Florence Central Market is the perfect venue for street food and gourmet cuisine, a place where tradition meets innovation to offer an unbeatable culinary experience.
Located in the San Lorenzo neighborhood, a stone’s throw from the Basilica di San Lorenzo, the Central Market is the go-to place for both Florentines and tourists alike.
It is a celebration of Tuscan and Italian cuisine, with a wide variety of high-quality fresh products.
Florence Central Market is not just for shopping - it is a real gastronomic and cultural hub expressing the region’s traditions and history.
With its variety of fresh produce, unique culinary experiences and lively atmosphere, it is an unmissable stop if you are looking for somewhere to eat in Florence.
The Central Market is formed of two floors: the ground floor features local producers’ stalls, while the second floor has a food hall with restaurants, coffee shops and tasters.
But let’s have a better look at what you can eat at Florence Central Market.
On the first floor, the main food offered includes:
- Cured Meats and Cheeses. Tuscany is famous for its cured meats, such as prosciutto toscano or Tuscan ham, a fennel salami called finocchiona and sausages. Local producers display a selection of artisan cheeses, including pecorino sheep’s cheese, representing the rich regional dairy tradition.
- Baked Goods. Tuscan bread, made without salt, is a staple part of the local cuisine. You can also discover typical sweet treats such as cantucci almond cookies and panforte fruitcake, which go perfectly with a good wine.
- Fruit and Vegetables. The market stalls offer a variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables as well as organic and sustainable ingredients.
- Wines and Oils. We cannot talk about Tuscan cuisine without mentioning wine and olive oil. You can find the region’s finest wines at the market, such as Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, along with high-quality extra virgin olive oils.
The second floor of the Central Market is a real paradise for any foodies.
Here, visitors can sample dishes made by famous chefs, who reinterpret traditional recipes with a contemporary twist.
At the various restaurants and bars, you can enjoy:
- Fresh Pasta. The restaurants offer a wide choice of fresh handmade pasta, with typical traditional Tuscan sauces, such as wild boar ragù or pesto alla genovese.
- Pizza and Focaccia. The specialties here include Tuscan focaccia, served warm and topped with fresh ingredients, as well as wood-fired pizzas.
- Gourmet dishes. Many chefs provide gourmet dishes combining local ingredients with modern culinary techniques, offering an alternative to the classics of Tuscan cuisine.
Both floors are covered by a WiFi connection.
The Central Market regularly hosts events, tasting sessions and cooking classes, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in Tuscan food culture.
Cooking classes, bread-making workshops and wine tasting are just some of the activities that enhance the market experience.
To stay up-to-date on all the latest scheduled events, we recommend visiting the official website of Florence Central Market.
Here are our suggestions about how to get to Florence Central Market:
On foot.
It is easy to get to the Central Market on foot. It is located on Via dell’Ariento, in the San Lorenzo neighborhood, a few minutes from the Duomo.
By car.
The Central Market is located in the heart of Florence, where the limited traffic zone (LTZ) is in force. We therefore recommend parking in one of the car parks outside the LTZ and continuing on foot.
By train.
Florence Central Market is only 875 yards from Santa Maria Novella train station.
By tram or bus.
By tram, you can take the T2 tramway and get off at the “Alamanni – Stazione” stop. From here, it is only a short walk to the market.
For bus lines, we recommend the ones which stop close to the Market: 1, 6, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23, 36, 37, C2, C4.
The Central Market is open every day at the following times:
First Floor (food market and stalls):
Monday to Sunday: 7:00 am to 2:00 pm approximately.
Second Floor (restaurants and food hall):
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 am to midnight
Entry to the Central Market is free.
In any case, we recommend checking the Central Market’s official website or its social media channels for any changes to opening times or special events that could affect your visit.
If you would like to stay in the heart of Florence old town but would still like to be within easy reach of the Central Market, then the FH55 Hotel Calzaiuoli is the perfect spot.
The Market is only an 8-minute walk from the FH55 Hotel Calzaiuoli, passing in front of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and then arriving at the S. Lorenzo neighborhood.
Its strategic location means it is easy to reach the Central Market and other important places for Florence’s street food.
