Borgo San Iacopo

Borgo San Iacopo feels like the backstage corridor to Ponte Vecchio. One block off the river, the street runs tight between stone towers and post-war stand-ins, a cross-section of everything Florence has been made to survive. It takes its name from San Jacopo Soprarno, an old riverside church, and from the families who once lived in these vertical houses: Barbadori, Belfredelli, Rossi-Cerchi. In 1944 most of the borgo was blown open by German mines; what you see now is a stitched-together street, with patched façades keyed to the height and colour of the towers that remained. Ground level is all present tense – apartments, boutiques, trattorias and a fine-dining room looking back to the Arno.

Beautiful like all the historic center of Florence, but extremely busy with pedestrians, cars and motorcycles, even in September, early autumn. Impossible to walk around slowly seeing the sights with due attention. Overwhelming.

Award winning pizza. Lives up to the hype. A definite recommend. Coo

Cramped and enclosed, and a hive of activity as I strolled through, had to take a couple of snaps of the scenes.

Il Borgo San Jacopo è posto nel centro storico di Firenze, si incontra sulla destra dopo avere attraversato l’iconico Ponte Vecchio. Con il termine “borgo” si indicano le antiche strade che si sviluppavano fuori dalle mura medievali. LE TORRI MEDIEVALI: Dalle case si vedono emergere alcune torri, fra le quali ne segnalo due: Torre dei Rossi-Cerchi della famiglia guelfa dei Rossi, fu danneggiata dai ghibellini dopo la battaglia di Montaperti nel 1260 e poi ricostruita. Torre dei Belfredelli è da vedere poiché e una delle meglio conservate, con una facciata in pietra a vista. Si tratta di strutture dell’alto medioevo che rappresentavano il potere delle nobili famiglie fiorentine. La Fontana del Bacco: arte e ironia rinascimentale Si trova all’interno di una nicchia posta alla base della Torre dei Rossi-Cerchi uno dei quei luoghi nascosti, che si possono scoprire solo camminando lentamente con curiosità. Questa bella composizione, in posizione elevata mediante tre gradini ai due lati, venne realizzata nella prima metà del XIX secolo. A fior di terra vi è una antica vasca marmorea sulla quale è posta una base dove si trova un altorilievo leonino dal quale, quando è funzionante, sgorga l’acqua che si riversa sulla vasca. Sopra la base è posta una statua bronzea che rappresenta Bacco realizzata dal famoso scultore fiammingo Giambologna, il quale realizzò diverse opere a Firenze. UN’ESPERIENZA PERSONALE: Con piacere ho soggiornato in questo borgo, e ho avuto modo nelle mie passeggiate di ammirare torri medievali, arte e varie curiosità nascoste. CURIOSITÀ: LO SAI CHE…? Borgo San Jacopo fu una delle poche vie dell’Oltrarno che durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale, non venne distrutta dai bombardamenti tedeschi, che fecero saltare tutti i ponti tranne l’adiacente Ponte Vecchio. Attualmente è una via dove vi sono botteghe artigiane, gallerie d’arte e ristoranti dove si può ancora ammirare la Firenze rinascimentale. UNA IMMERSIONE NEI DETTAGLI DI FIRENZE: Borgo San Jacopo non è solo una strada: ma è interessante per chi ama scoprire la Firenze più autentica, lontana dai riflettori ma ricca di fascino e storie da raccontare. Se avete gradito questa lettura, vi invito a scoprire le altre mie recensioni.

È una strada del centro molto utile per recarsi in zona S. Spirito da Ponte Vecchio, peccato non sia solo pedonale.

Ho passato un week end ed ho soggiornato proprio a borgo san jacopo, raggiungibile facilmente in auto, ma io ero a piedi. Devo dire unaltro bel posto di firenze; praticamente oltrepassando ponte vecchio in direzione palazzo pitti, girare a destra subito dopo il ponte.

Gece de gündüz de ayrı keyifliydi.

Service- 10 stars. Extremely fancy place where the servers will watch your every move in case you need their assistance. Food was pretty- I mean looked like works of art. But It wasn't that delicious. I expected a lot more for a Michelin starred restaurant. But this is as fine dinning as it gets. Even though we didn't do the tasting menu and ordered a la carte dishes, the chef prepared a lot of tastings that are sent to the table. Also, my wife absolutely loved her steak.

