Florence is a beautiful city, but can also be pretty tourist trapped when it comes to food. Walk within a block of the Duomo or the Uffizi and you’ll find overpriced pizza and pasta. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to eat that way. From family-run trattorias to legendary sandwich counters in the historic center, cheap eats in Florence are scattered throughout once you know where to look.
This guide covers 9 cheap eats across Florence, from sit-down restaurants where you can get a full meal with wine for under €15, to takeaway counters with €5 sandwiches. Whether you’re a budget traveler trying to make every euro count or just someone who refuses to pay tourist prices for mediocre food, this list is for you.
📍Quick Picks: Best Cheap Eats in Florence at a Glance
Short on time? Here are my top picks for affordable food in Florence.
- Best sit-down meal under €15: Trattoria Sabatino
- Best budget lunch near the Duomo: Leonardo Self-Service
- Best hidden gem near the Uffizi: Osteria Buongustai
- Best value full sit-down dinner: La Fettunta
- Best budget schiacciata sandwiches: Il Bufalo Trippone
affiliate disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I personally use and believe in. Your support makes it possible for me to provide free travel guides. Thank you!
🍝 Sit-Down Restaurants: Cheap Eats in Florence
The following are my top picks for cheap eats in Florence where you can grab a table, a glass of wine, and enjoy for a while.
Trattoria Sabatino
Price range: ~€10–15 per person (including wine and starters) | Neighborhood: San Frediano 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
If there is one restaurant in all of Florence that embodies the spirit of affordable, authentic Florentine dining, it’s Trattoria Sabatino. This family-run trattoria has been operating since 1956 under the Buccini family. It’s the kind of place where the menu changes daily, the tables are communal, and the wine is cheap coming in at €3 for a carafe.
The prices here are genuinely some of the lowest you’ll find anywhere in Florence. Pasta dishes run around €5–6, and main courses like roast beef with roasted potatoes are typically around €7. A full meal with wine routinely comes in at under €15 per person. The daily menu includes classics like tagliatelle al sugo, ravioli and seasonal specials.
One thing to know: Sabatino does not take reservations, and it gets busy. The trick is to arrive right before they open and get in line early — for both lunch and dinner. Also be prepared to share a table, as they have communal seating.
Good to know: No reservations. Arrive before opening to get in line. Closed on weekends.
Ristorante Self-Service Leonardo
Price range: ~€10 per person | Neighborhood: Centro, near the Duomo 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
Self-Service Leonardo is in a fantastic location within five minutes of the Duomo, and totally beats the tourist traps in the area. Leonardo is a no-frills cafeteria on the second floor of a building on Via dei Pecori.
It’s counter service so just grab a tray, move along the counter, and choose from a rotating daily selection of authentic Italian dishes. Pasta dishes run around €5–6, second courses (meat and fish mains) are €6–8, and desserts like tiramisu are around €3. It’s entirely possible to have a full, satisfying lunch — primo, secondo, dessert, and a glass of wine — for around €13–15 per person.
Good to know: Located on the first floor (up the stairs). Can get busy at peak lunch hours. Free water.
Osteria Buongustai
Price range: ~€10-12 per person | Neighborhood: Centro, near Piazza della Signoria 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
If you’ve just spent the morning at the Uffizi or wandering around Piazza della Signoria, Osteria Buongustai is your reward. Steps from the most tourist-saturated piazza in Florence, this beloved osteria run by a group of women serves some of the best, affordable Florentine food you’ll find in the city center.
The food is delicious and the menu changes daily. Expect dishes like truffle pasta, pappardelle alla cinghiale (wild boar ragù), gnocchi, risotto, and tiramisu. Plates run between €5–9. For a full filling lunch in the heart of Florence’s historic center, that’s genuinely great value.
Good to know: Lunch only. Cash only. It’s a smaller space so get there on the early side.
La Fettunta
Price range: €10–18 per person | Neighborhood: Centro, near the Uffizi 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
Located near the Uffizi Gallery in the historic center, La Fettunta is a lively, rustic spot serving traditional dishes at prices that feel almost too good to be true given the location and quality. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a standout, along with homemade pastas and cold cut boards.
The ingredients are quality and the portions are generous. The house wine is good and inexpensive, and the staff are warm and helpful.
