pizza — Blog — ACE PAI

Pizza in Italy is not like pizza back home, there are less crazy toppings and no garlic dipping sauces (for non-american readers, yes that is apparently a thing in the US). Here, pizza is simple, served as a whole pie and often eaten with a fork and knife (hands are okay too). However, not every pizzeria is created equally and it is possible to have terrible pizza even in Italy. In the city of Florence there are a lot of tourist traps, so here is a guide for where to eat pizza in Florence.

1. Santarpia

42 hour fermented pizza dough and quality ingredients.

Ranked #24 out of 50 in the 50 Top Pizza guide by Gambero Rosso, Santarpia’s pizzas are some of the best you can find in Tuscany and certainly one of the best in Florence. Although it is located a little farther from the center near Mercato Sant’Ambrogio, the pizzas here are definitely worth a little detour (plus the area is less touristy). Santarpia is a trendy pizzeria among locals, so reservations are highly recommended. Gluten-free pizza dough and lactose-free mozzarella are available upon request (although I don’t recommend the lactose-free mozzarella) and should be mentioned during reservations if needed. Because their pizza dough is fermented for 42 hours and they use quality ingredients, the price point here is slightly more expensive than other places. However, instead of eating at a tourist restaurant where a Margherita can cost up to 15€, go to Santarpia for a real taste of Italian pizza.

Best vegan option: Marinara Gialla senza acciughe

*menu changes seasonally

Address: Largo Pietro Annigoni, 9, 50122 Firenze FI

2. Il Pizzaiuolo

Near Sant’Ambrogio, Pizzaiuolo is OG pizzeria that all Florentines love. Delicious pizzas at a reasonable price point.

If you ask a local Florentine where to have pizza, the most common answer will be Il Pizzaiuolo as this is one of the city’s most historical pizzerias. Established more than 20 years ago, Pizzaiuolo offers not only great Neapolitan pizzas but also many other dishes faithful to the Neapolitan tradition. The restaurant has a lovely traditional ambiance and is a must for those seeking to experience a more authentic dining environment. The pizzas here are not only delicious but very reasonably priced. On the menu, you can find pizzas that have their origin from the Campania region.

Best vegan option: Boscaiola (tomato, artichoke, mushroom, oregano and basil)

Address: Via dei Macci, 113r, 50122 Firenze FI

3. PizzAgnolo

A street away from Santa Croce, Pizzagnolo is a relatively new spot where the hip and young go.

Formerly Pizza Man, PizzAgnolo is a hip little place with a menu full of traditional and more experimental pizzas (such as pizzas topped with sweet potato chips). Here, you have the option to substitute the pizza dough with whole wheat, multigrain, or gluten-free dough. The doughs are all left to rise for no less than 24 - 36 hours. PizzAgnolo is great for both dining in and take away.

Best vegan option: Vegeteriana senza formaggio

Address: Via dell'Agnolo, 107 Rosso, 50122 Firenze FI

4. Mercato Centrale - La Pizzeria Sud

Open from 10 am to midnight, and located above Mercato Centrale is the best place to grab pizza when everywhere else in Florence is closed.

Mercato Centrale may seem touristy, but its actually a place where many locals frequent. When I first arrived in Florence and didn’t know about places such as Pizzaiuolo and Santarpia, the pizza stand at Mercato Centrale was my go-to as the pizzas here are soft, fragrant, and tasty. Today, La Pizzeria Sud is still one of my favourites as not only are the pizzas delicious but also because of the great atmosphere of the food hall at Mercato Centrale. At La Pizzeria Sud you can find a short list of the most common Italian flavours, and although there aren’t as many options here as there would be in a restaurant, you can be assured that they are equally as delicious.

Best vegan option: Pizza Marinara

Address: Mercato Centrale, Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 3, 50123 Firenze FI

5. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele

Real Neapolitan pizza in Florence. Here the pizzas are bigger than your plate!

L’ Antica Pizzeria da Michele from Naples is one of the oldest and most well-known name in Italy. Luckily, for those who don’t have time to go down to Naples but still want to try their pizza, they now have a restaurant in Florence! At the original location in Naples, they only serve two types of pizza: Marinara and Margherita, however, here in Florence, they also offer several other flavours. Dining at Da Michele is a truly unique experience as the pizza here are larger than the plate beneath it (known as pizza a ruota di carro or “cartwheel pizza“). L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele has been an Italian institution for more than a century so, now that it’s in Florence, come and try it for yourself!

Address: Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 22R, 50123 Firenze FI

6. Mister Pizza

Not bad for pizza at 4 a.m.

Mister Pizza is probably one of the most touristy pizzerias in the city and is not the first pizzeria I would recommend you to try in this list. However, it is the only pizzeria/restaurant open until 4 in the morning.. and desperate times calls for desperate measures. In all honesty, Mister Pizza is not terrible, but the dough does not live up to the standards of other pizzerias. Two things that you should definitely stay away from would be the gluten-free dough and the vegan cheese (bleh..). The Mister Pizza itself is a popular option and quite delicious. A tip for those who like their pizza crust on the crispier side: order it ben cotto (well-cooked).

Best vegan option: Vegeteriana con i funghi porcini senza formaggio

Address: Via Pietrapiana, 82, 50122 Firenze FI

Piazza del Duomo, 5r, 50122 Firenze FI