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Family-friendly restaurants in Florence for a family meal you’ll love

A mama’s handpicked list of family-friendly restaurants in Florence to taste delicious Tuscan food with kids in tow (includes gluten-free options and a couple of international food addresses)

Florence is a fantastic place for food, one of the best in Italy for delicious, filling dishes full of flavors that speak of the beautiful land they come from.

Eating a good meal in Florence is easy. The average quality of food is outstanding, and it is also easy with kids, as restaurants in Florence are family-friendly!

Like in the rest of Italy, you can always have your kids with you, and children will be treated like the very important guests that they are.

That said, narrowing down where to eat with kids in Florence or picking a place to make reservations may be overwhelming.

So, today, I have a list of tried and tested restaurants in Florence that are family-friendly and have delicious food.

In most cases, the kid-friendly restaurants on this list have local food.

However, since I know that kids sometimes want a pancake rather than a local delicacy and everyone in the family may want a break from Italian food (I’m Italian and love other cuisines as well as our traditional dishes!), I have added some international addresses I believe you will enjoy.

I have also included some gluten-free options.

To make this list, I used my own knowledge of the city of Florence and Italian food.

I have also listened to the opinions of trustworthy parents who have recently eaten at these addresses to have a wider set of experiences and palate to draw from.

I have only included places that I know firsthand have given a consistently good food and ambiance experience and have included the best plate to order in each, should there be one!

If you are looking for delicious places to eat in Florence with kids, I hope you find this list helpful!

Going to Florence with family? Don’t forget to also check out our guide to Florence with kids with tons of ideas and suggestions to make this wonderful city enjoyable for all ages!

Ordering food for kids in Florence: need to know + tips

Restaurants in Florence, like in the rest of Italy, may not have a kids’ menu, but this doesn’t mean they cannot cater to kids.

This is just the Italian way: kids are welcome by default!

To order for them, should adult portions be too big or the type of food not suitable, it is always ok to half portion for your child or simple pasta.

Even if not on the menu, places are usually ok to make a simple pasta with tomato sauce, a bolognese (In Italian, we call it ragu’) or pasta in Bianco (which can be plain ‘senza niente’ or with butter ‘al burro’).

It is not common to find chicken nuggets in restaurants; however, Tuscany has a fried chicken specialty called Pollo Fritto alla Toscana (or Pollo Fritto Toscano), which is battered fried chicken that usually goes down a treat!
Some places can also make cotoletta alla milanese, which is thin chicken or veal breast, breaded and fried. It’s not as common as simple pasta: ask before promising it to your kid

To order in Italian, tou can use the following sentences:

Per il bambino, possiamo avere una mezza porzione di pasta senza niente per favore? Lit: For the child, can we have a half portion of plain pasta with nothing?

Or also, per lui/lei, si puo’ avere un piatto di pasta al sugo semplice? Lit: For him/her, is it possible to have a plate of pasta with simple tomato sauce?

(Fun fact: if you were Italian, you’d probably omit ‘per favore’ as the tone of the question would make it polite. If you’re not fluent, it is best to add it).

Tried and tested family-friendly restaurants in Florence city center list

Martare’

Martare’, Via degli Alfani, 93r, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy Web: http://www.martare.it/

Upscale feel yet welcoming and not stuffy, kids are super welcome. Close to Accademia, popular with locals too.

A special mention goes to their twist on Crostino Toscano (it’s ona croissant! I was skeptical but it was absolutely outstanding!), Chianti ragu pasta and tarte tatin. Trust the staff with wine recommendations!

Gluten-free option available but not necessarily suitable for coeliacs; see relevant page on their menu.

Email booking is possible, but phone bookings take precedence.
 Lunchtime booking is not always necessary.

Antico Noe’

Antico Noe’ – delicious food and relaxed atmosphere, this was first recommended to me by my dad, who is regularly in Florence for work and has proven excellent time and time again! It has both a kitchen and sandwich option (both excellent)

Online booking possible and recommended!

Address: Volta di S. Piero, 6/R, 50100 Firenze FI, Italy 
 Website: https://anticonoe.business.site/

Nero Carbone

Nero Carbone: delicious, cute, relaxed, small bistro, perfect for a casual lunch or an early dinner.

This is a small place with a deli counter with lovely local cheeses and meats that they offer in platters but they also have a hot menu that changes daily.

We had an outstanding tagliatelle al ragu’ toscano here that I highly recommend.

The atmosphere is casual: think recyclable cutlery and plates. They have nice little attention for families, such as a changing station in the restroom.

Get the table near the window!

Address: Via del Parione 43r, 50123 Firenze. Web: https://www.nerocarbone.com/ Online booking available.

La Giostra

La Giostra, Borgo Pinti, 10/18R, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy Web: https://ristorantelagiostra.com/ Online booking available

Very popular and well-known place with a very attractive decor with small lights that give the place a dreamy atmosphere. More expensive than others but a consistently good address for the quality of food.

They serve Tuscan cuisine but they also have Wiener Schnitzel, which tends to go down well with kids. Online booking is available.

