Here’s our guide to Florence’s eight Michelin-star restaurants: Enoteca Pinchiorri (3 stars); Santa Elisabetta (2 stars); Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura (1 star); Il Palagio (1 star); Borgo San Jacopo (1 star); Saporium Firenze (1 star); Atto di Vito Mollica (1 star); and one new 1-star restaurant for 2025: Serrae Villa Fiesole (1 star).
The text is by Michelin reviewers.
Enoteca Pinchiorri ***
“The cuisine at Pinchiorri is striking for its opulent and grandiose style which impresses without becoming overly fussy or excessive, so that the main focus in every dish is the flavour of its ingredients. The magnificent feast of courses resembles a firework display, with each course more impressive than the last in a growing crescendo of delights. It’s worth coming here simply to experience the service, an impeccable waltz directed by Alessandro Tomberli, one of the best maître-d’s in Italy. Annie Féolde, one of the restaurant’s icons, left the reins to the highly talented chef Riccardo Monco, who continues to nurture and satisfy the Italian appetite for fine cuisine. Credit must also go to Giorgio Pinchiorri, who has developed a wine list that is renowned across the globe.”
Santa Elisabetta **
“Thought to date back to Byzantine times, the Torre della Pagliazza has had many uses over the centuries, including housing a women’s prison in the 12C. Today it is home to one of the most interesting gourmet restaurants in Florence, where chef Rocco De Santis creates imaginative Mediterranean cuisine which is precise and full of flavour, with influences from his native Campania and an emphasis on fish and seafood. At lunchtime, a tasting menu of just three courses (“Carte Blanche”) is also available. As there are just a few tables here, guests are advised to book well in advance.”
Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura *
“Florence’s cosmopolitan credentials receive a boost with Karime Lopez and Takahiko Kondo’s cuisine, served in this modern, lively restaurant that bears the name of theatrical chef Massimo Bottura. The cuisine overseen by these excellent cooks demonstrates an openness to the rest of the world, with influences and reinterpretations of dishes from other countries, as well as Italy and Modena in particular. In addition to the à la carte, there are two tasting menus (I Nostri Souvenirs and Le Nostre Nuove Memorie) and – only for lunch the Breve Viaggio in Osteria. A visit to the Gucci Garden, an elegant museum on the upper floors dedicated to the famous fashion house, is highly recommended.”
Il Palagio *
“Situated on the ground floor of the Palazzo della Gherardesca and surrounded by beautiful mature gardens, Il Palagio is a gourmet evening restaurant decorated in elegant, refined neo-Classic style. The cuisine focuses on Italian culinary traditions reinterpreted by chef Paolo Lavezzini, who describes himself as “Italian by heart and Brazilian by soul” (he spent many years working in Brazil). Although born in the region of Emilia, Lavezzini’s dishes fully respect Tuscan traditions embellished with the occasional Brazilian influence. Vegetarians are also catered for, with their own tasting menu.”
Borgo San Jacopo *
“Housed within the Hotel Lungarno, one of the most charming hotels in the city, this restaurant boasts the same elegant and exclusive style as the hotel. Chef Claudio Mengoni is at the helm here, having gained experience working in various Michelin-starred restaurants before returning home to Florence about three years ago. Here, he transforms carefully chosen Italian ingredients into refined fish, meat and vegetable dishes which respect the seasons and are beautifully presented. Sommelier Salvatore Biscotti is responsible for the excellent wine selection, which includes around a thousand different labels featuring renowned estates and small producers alike. It’s well worth booking one of the few romantic tables overlooking the Arno.”
Saporium Firenze *
“A delightful small restaurant situated in a building on the Lungarno, close to the beautiful ascent on foot up to Piazzale Michelangelo. Vaulted ceilings and brick walls help to give the dining room a traditional atmosphere, which is enhanced by plants and elegant furniture. Young, talented chef Ariel Hagen delights guests with his highly personalised cuisine, using seasonal produce (such as fresh tagliolini pasta with elderflower) and fermented ingredients from his own workshop. The wine list is of the same high quality as the cuisine, featuring some excellent labels alongside an impressive choice of wines by the glass. In the evening, the Saporium Lounge serves tapas, wine and a selection of cocktails.”
Atto di Vito Mollica *
“Behind the cathedral in Florence, this gourmet restaurant is housed in the Corte degli Imperatori at Palazzo Portinari, once the residence of the Salviati family. Here, chef Vito Mollica delights guests with culinary creations that focus on the sea and unusual combinations that come as a pleasant surprise. The ingredients are of the highest quality, from the fragrant home-made bread to the highly distinctive first courses, plus there’s an excellent choice of olive oils (mainly Tuscan and Umbrian). Meals are served in a dining room adorned with original frescoes depicting episodes from the Odyssey, alongside scenes of daily life in the 16C, while the gentle bubbling of a fountain provides a pleasant background soundtrack. The exceptionally professional service enhance this sublime experience that combines artistry and gastronomy.”
Serrae Villa Fiesole *
“The view of Florence is just one of the many reasons to come to Serrae, which also boasts an attractive renovated decor, a fine location in a Medici villa and, last but certainly not least, superb local cuisine which is imaginative and full of flavour. Bufala tortellini with smoked eel and lovage, and pigeon with liver “olives” are among the highlights.”
