Restaurants in Florence

The location of this pizzeria, on the small square below Brunelleschi's clean-lined church of Santo Spirito, draws a young and trendy crowd, especially during the summer, when tables are set outside. The service can be slapdash and the music loud but the buzz and the great pizzas (covered with everything from gorgonzola and ham to four cheeses) more than compensate; other offerings include Tagliata ti manzo con aceto balsamico sale rosa e patate arrosto (beef with balsamic vinegar, pink salt, and roast potatoes). Diners should reserve a spot in advance, as the restaurant tends to get busy.

Under hams dangling from the rafters, waiters run between busy tables and the wood-panelled walls are crammed with photos of writers in this old-fashioned, refectory-style trattoria - holder of a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The Latini family encourages the sense of fun with helpful service and Tuscan home cooking of hearty bean and vegetable soups, stews, wild boar steaks and hand-cut cold meats.

Set one block back from the Arno, this eaterie offers rustic surroundings, with a barnlike, beamed interior, and atmosphere relaxed; video screens show the action in the kitchen. The creative set menu has tempting offerings, such as ravioli di pesce con gamberi, salsa di gamberi e carciofi croccanti (fish ravioli with crawfish, crawfish sauce and fried artichoke), on a menu that changes daily. Otherwise diners can tuck into plates of cold meats, sausages and cheese with wine, served by the glass or bottle, from the excellent list.

This family-run restaurant overlooking the Arno is a traditional Tuscan trattoria offering bare brick walls and a warm welcome. The antipasti and the bistecca alla fiorentina (a T-bone steak dabbed with virgin olive oil and cooked over glowing charcoal) are both excellent, while vegetarians will enjoy dishes such as penne with pumpkin flowers. Desserts include traditional favourites such as tiramisu and chocolate tart. This venue is always deservedly popular, particularly on a hot summer's day.

Situated between the cathedral and the Bargello Museum, this trattoria, the name of which roughly translates as 'crude in manner', cannot be beaten for value for money. Diners sit at wooden tables, happily feasting on steaming plates of pasta, washed down by simple jugs of red wine. Firm favourites include hearty Tuscan ribollita (bread and vegetable soup), spaghetti alle vongole (with mussels) and lasagne al forno.

This cool, contemporary restaurant attracts a fashionable crowd of 20- and 30-something locals. The ornate coffered ceiling (covered in winter with drapes) and exquisite stained glass windows are complemented by simple, dark, wood tables and low white seats. The menu changes regularly and features seasonal produce. Dishes might include tagliatelle with pheasant sauce, beef fillets with black truffle sauce, or wild boar loin cooked in Brunello wine and served with polenta. There is also a chic American bar which serves a good aperitivo (early-evening drinks with accompanying snacks), under high ceilings hung with a rainbow of lampshades.

This modern and cheery bistro fizzes with atmosphere. It's an intimate bottle-lined locale, where plates line the rustic walls, and art, fashion and food draw a late-night crowd of journalists, American students, actors and cognoscenti. The menu offers dishes such as cannelloni with marscapone and mushrooms, and taster platters, such as strips of beef served with dipping sauces, and selections of salads, pasta, cheeses and excellent wines.

In the buzzing markets of Sant'Ambrogio, Fabio Picchi's renowned restaurant and trattoria, Il Cibreo, has made an art form of jazzing up rustic Florentine ingredients. Especially recommended are the passato di peperoni gialli (a yellow pepper soup), and spiced candied fruit mostarda (a type of condiment) eaten with local cheeses. Vegetarians are catered for, too. It is advisable for diners to reserve for premium service in the restaurant or take a chance at the neighbouring Cibreino trattoria, where they'll have to jostle for the marble-top tables but pay half the price.

An appealingly hidden-away find, Cavolo Nero is an intimate dining room where you can feast on dishes from all over Italy, given a contemporary twist. Choices include pasta con le sarde e finocchietto (pasta with sardine e wild fennel) and petto di pollo ripieno di verdure con salsa di menta e yogurt (chicken breast filled with vegetables and yogurt and mint sauce). The jasmine-shaded outdoor terrace is a must in warm weather.