Piazza del Mercato Centrale

This is a great spot to go for browsing/buying fresh food, to eat lunch at dozens of different restaurant stalls, or for buying a variety of food products such as truffles, balsamic vinegar, etc. We wound up eating here multiple times and every experience was positive. It can serve any purpose from a quick snack to a filling entree. Or, you can easily assemble the makings of the best picnic of your life!

This is an amazing place to go where you can find an abundance of different food options and cuisines from all over. It is quite busy and crowded but I ended up going back multiple times. The sandwiches at La Schiacciata are some of the best you will ever have. Massimiliano is very nice and a great chef. We tried one or two other places such as the pizza and they were very good as well.

So many options to choose from here and they're all incredible. I got the Lampredotto sandwich (tripe). It was one of my favorite dishes on my whole Italy trip. The meat is so tender and juicy and the sauce complements the flavor of the meat. Service was incredible. All the sandwiches were made to order. The food hall was really fun and had a lively atmosphere. There is a bar in the middle of the market. You can sit anywhere and order drinks from there

Located in the heart of Florence. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, it's a nice place to go in and browse. It's a large building with two floors offering breads, sandwiches, pastries, meats, beverages, and fish, which are just some of the things that are offered in the many different stalls. It's usually very crowded. If you go upstairs, it's more calmer and there are large tables to sit at and eat with additional dining options. It might be a bit pricier here because it's an attraction. There are ample restrooms inside. Bon appetite!

Such a cool spot! Mixed watering hole for locals and tourists. Don't let the aggressive vendors surrounding the market scare you off. Once inside there are TONS of great food options. A lot of the vendors offer free samples which I recommend trying because everything has such great flavor. There's a full bar in the middle and other food vendors sell wine/ beer too. Strong drinks- $9 for a spritz but it's strong and good flavor. You can get food wherever and eat at any table then get a drink at the middle bar. The building is so cool. The decorations above are great and the restored historic building adds to the cool vibe. There's a cooking school inside where you can sign up to take classes.

The best pasta I had during a busy tourist season, served hot and fresh and made to order. Inexpensive fare but hits all the marks. I went twice. There is also a stand selling humongous yeast donuts.

My husband and I had a lovely lunch at the Mercato central! We ate pizza at Romualdo Rizzuti, which was delicious! Really, really yummy pizza! We also had pasta at Famiglia Michelis, which was delicious! The mozzarella ball was AMAZING! It's busy, but worth a trip!

Cool spot to check out if you're visiting as a tourist! It was nice to just see the market. It was extremely crowded when we went around lunch time on a Sunday. There's multiple different food options including pasta, pizza, meat skewers, and more American food. Food here can be hit or miss, next time I'd probably just eat elsewhere else in the city for something more authentic. We ordered gnocchi, which had a great texture, and a carbonara dish which was extremely salty and hard to eat. Meat skewers were good but nothing out of the ordinary. It's first come first serve in terms of sitting at the tables.

Array of food choices and fresh produce The food court is the main attraction to grab some quick bites All very good and a nice way to pick up a few things and grab a bite. Is it a must go? Eh But worth while if you have the time Service is ok in the food court as they have people taking drink orders Atmosphere is still a food court but in Italy!! Cute place

Such an amazing market. We got to try some amazing pastries, tried some great truffle products and dried chiles, and even got to eat at 3 different restaurants on the 2nd floor. Highly recommend to those looking to purchase unique gifts.

OBSESSED with this place! This is a must visit place when in Florence. There are 2 floors and the main floor has local produce, meats, etc. This floor is more of a super market vs the 2nd floor is full of different restaurants. The 2nd floor is a very casual spot that has everything in 1 building. Italian food, Japanese food, green food, etc. there are several dessert spots as well. Once you place your order in with any vendor there are TVs that will have your order number and place of restaurant displayed when your items are ready to be retrieved. This is a great spot if you're looking for something on the quicker side. Keep in mind that this does get busy however I think this is still a quicker and more plentiful option compared to a sit down restaurant.

Lots of great food and drink options here. We tried pastas from a few different vendors and they were all so delicious. We discovered that this central market company is located in a few major cities around the country, and while the english menus and pictures might be an indicator of it being a tourist grab, we were very satisfied with our time here.

Bustling market in Florence with many food options! A variety of fresh meat and vegetables were available.

It's the central market in Florence, and expect a lot of crowds from locals and tourists. I think you'll like it if you aim to get variety chicories of food and drinks here, although you'll have to deal with many people and usually share table with strangers.