Excellent food, wonderful experience, service was so attentive and welcoming. I suggest the wine pairing, it was a night to remember

One of my favorite memories from Italy, but I would probably only go if you can get a table outside, and ideally in the late afternoon for the sunset. Loved all the details, from the glassware to the decor. Food was great of course. The watermelon carpaccio to start was so refreshing, and they made the watermelon in a way to look like meat. The cold tomato coup was super good - not too savory and two different types of crunch from the croutons and peppers. All courses were well balanced. Would love to go back some day.

Very flavorful. Quality service and hospitality. We had exceptional food and wine pairings. The outside seating has a beautiful view of the Arno river. Would recommend.

(June 2024) This is my favorite Michelin so far, with outstanding service and novel, fresh fare in a gorgeous setting. We sat inside, upstairs, in a lovely historical building with a water view, though the experience was all about the food and its presentation. There was not a single flaw; hands down, it was the best dessert I've ever had! BRAVA!

Our best meal on our trip to Italy. Planned to order a la carte, so made reservations for a simple booking on their website. My husband and I got there and decided to try one of their two tasting menus. Our waiter suggested that we pick the same tasting menu, so that our dishes could be served at the same time. We decided on their spring tasting menu. Every course (except their mullet fish course) was amazing. Some highlights were the mozzarella cream (served with the breadsticks), artichoke, ravioli with peas (though my husband would probably argue the consommé was the star), and lamb loin (which I usually don't even like). My husband also ordered the wine pairing and loved the wines. I was actually hesitant to even dine here. I usually stay away from restaurants with nice views, because in my experience, their food is lacking and/or overpriced. Borgo San Jacopo had fantastic food, wine, service, and views. Worth every penny.

A beautiful, two-level restaurant overhanging the Arno River, about 150m from the Ponto Vecchio. I initially thought that all of us tourists were sequestered away on the second floor, because among the eight tables, I didn't hear a single word of Italian for almost three hours. Not true. It was just a slow night. I did enjoy the minimally decorated oxtail tortelli. The more traditionally embellished tuna belly with pumpkin millefeuille and pigeon breast / thigh / liver was also good. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by the dark chocolate pudding / tonka bean ice cream dessert. And the porcini / chanterelle / ricotta / black truffle soup, while flavorful, was not so much soup and more of a sautéed vegetables that could be enjoyed with a fork. But the service was pretty attentive, so I'll have to return on my next visit. 2022 20 01. M1.

Most of these reviews are not congruent with our experience. For us, this was precisely what we expected from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Florence. Instead of the tasting we went with an a la carte selection, and we were rewarded. The Calamara and those little cups with the sauce were the pinnacle of Italian cuisine; I will remember them for the rest of my life. Service was great (though, as mentioned on TA, a little pushy) and the space is gorgeous. Do note that some reviews mention a patio, but in early October the patio was not open and there was no evidence of there being seating on the patio.

Don't waste a meal here when there are so many other wonderful restaurants in Florence. I booked here because it was a Michelin starred restaurant. Wow! I was so wrong. Michelin should go back and reassess. Food was bland and uninspired. For 160 and 170 Euro tasting menus, you would expect to be wowed! The dishes were pretty but there was nothing worthy of noting. Literally nothing was special. If you are in Florence on vacation for a short period of time, don't bother coming here. You don't want to waste a meal going here. The website is really deceptive. It looks very expensive and modern but you will be left completely disappointed. Michelin folks - you should go back and try this again. I'm not sure what they did to get a star but there was no portion of this meal worthy of a Michelin star.

The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, as you are greeted by a small library of books by the sitting area. Wine bottles decorate shelves facing the sitting area and then extend into a bar. Everyone was polite and friendly. The view of Ponte Vecchio was picturesque and dinner at sunset was absolutely romantic. Dinner was a delightful array of forward, cleverly curated, gastronomic delights. Simple and elegantly plated dishes, but each was more delightful the prior. Service was impeccable and wine pairing suggestions were on point. All in all, one of our most memorable dining experiences in Florence.

Outstanding food and service with incredible views of the River Arno. Highly recommend!

Guided by Michelin, we visited. The service, ambience, and wine list were terrific, and they were very accommodating of a food intolerance. The food, however, did not meet expectations. Each of the dishes appeared to be trying very hard to be exciting and novel, but none left me wanting a second helping. Two, I didn't finish. Compared to the many other cheaper meals I had in Italy, this was underwhelming.

We decided to go to this restaurant for the outdoor view it offers on the water, as well as it being a Michelin Star restaurant. However, the view from sitting outdoors was more memorable than my food. The cocktails were delicious but the food was not extraordinary.

