The glorious Tuscan capital is a culinary wonderland for food fanatics of any age, and that includes the younger members of your gang. If you’ve been trying to figure out where to eat in Florence with kids, I’ve got you covered.
Florence has an impressive roster of family-friendly restaurants, including upscale Italian restaurants with kids’ menus and laidback trattorias with seating arrangements for your little ones.
My extensive experience with family meals and guiding my Florence food tours has helped me accumulate this list of the finest restaurants for children in the city. Get ready for a kid-friendly gastronomic adventure with this travel guide including these top-notch Renaissance city picks.
Photo credit: Amici di Ponte Vecchio
Amici di Ponte Vecchio in Santo Spirito is a great little haunt for casual fare, located one street back from the Arno River. It’s a handy place to grab a quick lunch if you’ve spent the morning admiring Michelangelo’s works at the nearby Uffizi Galleries or strolling across Ponte Vecchio.
I was meeting a couple of friends traveling with their young children when I first visited, and they wanted to try somewhere authentic that was still family-friendly. With Amici di Ponte Vecchio’s deli-style decor and peaceful outdoor seating area, I knew this was the perfect place.
Their menu here mainly consists of pizza al taglio and sandwiches, and there are plenty of options for fussy younger eaters, such as margherita slices and ham and cheese-filled focaccia. My personal favorite is the salami, pecorino, and arugula sandwich.
The warm, savory focaccia had subtle herby flavors and was filled with spicy salami, grassy pecorino, and bitter arugula. While the bread and salami were slightly chewy, the pecorino was delightfully crumbly, and the arugula gave the sandwich a gentle crunch.
Amici di Ponte Vecchio (€) – Via de’ Bardi, 39, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy – Open every day from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm
Considering it’s set in the city center close to Palazzo Vecchio, La Fettunta is a pretty low-key spot once you’re inside. If you’re wondering where to eat in Florence with kids without sacrificing the traditional vibe of a classic trattoria, La Fettuna will tick all of your boxes.
It’s small and homely inside, and because there are just a few tables towards the back, it’s much more relaxed and inviting for families looking for a quiet meal. Out front is a deli, which leads to a compact dining area full of rustic wooden tables and stone walls.
Alongside the ravioli and gnocchi are classic Italian dishes that are favorites among the younger crowd, like hearty lasagna and pasta with meat and tomato sauce. However, as a word of warning, the portions are massive and could easily be split between two younger kids!
We adults decided to share the bistecca alla Fiorentina; a must for anyone who decides to visit Florence. This dish was everything an excellent Florentine steak should be: robust, cooked rare, and with a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
La Fettunta (€) – Via dei Neri, 72r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy – Open every day from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Photo credit: Hard Rock Cafe
If I’m catching up with family or friends who’ve been in town for a while, I often recommend the Hard Rock Cafe for kids who’ve had their fill of Italian food. This world-famous chain’s Florentine location sits on the corner of Piazza della Repubblica, close to the Florence Duomo.
This rock-and-roll-themed eatery has all the must-have features of any Hard Rock branch, with walls packed with memorabilia, dozens of cozy booths, and a vibrant atmosphere.
For the grown-ups, there’s a choice between any all-American dish you can imagine, from sizzling fajitas to BBQ ribs, the latter of which I decided to order. When it comes to the smaller diners, they’ve got a dedicated kids’ menu filled with the likes of burgers, pasta, and hot dogs.
Amidst the live music and frequently rotating tables, it felt like I’d waited no time to get my hands on these ribs. Smothered in apple-infused, tangy BBQ sauce, these oh-so-tender pork ribs were juicy and salty. They also came with a sizeable serving of creamy coleslaw and crispy fries.
Hard Rock Cafe (€€) – Via dei Brunelleschi, 1, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy – Open every day from 11:00 am to 12:30 am
Photo credit: Gustapanino
Gustapanino in Oltarno is one of my favorite places to eat in Florence, Italy, and it’s also an incredible spot for a meal or aperitvio. A group of us first came across this place after exploring the nearby Boboli Gardens on a day trip to the city, and it was as popular with the kids as it was with the adults!
There were around eight of us in total, so we expected a possible wait. However, the waiter quickly got us a table on the buzzing outdoor terrace. The mismatched furniture and bustling environment made it feel as if we’d joined a huge family dinner.
Their menu focused on a blend of traditional local dishes and Italian staples, with most of the kids at the table opting for spaghetti and meatballs followed by gelato. I decided to go for the truffle pasta with sausage, which blew me away.
Thankfully, I was famished when we arrived, as there was no way I’d have made my way through the rich, earthy truffle sauce and lightly salted pasta otherwise. Every bite was bursting with flavor, though the umami notes from the pork sausage were particularly dreamy.
Gustapanino (€€) – Piazza Santo Spirito, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy – Closed every Monday, open every Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Photo credit: Berberè Pizzeria
Berberè Pizzeria is somewhat of a national treasure, with branches popping up all over Italy in Rome, Milan, and Bologna. So far, I’ve only made it to the Santa Croce location, but after my experience there, it’s safe to say I’m already eager to check out their other restaurants.
I had met my buddy and his kid for a meal when we spotted the bright and busy Berberè Pizzeria. His child was instantly intrigued when he saw countless mouthwatering pizzas arrive on the quaint terrace, so we decided to pull up a seat and sample some for ourselves.
Our waitress explained that the bases were all made from sourdough, which meant that none of us felt over-full or bloated afterward. Not only was I looking forward to the dough, but the toppings on offer also sounded divine. Their nduja and burrata pizza caught my eye right away.
While I chose one of the spicier options, there were plenty of kid-friendly alternatives with much less heat, like the marinara and Mediterranean options.
Though I’ve had even more pizzas in my time than I care to admit, this one was top-tier. The lightweight sourdough base leveled out the spreadable consistency of the hot nduja and soft, buttery burrata. What perfectly finished off this dish was the fresh and zingy tomatoes.
Berberè Pizzeria (€€) – Via dei Benci, 7, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy – Open every day from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Photo credit: 1950 American Diner
The name of the 1950 American Diner is pretty fitting. If you’re wondering where to eat in Florence with kids for all-American grub in a retro setting, this is the place for just that. This eatery is situated in San Lorenzo near Mercato Centrale and is one of many branches in the city.
I’d been on the hunt for a family-orientated spot for a group dinner, and a distant friend of mine suggested I check this place out. It’s got all the must-have features of an American diner, with striped leather booths, vintage wall hangings, a jukebox, and staff serving on rollerskates!
While the little ones glanced at the kids’ menu and headed straight to the play area, most of us older folks were torn between the Tex-Mex offerings and brunch dishes. After a bit of deliberation, I decided to try the chicken burger stacked with bacon, cheese, and onions.
Nothing beats the combination of crunchy, succulent breaded chicken, smokey bacon slices, and sweet caramelized onions. This burger was rather challenging to finish as it was topped with sharp, smooth provolone cheese and citrussy Thousand Island sauce.
Many of us had to ask for takeout boxes to bring our leftovers home, as the portions here are also more American than Italian in size!
1950 American Diner (€€) – Via Guelfa, 43, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy – Open every Monday to Thursday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm, every Friday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm, every Saturday from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm and every Sunday from 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm
With this rundown of tried-and-tested restaurants and family travel tips, you won’t need to stress about where to eat in Florence with kids. Contrary to popular opinion, your little ones won’t need to dine exclusively at pizzerias and gelaterias to enjoy the delicious fare Tuscany has to offer!
The post Top 6 Restaurants to Eat in Florence with Kids appeared first on Eating Europe.