Mercato Centrale is a must when visiting Florence. Yes, it's touristy but it's worth the visit. Outdoors, you have dozens of stalls selling souvenirs, and questionably real leather goods. I did buy a few things with the expectation that they may be fake but I was okay with that. Just make sure you haggle! Inside the market is where you'll find all the food. On the first level, you have some small (but delicious) food stalls, produce, meat, and gifts (think olive oil, balsamic, etc.) for sale. On the second level is a modernized food court with a few sit down stalls. Yes, the food is slightly more expensive than what you would find outside the market, but it truly is a feast for the eyes. If you're going with a group of people, everyone is bound to find something they like to eat here. We visited the market multiple times during our stay - once at around 1 PM, and another time when it was almost closing at 3. Both times were pretty crowded but close to closing was the most crowded. Best way to avoid all the people is to probably visit when it opens. While the food stalls in the market close at 3, the leather goods outside are around until maybe 7 or 8. So the best game plan is to go in first and grab a bite, and then you'll have energy for all that shopping!

My family spent three nights in Florence recently. Two of those days we took 10+ hour tours of the surrounding area. A few things are certain, after that long in 95 plus degree heat, you're not going to want a fancy sit down dinner and you're going to be hungry. That's where having an epic local food court comes in. As Americans, "food court" has a negative connotation. Forgot whatever you've thought about food courts, Mercato Centrale is one banging food stall after the other. If I was in town longer, I would have tried them all. I did get to have a truly authentic tripe sandwich (lampredotto) that was a flavor bomb with great texture! Another night my wife and I shared an epic rotisserie chicken, rice, and roasted potatoes. Yet another time, we shared epic roast pork (juicy and tender) with a side of baked beans which were the best we've had! So basically, a snack and two dinners in three days. Can't beat that! Only downside, place is not air conditioned. Still worth it! Almost forgot to mention, kids enjoyed a pizza from a highly regarded pizzeria that was in the food court as well! Can't beat that!

We didn't make it here early enough to have a look at the market on the first floor, something I'll regret until I can come back to Florence one day (which might never happen since it may not have been my favorite city, after Rome, on this trip.) We did, however, make it to the second floor to have dinner. I love me a food hall. I try to find one in every city I visit and this one did not disappoint. I hadn't realized it was a bit of a chain (we went to the one in Rome as well) but that didn't matter because the food was good, the drinks were strong and there was plenty of seating. There were a lot of different kinds of seating, some high tops, some low. Some communal tables, some separated. The building itself was beautiful, the ceiling was nice to look at. There are plenty of stalls to choose food from. There are many local specialties sold here, like lampredotto, black truffle in everything and Florentine steak. There are also a lot of general Italian and some other foods, like sushi or kebobs. The tableside service, which we didn't really use, seemed to be fast and efficient. The same servers were clearing tables and they were pretty on top of it.

We visited Rome, Italy and took a day trip to Florence. Mercado Centrale was the place to find lunch! The bottom level is mostly mea market stalls. Upstairs has dining options. We found a spot(I can't tell the name from the receipt). I had Brasato Di Mailino - pork with potatoes & salad. The pork was amazing and the potatoes good. But the salad was SALTED! Yuck! He had Tagliata Di pollo- chicken plus rice and salad. It was good too. Afterwards walking around we saw this amazing piece of meat being cut for sandwiches.

So many options to choose from. Mostly market style vendors downstairs and then upstairs more like a food hall that stays open later. They also have lots of seating including a bar.

So many beautiful choices of food and flavors it's hard to decide what to try first!! Everything is so fresh and delicious, I could have stayed there and eaten all day!! We settled for a lovely charcuterie board and wine! It was wonderful!

Great find in Florence Beautiful market on the bottom floor selling fresh meat, fish, cheese, salame, prosciutto etc. The top floor had approximately 30 different prepared food vendors including at least one full service bar. We sampled the Florentine steak which was outstanding and purchased suppli and arancini. Both were very good. Service was very quick. Communal seating Was plentiful. I will go back every time I visit Florence.