Three stars is a gift, earned only because of their seamless accommodation of my daughter's gluten-free menu. The staff, however, was otherwise undeservingly pretentious, apathetic, and lazy. The sommelier was uninspired. The food was good to good+, but not great or amazing. Wouldn't return.

On a whirlwind trip through Firenze and only have time for lunch? It ought to be at Borgo San Jacopo. Why? Allow me to count the ways. - A table on the balcony will afford you fantastic views of the Ponte Vecchio and River Arno. - A fantastic lunch at a ridiculously good value which will delight both your palate and the aesthete in you: this food looks as good as it tastes. - Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication: your plate will arrive with the freshest tomatoes, avocados, tuna, cheese. It'll be gorgeous but without pretense: no silly foams and squiggles here, just incredibly bright, fresh food. That's what you came to Italy to eat, isn't it? I dined with my most food-knowledgeable friend in Firenze -- this dude seriously knows his stuff -- and lunch here left me with no reason to ponder why he's such a big fan of Borgo San Jacopo. Certainly among the top meals I've had in Italy.

Atomsphere- elegant. Interior. River view at evening transcends like a movie scene as sitting on 2nd floor by window. Food- As foodie who appreciate crusine art from various cultures, probably the worst dining experience we been to recent years. We tried both "Experience" and "Tuscany" menu. "Experience" despite eye catching evokes not sure about memory in mouth given mixture of extremely strong taste, very salty! We could hardly have third spoons of risotto and too much sauce ruining other dishes. Piglet and prawn is only ok dish. "Tuscany" tries for a twist from local ingredients but plain. Service- Initial service was good but lack of attention to details. They took back the very salty rissoto dishes but replacing cheese caviar which was still very salty due to the sauce. We were expecting simple explaining how issues would be handled but in the end it would require our constant attention. Dining speed was very slow. Not sure what was going on withthe manager as she simply did not ask for our feedback and comment. Not how a Michelin star restaurant would acted..

The service was impeccable and the food was great! I did the Tuscany tasting. It is great if you want to capture the essence of where you are! I also did the wine pairing! Worth the Michelin Star!

The My Tuscany tasting was very nice, but I was not quite on board with the two dessert dishes. The "Maledetto Tuscany" with the cigar, and Florentine Checkers. The cigar cake was interesting because it started out as four different color and flavored cakes. But as I was eating it, the varying spices did not sit well in my mouth. When I was served The chocolates of the Florentine Checkers, the waiter said, "Some are sweet, some are salty. You have to discover by yourself. I did not discover anything because none of them seemed to taste salty to me. But maybe it is just because of my unrefined palette. Aside from those two dishes, the others were bursting with the right flavors. Props to the chef's creativity in his works! I admired each dish before digging into them as if they were works of art.

If you are looking for a traditional Michelin restaurant, including Michelin service, this isn't the restaurant for you. The food was lovely and the kitchen effortlessly accommodated a gluten allergy in our party. Other than that, this was a poor excuse for service at any upscale restaurant, let alone one with a Michelin star. Service was consistently disinterested and did the bare minimum. Sommelier was unimpressive and took no time to explain why he picked what he did, and assumed we didn't know what he was talking about. I waited outside of the kitchen door for SIX MINUTES attempting to get my coat while the staff drank in the kitchen. As of the 27th of November, this place isn't what it once was. Head to Buca Mario, La Giostra, or Frescobladi for wonderful food AND service- otherwise you'll feel totally ripped off. 3 stars only because the kitchen shouldn't be punished for an embarrassing front of the house.

A diamond would be more appropriate than 5 stars. Each facet of a diamond is beautiful and enjoyable. The location, especially on the balcony over the Arno with a view of the Ponte Vecchio, is one of the most memorable of my life. The service was impeccable. The sommelier David led us to Italian wine that was revelatory. Don't hesitate to avail yourself of his incredible depth of knowledge of wine, especially nontraditional and somewhat quirky Italian bottles. The food was delicious, fun, and technically superb. It was our most creative meal in Italy. The service was attentive and relaxed in that we never felt rushed in the slightest. We were allowed to enjoy our most incredible perch over the Arno from dusk to dark. Paul (?) our waiter was superb and an enjoyable addition to the experience. A gem. Make a reservation. I hope you get the balcony. It may very well make your day or your trip to Florence, or your honeymoon or engagement, etc. I am so glad you may have the experience.