La Bussola

La Bussola, Via Porta Rossa 56 / R – 50123 Piazza Davanzati 1 / R, 50123 Florence.

La Bussola is a restaurant, pizzeria, wine bar and cocktails bar, a great place when you want to satisfy different cravings!

They have some traditional dishes such as lasagne, steak, risotto etc but also dishes such as caesar salad if you are craving something different. Gluten-free pasta is available (not necessarily suitable for coeliacs, inform the staff if you need to avoid cross-contamination)

Online booking is available. Web: https://www.labussolafirenze.com/

I Quattro Leoni

Trattoria 4 Leoni, Via de’ Vellutini 1r Piazza della Passera, 50125, Firenze Italia (online booking request available), also a wine bar and wine shop. 


This is a great address in the center good for pasta, soups and meat, including Florentine steak.

Web: https://www.4leoni.it/

Trattoria Mario

Trattoria Mario (lunch. Only open for dinner Thu-Fri) This is a small, casual place with a limited menu that changes daily to guarantee freshness and avoid waste. A great lunch spot.

Address: Via Rosina, 2r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy


Mercato Centrale

Mercato Centrale is a famous market with hot food and a seating area upstairs. Very informal and relaxed. Address: Via dell’Ariento, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy


Ristorante del Fagioli

Ristorante del Fagioli, Corso dei Tintori, 47-red, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy, Traditional Traditional Tuscan fare, in typical Florentine setting: small menu, don’t be afraid to ask the waiter for explanations and tips, they are happy to and speak English.

All around address with options for everyone, including Florentine steak for meat lovers!

Mastro Ciliegia

Mastro Ciliegia, Piazza di San Pier Maggiore 4r, 50122, Firenze is a budget-friendly restaurant and pizza place. Reservations by phone only (you can also try email, phone takes precedence).
 Web: https://www.ristorantemastrociliegia.com/

sandwiches in sandwich shop in Florence


Gluten free, Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants in Florence

You’ll find naturally gluten free and vegetarian dishes in most restaurants in Florence.

However, they may not be able to cater to coeliacs or people in need to avoid cross-contamination.

In case of serious intolerances and allergies, double-check the menu and ask the server before ordering and don’t just trust the web, things change fast!

Some addresses you want to consider are:

Ciro & Sons gluten free restaurant and pizzeria– Gluten Free, lactose free and vegan options. ONline booking possible Web: https://www.ciroandsons.com/gluten-e-lactose-free/?lang=en

Sgrano Gluten Free restaurant and take away sandwiches Web: https://www.sgranoglutenfree.it/contatti/

Mr Pizza (gluten free), Piazza del Duomo, 5r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
• Le botteghe di Donatello, Piazza del Duomo, 28/R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
•

Quinoa (Vegan friendly), Via dei Vecchietti, 17, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy


Starbene Gold Bakery (Gluten free), Via dei Neri, 13/r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy



Family friednly restaurant in Florence for Florentine steak

I’Tuscani, Piazza San Pancrazio, 2/R Booking by whatsapp message available. Web: https://ituscani.com/

Natalino, Borgo degli Albizi, 17, 50122, Firenze Italia. They have fried chicken as well as traditional Tuscan fare. Booking by phone only. 


Trattoria dell’Oste, several locations in the city center >> https://trattoriadalloste.com/en

Fuoco Matto Grill and Pizza, Via Ventisette Aprile, 16, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy Online booking available. Web: https://www.fuocomatto.it/

Brunch and pancakes



Do you have a pancake lover in your family? My daughter is so, no matter where we go, the pancake search is real!

Malaleuca Bakery, Lungarno delle grazie, 18

Rooster Cafe, Via Porta Rossa, 63R, 50123 Firenze FI

Family-friendly restaurants in Florence for non-Italian food

For this section, I have trusted my wonderful community of international parents who gave me tips about where to go to get the best food from their own country they found in Florence!

Here we go:

Rooster Cafe for American-style brunch (chocolate chip pancakes, BLT, fruit smoothies. Booking recommended)

Kung Fu Lamian for delicious noodles, find menu here https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/70f0e0a5/files/uploaded/1-1.pdf Via San Zanobi 44/R, 50100, Florence Italy

Family friendly restaurant in Florence Italt – pin this!

Photo collage with image of Florence, a Tuscan platter and plate with eggplant parmesan with overlay text: delicious family-friendly restaurants in Florene

I hope you enjoyed this list of tried and tested family-friendly restaurants in Florence city center and it gave you ideas for your stay. Safe travels!

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Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate from the University of Rome, Marta channeled her passion for culture and travel into the creation of family travel websites that inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way. Marta also manages the thriving online community of parents 'Italy with kids' who turn to her for expert advice and competent Italy travel planning support. She is the author of the travel guides 'Best of Rome with kids' and 'Best of Florence with kids' available on Amazon and of an array of kids printables (scavenger hunts, info booklets etc) available on her Etsy shop 'Mama Loves To Print'