This market certainly comes at you with the options. It's quite large, and offers shopping outside and dining inside. There are several restrooms throughout the indoor space and plenty of places to sit down and enjoy the food and/or drinks you may have purchased from one of the many food stalls. You can buy anything from a leather jacket to a Lampredotto to sweets to American BBQ to cheeses and meats and fish. This was one of the spots we returned to frequently, intent on our quest to try all the things and buy all the souvenirs. It does get hot inside, though. There are two corners - that we saw, at least - that have overly large A/C machines, but the air didn't really fill the space and people tended to congregate in front of the huge fans to cool themselves off before having to head back into the sun and the heat. The vendors we did interact with were friendly and funny and willing to share as much information as you could handle about what they were selling that day.

If you find yourself in Florence, this famous spot needs no introduction. Every possible classic Italian food is cooked to order and served among the very busy buzzing eclectic communal atmosphere. 1st order your cocktail of choice, this secures your seat at the table, then paroose the many food stalls and choose delicious options like fresh pasta made to order, salumi, fresh mozzarella and other cheeses, seafood, Pizza, steaks, roasted chicken, Gelato, and not to be missed the dolce of gorgeous pastries. Then, return to your seat at the communal table to enjoy your meal. It's a fun (and prices are oh so very reasonable) experience!

So many options to choose from from snacks, main entree to desserts and drinks. Service was great and it was a energized vibe.

Some of our best food experiences @ the Mercato. 1st floor is amazing and you can get food here until it closes about 13:30 depending on the day. MUST TRY Pescheria Sugarello for the fresh fried/grilled seafood-BOMB frittatura misto! Do try Artignale for their pastries; the Pistachio Cream Cruffin was lovely & not too sweet or too much filling. I wish I had tried the porchetta and fresh made pasta downstairs. DO NOT eat the Tortellini Cacio e Pepe upstairs @ Il Mozzarella e i Frommagi! Worst pasta ever!!! Their grilled vegetables fantastic. The biscotti is amazing & I nearly tried them all crunchy exterior and semi hard interior which I like better than all hard thru out. There is a chiccheti wine bar in the corner by the exit on 2nd floor that had good options.

If you only have a day in Florence, by all means come here, where you can find many varieties of food all under one roof: pizza - check, pasta - check, truffle pasta - check, gelato - check, wine - check... you can also find local specialties like schiacciata (similar to focaccia) and lampredotto (beef stomach sandwich). And if you prefer burgers or even Chinese dumplings, you can covered too. However, if your schedule is not as tight, I'd say skip this place. Or come for a tour and eat elsewhere. You don't have to overpay for your food and then have to go around finding an empty seat. You'll be at leisure to enjoy your food better. €9 for a little tiramisu, €10 for a slice of pizza... everything is so overpriced, and quality wise nothing memorable. Except for the lampredotto it was about the same price as a stand we visited another day. (BTW if you visit the leather market which is just along the street the market is located, I can recommend the stall by Khan Jalal Ahammed, located close to the end of the street, Piazza, Mercato Centrale, 13. Very honest and reliable.)

Fun place with a variety of food, wine, and dessert selection. It's crazy busy here any given time. Once you find a seat you can scan the QR code and order drinks without moving or servers walking around will take your beverage order. Once you have decided on food, there are bunch of ticket boards where you can track your food order while enjoying your beverages. Variety of things to pick from, every cuisine is on display. I walked around five times deciding what to order and decided on tapas style. I went for a tuna burger , freshly made gnocchi, veggie dumplings, tiramisu's, cheesecakes and procures few bottles of Chianti(don't judge). Great place to go and taste everything your heart desires. Highly recommend it.

First floor is mostly a farmers type market. The second floor has most of the restaurants. There is good food variety across the businesses. They are generally fast food where you order at a counter and then find a table to sit. There is drink, including alcohol, service to the tables. We chose a pizza/focaccia place. I had seen a bunch of folks eating these huge sandwiches and went with that. It was the same as the pizza with a pizza top. I had one with lots of ham and ricotta cheese. The sandwich was good. One sandwich fed two of us and we were more than full. It was very crowded and so it was very loud.

So many options in one central location. The pizza and the pasta we had along with the drinks were just exceptional. Your party can order different dishes to share from the different stands and its not just Italian and that makes it extra ordinary.

Got into Florence today and went here directly for lunch. Loved that family members can go to different places! It is incredibly loud, hot, and busy inside. They will come up to your table and ask what drinks you would like to order. My family had some great food (vegan mystery dish, panino, barbecued chicken) but my partner's and mine was a total let down. We were so hot we wanted something cold, so we went to the sushi place. We selected the chicken teriyaki roll and the mango roll, which we were told was tempura shrimp. Never in a million years did I expect the shrimp to be raw. The mango itself was good, but not the shrimp, and the seaweed was incredibly chewy. Same with the teriyaki chicken, incredibly chewy. That one felt very overcooked, and neither was very flavorful. I had low expectations since I am in Italy, but it still was a disappointment. I would definitely return to the market, but do not get the sushi.

