Several days in Florence, day trip to Bologna

We enjoyed https://www.drogheriadellarosa.it/ so much, we lunched there twice. Good authentic food and hospitality in a nice neighborhood. We enjoyed sitting out front. I think of it often!

Thank you so much!

You might also enjoy https://www.levolpieluva.com/ in Florence. It’s a small wine bar in Oltarno (across the Arno), that sells Italian wines (by the glass) and delicious small plates. We’ve been there for lunch and apertivi several times. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly.

Awesome. Thank you so much!

The choices below are in Florence and are all cheap eats where we Florentines like to go to when we want “mangiar bene e spendere poco” (eat well and spend little). There are tons more I could suggest, at all price ranges, but here I concentrated on cheap eats with good traditional food.

I have no suggestions for Bologna. I have relatives there but they always take me to places that are good but out of the city center or even outside the city, so they wouldn’t be convenient for you visiting on a day trip and presumably without a car.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vCSZtkjvsycvg8Cc8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YsquzoTWPCWmYBxM8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/htHCe6LuJLQXEpyV9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TjvTERUHCeMrGGSX7?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cBjNJvUSg8VKwmAo6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/41A1ts6pQoQokfWN9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3aJTdEicYHAfxDmH9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy (Lunch only)

If you like fish/seafood go here (I go back every year since my wife loves their lobster pasta).
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xx5hErGAr6xwYu6K9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
This last one is in my old neighborhood near where I grew up, so it’s not in the city center and you will need a taxi (3 miles from the city center). I don’t know what city bus goes there nowadays since the Autolinee Toscane company took over the Florence City transit agency in 2021.

I’ve also been to Sabatino. Excellent recommendation!

Roberto! THANK YOU! This is just amazing. I really can't thank you enough! And Susan, your extra vote of confidence is also so appreciated! You are all the best!

La Giostra in Florence! Have been there twice now. The pear and pecorino ravioli is just amazing, the whole atmosphere is incredible. Enjoy your trip!