I was on the fence if BSJ deserves its Michelin Star based on my experience. Don't get me wrong--it's one of the most romantic restaurants we have dined at in Florence. We reserved the outdoor balcony seating with a beautiful view of the Arno River near Ponte Vecchio and enjoyed the sunset. We opted for the tasting menus: I got the "Potatoes and Potatoes", which honor's Chef Peter Brunel's roots from Northern Italy. My husband got "My Tuscany" of traditional, yet modern dishes. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy my very first dish, the Campari bitter chips. I'm not a fan of Campari though, so I just left it alone. Therefore, it was simply a plate of potato chips. I enjoyed most of my other dishes, my favorite being the two colors of the potato with lake and land eggs (white potato veloutè and coal with trout and hen eggs, smoked paprika, asparagus)--I could've eaten that three times over! The textures were spectacular, the amazing taste from each container (one white, one black) was exploding in my mouth and I couldn't get enough of it! I was scraping the sides and almost wanted to start licking the little bowls but then remembered where I was...lol. The wild boar ravioli is divine, as is the steamed foie gras. Very well cooked, with succulent flavors blending together perfectly to make some well-rounded dishes. We didn't care much for the desserts, especially the Tuscan cigar with grappa. It really was quite unappealing for our particular taste, with its ashy texture. I felt like I smoked a cigarette after that one. I appreciate the effort by the chef for thinking outside the box though. The Florentine checkers are cute and well presented, but didn't taste any different from regular chocolate truffles I could get at the grocery store. In fact, they were a bit hard. Our waitress was informative, but slightly abrasive in character--maybe she was having one of those days. The time lapse between each dish seemed like an eternity, pushing our dining experience to 3 hours for 7 courses. By then it had gotten extremely chilly outside, so that was a slight damper (not their fault, I asked for it!).

Best thing about our dinner was the wine. The service was good, too. As far as the food, not at all worthy of a Michelin star, even if the presentation makes it look like it should be. My 44 euro main of lamb was nothing more than some decently cooked meat - so uninspiring and lacking in creativity. The dish was served with four raw spinach leaves on top - why?! It just felt lazy. My husband was equally disappointed in his main of pigeon with foie gras. All in all so not worth the 300 euro price tag. The place was full of tourists who most likely think food priced that high must be good, so they rave about it.

We went for one of the special Spoon events where guest Michélin chefs work on each of the 5 courses, in addition to aperitivo. From the first popped champagne bottle to the last of delicate fruit macaron and sorbetto pairings, the dinner was exceptional and beyond what I've ever experienced. Caviar was the guest star of the aperitivo, popping up in almost all of the hor d'oeuvres. I had to have seconds of a potato foam with salmon roe and a crab scoop with caviar. Fine wines from the region accompanied each course, and they were very generous with the pourings. As the primo, wild boar ravioli were served in an exquisite senese pig reduction. For the entrée, an interesting pigeon dish with fried liver popsicle opened my palette to a new species of fowl. My favorite part of the night was dessert, even though I normally am not a dessert fanatic. Miniature meringue birds sat on top of frosted fruit gelée on a pistachio creme spiral dotted by flower petals, sorbet, and small fruits. Simply sublime, and I will definitely be returning!

We had a lot of casual Tuscan food but wanted to see what a fancier Michelin Star version would be like. Borgo San Jacopo is located right by the water, which gives a nice view. First off, they were extremely understanding about us running late as tourists. Once you enter, it's a very relaxed feel, and everyone is super polite. Most diners were American, but there were some Italians. They started us with some red wine focaccia with olive oil, which is a nice change from the standard bland and dry traditional Florentine bread. They offer a la carte and 3 tastings (€120 each). It's nice that they had a vegetarian one! We ended up both getting the potato one, though I regret not getting one of the traditional menus since the chef does interesting spins on traditional things like ribollita. The wine list had a lot more French selections than a lot of the other restaurants we've been to. As a result, prices can run higher, but we found a great Sangiovese blend that I really liked; it was biodynamic/ organic and really reasonably priced. The potato tasting: 1. Negroni: I kept saying how I should have a traditional Italian cocktail, and I got one! It was served on a plate out of a mini repurposed Campari bottle, poured into a cute glass with an "olive" and "orange." The olive was actually a green peach with truffle that tasted like an olive (slightly different texture), and there was orange ice. On the side was a mini fryer basket with paper thin Campari marinated chips. I thought this presentation was awesome 2. Fossil: a potato that it looks like it's covered in ash and looks like a grey stone. It's meant to be eaten by hand, and you dip it in a beet root mayo 3. Flourless: potato "noodle" carbonara with pecorino, pancetta, and a soft sabayon - like a real carbonara but a different texture 4. Potatoes with foam: there was one with Roman cabbage and a pasteurized egg (egg of the land), topped with shaved Tuscan truffles. The other had roe (eggs of the sea) and was topped with cayenne and paprika. I really enjoyed both. They're both rich, and it was nice to switch back and forth between the two 5. Game of textures (piglet): pork with nicely crisped skin, topped with scampi and a savory gelee, with shiitakes and a pork jus reduction. This course was great with the wine, and I soaked up the leftover jus with focaccia Before the final courses, they changed us it to fresh napkins, which was a nice touch. 6. Below zero: purple potato with mango, coconut, and a yogurt foam: this was like an Asian dessert - with flavors of coconut, taro, mango, and mini tapioca. It was super pretty with orange and purple and had lots of textures 7. Potato pralines: chocolate and potato truffles in a box. These didn't taste like potato at all and were nicely bitter sweet, not too sugary We were the last diners, but they were nice about letting us linger. Service was very gracious throughout the meal. In the end, I was a little surprised that espresso and water prices were more like US pricing (€5 for espresso, €7 per bottle of Pellegrino) - different from the other Michelin starred places we had gone to in Alba on this trip. However, overall, it was still a really nice dinner experience and a great final meal/date night in Florence.