This marketplace is big with lots of different stands and stores including coffee, pasta, pizza, gelato, and other dessert. The list goes on! When we went around 1PM for lunch, there were a lot of people and very crowded. The first floor was already packed but we were able to find seats upstairs to enjoy our pasta. Our pasta noodles and sauce were fresh and made super quickly. A little loud but friendly people and easy to order After lunch, it was nice to walk around and see so many different things. Foods, souvenirs, everything!

Mercato Centrale is a renovated space with a 2 floor combination of fresh market and kiosk restaurants. It is a sight to behold. My wife and I came here twice and it can offer either a relaxed environment during the week and off hours or show the full force of local and tourist crowds on a weekend. i can say we definitely preferred the relaxed experience. If you are the same, try to visit not on Saturday at lunch : ) There are dozens of food shops on the second floor, with all the food made in house. You can find meat/steak, vegetarian, pizza, and just about any other food taste. They also have a bar if you would like wine or other drinks. In generally there are many many places to find a place to sit and eat, that just get's overwhelmed at peak times. On the first floor is a series of shops selling fresh vegetables and meats and breads that locals will visit daily. It is located adjacent to one of the largest outdoor leather markets in Florence. So if you are out haggling for leather and need a break, this is a nice place to recharge. There are also restrooms on the second floor toward the exit of the restaurant hall, which I found nice as well.

This was a cool place to visit, but very chaotic and overwhelming. There was a lot to take in. Several great restaurants where you can window shop and pick out your food.

What a let down. Overpriced tourist trap. Was expecting something very different. Was definitely the worst part of the day.

Love, love, love this place. You literally can get the best little fried fish here and eat outside. Everyone is helpful and busy, this is an indoor marketplace for all things food! Fresh, grocery and little kiosk restaurants that make the best stuff. It's a bit cold in here, but great food shopping and food gifts. It's located in the center of lots of other shopping areas.

So seems to be a combination of market/food court/tourist trap of sorts but that does not diminish its cool factor. The Mercato Centrale is a large structure with 2 main floors. The bottom level is filled with stalls of vendors selling foodstuffs of all kinds and some prepared foods as well. From butchers to pasta, it can all be found here. There are a few stores that sell a little of everything to very specific stores as well. The top level is a large food court with just about everything you would want to eat including an American BBQ place (No I passed lol). There is also a specialty store (think WIllaiams and Sonoma but paired down) and a few wine shops. Outside is packed with vendors of all kinds as well. Its a fun stop for sure and you are looking for specialty Italian food to bring home its perfect.

Beautiful place for food lovers to get some Florence flavors. Lot of options for vegetarians, vegans, and meat lovers, too. The lower level has market and upper level has food area. Most of the staff are able to conversate in English and make it easy to place an order. The food is prepared very fast. We liked all the places we eat. The price is on the high side and definitely tourist focused. It is open very late in the night check the hours.

A must visit for your trip to Florence. There is so much to explore in the Central Market you could spend hours here and I ended up coming back twice. The first floor has different restaurants, cafes and vendors for fresh ingredients. I picked Porks which is in the back corner and was full of locals having lunch - the rice ball and mushroom pasta came recommended and it was the best pasta I had my whole trip. The second floor is more counter service with trendy food stall vendors of all types. I tried some pizza and a fruit salad both of which were really good and fairly priced, even for a tourist destination. I did not see any locals in the upstairs portion but I recommend to check out the whole place for the full experience and take a couple trips here if you have the time.

For my American friends, this is a large food court with plenty of delicious choices. Hamburgers, chicken, vegan, yep, they even have sushi!! Craft beers and wine bar is in here to. Perfect place to take a large group with different food tastes. Plenty of open table seating. Enjoy!!

This was such a special place and one of the highlights of my trip to Florence. I went both days I was there. On the ground floor are a mix of butchers, produce vendors, fish markets, etc along with a lot of places selling traditional Italian goods like smoked meats, cheeses, balsamic vinegar and oils, and truffle products. Samples are abundant, and not pushed on you the same way they are in touristic areas. Also on the first floor are a few food booths selling dirty cheap lampredotto sandwiches, wine, and other traditional foods. There are also cafes where you can get cheap espresso or lattes. The vendors are usually pretty great about letting you sample - for example I was looking at balsamic vinegars to take home and they let me try a whole range at a variety of price points. The second floor is more like a food court which is fine if that's you're vibe and you're looking for something a bit nicer, but I loved sticking to the ground floor. So fun!