Good to know: Make a reservation, especially for dinner. The steak serves as a generous shared dish. Great house wine.
🥙 Takeaway & Street Food: Cheap eats in Florence on the go
Florence has some fantastic sandwich shops and takeaway. These are some of the best cheap eats Florence has to offer.
I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti
Price range: ~€9–10 | Neighborhood: Centro Storico, near Piazza della Signoria 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
Ask anyone who’s seriously eaten their way through Florence for the best schiacciata sandwich in the historic center, and I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti will come up every single time. This small spot near Piazza della Signoria has become one of the most beloved sandwich counters in the city — and for very good reason.
The specialty here is artisanal schiacciata, the classic Tuscan flatbread, stuffed with exceptional fillings. The bread is fantastic and the ingredients are fresh and high-quality. They do offer limited seating, and you should expect a queue during peak lunch hours.
Good to know: Takeaway-focused. Expect a queue at lunchtime. They also have cheap wine, and meat & cheese boards.
Il Bufalo Trippone
Price range: ~€3–5 per sandwich | Neighborhood: Centro, Near Palazzo Vecchio 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
This cozy little shop is stocked with high-quality cured meats, cheeses and wine. They have fantastic well-priced schiacciata sandwiches.
The shop is small. There is a very small amount of seating but most people eat standing or take their sandwich to a nearby piazza.
Good to know: Sometimes there is a short line, but not crazy long lines like other places nearby.
Pitti Express
Price range: ~€8 for lasagna, sandwiches from ~€5 | Neighborhood: Oltrarno, near Pitti Palace 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
Pitti Express is a beloved family-operated spot tucked near the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens in the Oltrarno.
The lasagna is legitimately special. Both the traditional ragù version and the pesto variation receive consistent praise. The lasagne runs around €8 a plate. The sandwiches are also great with vegan and vegetarian options. A glass of wine is €3, and a spritz is €5.
Good to know: Closed Tuesdays. The space is on the smaller size but does have seating. Cafe/wine bar vibe.
Amici di Ponte Vecchio
Price range: ~€6.50–9.50 | Neighborhood: Oltrarno, near Ponte Vecchio 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
A fantastic more under the radar sandwich shop. The owner Stefano bakes the bread fresh every morning and radiates genuine enthusiasm for what he does. They have well priced wine as well.
This is definitely a place to check out for a satisfying bite after exploring Ponte Vecchio or the Boboli Gardens.
Good to know: Closed Mondays. Small space with minimal seating.
Semel Street Food
Price range: ~€5 per sandwich, €1 glasses of wine | Neighborhood: Sant’Ambrogio 📍GOOGLE MAPS LINK
This small shop is a little further out, across from the Sant’Ambrogio market. They offer a small menu of daily-changing panini sandwiches.
These aren’t the massive, overloaded sandwiches you sometimes see. They are simple, delicious and affordable.
The vibe is cozy and off the beaten path.
Good to know: Great for takeaway as there is very limited seating.
Cheap Eats Florence Map
Map Key:
- 🟨 Yellow = Sit-down restaurants (budget friendly meals where you can linger)
- 🟩 Green = Quick bites & takeaway (sandwhiches, etc. )
A Note on Grocery Stores for Budget Travelers
If you want to make some sandwiches or supplement your meals with easy breakfasts or snacks, head to a grocery store in Florence for budget meals. The Sapori & Dintorni Conad (near Ponte Vecchio) and the Conad near the train station are the most convenient full grocery stores in the historic center.
🏨 Budget Stays Florence
Looking for more ways to save?
Accommodation is often the biggest portion of travel costs, so keeping this cost on the lower end is one of my favorite ways to save money on travels. If you haven’t already booked a place, I’ve done what I do best and gathered some of my top picks to save you the time (and headache) of sorting through it all.
💡 Budget Picks
Here are my top budget picks for Florence, in great central locations. As always, I recommend traveling in shoulder or off-season for the best deals.
- Althea Rooms — charming guesthouse near Pitti Palace
- Guesthouse Bel Duomo — center of town, right around the corner from the Duomo
- Soggiorno La Cupola — rooftop terrace with Duomo views, 5 min walk to the train station
- Hotel Romagna — no-frills hotel in the historic center
