

Overall, the food was excellent and the location couldn’t be any better. We had a wonderful time talking to the owner. Visiting Trattoria Ponte Vecchio really made our trip even that much more memorable.

Trattoria Ponte Vecchio is in a lovely part of Florence and is easy to find, reservations recommended. You should definitely go one time if you are you staying in Florence. Come hungry as you’ll want to have an appetizer, main course and dessert as reading their menu will entice you with many delectable choices.[/tab]

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Phone number: +39 055 292289

Address: 8, Lungarno Archibusieri, Florence, Italy

Hours: Monday through Sunday 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm[/tab][end_tabset]