After wandering around a whole day in Florence, the next day, we started a little bit later and wanted to find a place to eat to start the day. I saw this food core on the map and definitely wanted to check it out. We got there around 11:30 and there was not that many people on a Sunday, but as soon as 12 o'clock hit it with swarm with people, so get there a little bit early to be avoid the crowds. We had so many different options to choose from so we ended up all getting different foods. We had everything from a fried rice bowl to gnocchi to charcuterie type platter with some bread everything was delicious. Also, as you're walking around, you'll see the vendors sampling Florentine steak. This steak just the samples were delicious even after going to different restaurants and trying their Florentine steak. We would say that the food court steak was one of the best that we had. Would highly recommend visiting this food center/market place if you're in the area

This is a MUST!! Words can't explain it, just at awwww with so much to see and eat. Love the environment, and seeing the local foods.

Your typical food hall that has tons of options ranging from porchetta, pizza, pasta, as well as desserts. Prices are a little steeper than some of the other local markets but there are a lot of artisanal options. Definitely worth having a treat here or a full blown meal. There are also cooking classes available for booking. Like any other very large food market, seating is very difficult to grab.

This review is for Le Nostre Pizze restaurant located in the Mercato Centrale food court. Mercato Centrale food court is located on the second floor. It's an iconic, busy market with many food options. Husband was craving pizza, so we didn't try the other restaurants. Unfortunately, the pizza was lousy, and tasted awful. So much so that I couldn't eat it. This place is pretty much a crowded tourist trap, and that's okay cuz I'm a tourist. I just wish I would have tried another food stall.

What a scene! Review is for the 2nd floor as I went on Sunday and the first floor market was closed. VERY Crowded for lunch but it's a scene. Every food imaginable in many small restaurants or stands. And a couple of bars too if you can snag a seat. I chose Joe Bastianich's BBQ place which was probably the busiest. Sat at the counter and enjoyed the chicken wings and burnt ends brisket. Prices were a bit higher than other restaurants but you pay for the entertainment called people watching. Lots of Americans and tourists here -- no surprise. I'd come back again.

They have everything you could ever want. If you are with a big group this is a great spot to get something for everybody. Vegan options, and some good coffee. They even have servers that roam around to check on you even though it's open market style.

Those who know me know that I could eat every meal for the rest of my life in one food hall or another, so it won't come as a surprise that on a recent trip to Florence, this was one of my must-do's. Busy as always on my most recent trip, maybe even more so on account of the rain, I still didn't have to wait very long at any of the booths. The most difficult part is always making a decision about what to eat. Florentine steak, tripe sandwich, pasta, foreign cuisine, bbq, and desserts were all calling me. Whatever you decide, save room for the schiacciata cake-one of the best desserts I ever tasted.

Very cool place! We arrived in Florence around 8:30PM, and thankfully, this place was located near our lodgings and opened late. The first floor is essentially a farmer's market during the day time hours while the upstairs area is a food court featuring every Italian cuisine (with some mix of Asian and American) imaginable. I love that the chefs' names are prominently featured at each food stall. Each member of our group decided to get something different. I opted for the black truffle carbonara from Savini Tartufi by Luciano Savini and my boyfriend opted for the lampredotto al sugo (cow tripe's sandwich with tomato sauce) from Il Lampredotto by the Bambi Family. Lots of communal tables and a great place to try a variety of food and socialize with others. They also have a wine bar and cocktails bar if you're just looking to grab a drink. Loved the lively ambiance going on here, and definitely a must stop if you're in the area. You'd be hard pressed not to find what you're looking for here.

I came here for my late lunch in Florence after arriving from Lake Como an hour later. If you are in Florence and do not know where to eat food because there are too many options, give this place a chance, and you'll be mind-blown. The Mercado is filled with small food stands, and there are a few bars where you can order drinks. Once you order your food from one of the food stalls, find your table and wait for your number to be called to pick up your orders. At any table in the market, there is a barcode that you can scan to order your drinks, or you can find one of the servers wearing a black shirt! It is that simple and easy to order your drinks while waiting for your food to be prepared. This market is a hidden gem in Florence. It is worth the time to visit and check it out!