Trattoria Mario
San Lorenzo
The line is forBistecca alla fiorentina, and ribollita
A shared-table market trattoria open since 1953.
Worth the waitExpect: Lines at lunch. Lunch only, cash only
Beat it: Be there by noon
What's this line for? · Italy
What's this line for in Florence?
The 11 food lines you'll walk past in Florence, and what the people in them are waiting for. For each: what to get when you reach the front, how long it usually takes, whether it's worth it, and how to beat it.
See a line? Ask Chef.Take a photo of any line, anywhere, and email it to food@chefamazing.com. Chef writes back with what it's for, what to order, and whether it's worth the wait. Keep Location on so he knows where you are.
Da Nerbone
Mercato Centrale
The line is forLampredotto sandwich, bagnato (dipped)
A market stall serving Florence's tripe sandwich since 1872.
Worth the waitExpect: 15 to 30 min at lunch
Beat it: Go at 11:30am
Gelateria dei Neri
Santa Croce
The line is forFig and walnut, or the ricotta
The gelato that people walk across town for.
Worth the waitExpect: Evening crowds
Beat it: Go in the afternoon
I Fratellini
Centro Storico
The line is forA panino with finocchiona and a glass of Chianti
A hole-in-the-wall panino shop since 1875.
Worth the waitExpect: 10 to 20 min at lunch
Beat it: Go before noon
Gelateria La Carraia
Oltrarno
The line is forCrema and pistachio
Generous, cheap gelato by the Ponte alla Carraia.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 30 min on summer nights
Beat it: Go in the early afternoon
Gusta Pizza
Oltrarno
The line is forThe heart-shaped Gusta pizza with mozzarella and rocket
A busy, cheap pizzeria near Pitti Palace.
Worth the waitExpect: 30 to 45 min at dinner
Beat it: Go at 7pm, or take away
Trattoria Zà Zà
San Lorenzo
The line is forRibollita and the bistecca alla fiorentina
A big, busy trattoria on the Mercato Centrale square.
Worth the waitExpect: 30 to 45 min without a booking
Beat it: Book a table
L'Antico Trippaio
Centro Storico
The line is forA lampredotto panino, dipped, with salsa verde
The tripe cart behind Piazza della Signoria.
Worth the waitExpect: 10 to 20 min at lunch
Beat it: Go before 12:30pm
Vivoli
Santa Croce
The line is forGelato in a cup and an affogato
Florence's oldest gelateria, since the 1930s.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 30 min on summer evenings
Beat it: Go mid-afternoon
Gelateria Santa Trinita
Oltrarno
The line is forBlack sesame and the cream gelato
Gelato at the foot of the Ponte Santa Trinita.
Worth the waitExpect: 15 to 30 min in summer
Beat it: Go in the afternoon
All'Antico Vinaio
Via dei Neri, Santa Croce
The line is forThe La Paradiso (mortadella, pistachio cream, stracciatella)
The schiacciata sandwich with the world's longest Instagram queue.
Worth it, with a catchGreat value and a huge schiacciata, but Florentines are split on the hype. Go between meals (it's open 10am to 10pm) or try one of its other doorways on the same street.
Expect: 30 to 60 min
Beat it: Go early in the morning or late afternoon
Waits are what people usually see, not live times, and lines move and vanish: check hours before you go. Picked from Chef Amazing's Long lines lists (checked open Oct 23 2026) and checked against the press on 2026-11-12: toscana.info · curiousappetite.substack.com · afar.com.