Fantastic views of the river, impeccable service. Great wine selection. Loved my risotto with black truffles. Make a reservation and request a table near the window or on the balcony (if opened)

Michelin 1 star- over-rated Service great Food unexciting especially at 5-star price Would not advise, won't go back If interested in high end meal, try Four Seasons hotel restaurant

Exemplary on all counts. Service, food, ambiance - the view of the river is exquisite! They went out of their way to make our celebration ever so special. Can't wait to return.

Incredible culinary experience. When I have the words, I will try to express how great everything tasted. I had the Tuscan tasting menu--absolutely fabulous.

Fabulous ! Service and Cuisine reach summits in this beautiful place next to the Arno. They accepted our children and made us feel comfortable around the degustation menus that explore all the best dishes in Tuscany : Pappa al Pomodoro, Ribollita, Tagliata... You can also expect a World-Class service and great souvenirs from the experience.

This place was very uneven in its food. I had the vegetables with black truffle as a starter, this was a fairly cute presentation - pretend grass (sprouts) studded with very al dente vegetables and salad. The truffle was lacking in all flavor. This was followed by a boar filled pasta which was excellent. Unfortunately, one dinner companion ordered the "potato" spaghetti. Do not do this - this dish consisted of almost raw spaghetti shaped potatoes with a carbonara type presentation. Almost resulted in an argument with the hostess! My main course was competently prepared suckling pig complemented by slightly cooked scampi and asparagus. I do not generally eat desert. I would not eat here again. For this amount of money, you can eat a lot better in Florence. They did not charge for the potato dish.

The restaurant itself is lovely and the food was creative. The chef worked really hard to create an enjoyable meal. The service was very good up until the end when it was difficult for us to get anyone's attention to get coffee, dessert, and our bill, which is one of the reasons for 4 stars instead of 5.

Splurge worthy. This place is not cheap. But, worth the once in a while splurge. The setting is stunning, especially if you can score a spot on the balcony overlooking the river. But otherwise, there are plenty of tables inside and no reservations needed. Food is spectacular. The guinea fowl with tomato cream sauce was delightful. The traditional seafood soup is one of the best tomato based seafood soups I've had. The sea beam was cooked perfectly. Service was impeccable and they paid great attention to all the details to each person that walks in and sits down. The recommendations from the staff were on point. Also, make sure to dress up nicely for this place. They treat everyone with a lot of respect even with a tshirt, shorts and sneakers. But if you are going to drop some money here, might as well dress up and have fun. You wouldn't want to look out of place coming here.

DO NOT EAT AT THIS RESTAURANT IF YOU HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES. As a michelin star restaurant, we assumed that we would be taken care of here. My boyfriend has a serious nut allergy and they served him nuts in a dish and almost killed him. No apology was issued, no refund was offered, and we were extremely disappointed in this restaurant. They swore that all precautions were taken for the allergy and insinuated that they did nothing wrong. 6 Hours in the ER later, theres really no doubt that he was served nuts. The food was good (minus the foie gras, which was really bland), but the service was horrendous. They do not deserve a Michelin Star.

Simply beautiful. Today we had lunch on a table at the terrace. The view is a pleasure, so was the food.