Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Florence

Finding a vegetarian restaurant in Florence is much easier than you might think. Finding a great one is a real trick. Florence is famous for being the home of famous works of art by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Botticelli, but it is almost as renowned for its delicious food.

Classic Italian cooking is based on seasonal vegetables, fresh meat and seafood, and great vegetarian food is just the same minus the meat and seafood. Fortunately for vegetarians, Italy has the perfect growing conditions to provide an excellent variety of seasonal vegetables to satisfy. It is why it is so easy to find restaurants with vegetarian-friendly food on most menus throughout the country.

Even those on a strict vegan diet will find restaurants in Florence that cater to their requirements without sacrificing quality or tastes. In fact, you will find many vegetarian and vegan menu items in most restaurants in Florence nowadays. There is plenty of great food in Florence but how do you find the best vegetarian and vegan food? Just keep reading!

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Il Vegetariano

What it's like:

When you are admiring The Last Supper by Andrea del Sarto and your tummy starts rumbling, just a few blocks away is one of the most famed vegetarian hotspots in Florence, Il Vegetariano. Considered the first vegetarian restaurant in Florence, is located in the north of the city. The iconic restaurant's menu changes with the seasons, the reason it prefers a chalkboard menu and not an online one.

Our recommendations:

This eatery has a charming decor in both the outdoor and indoor seating areas. You will find a great selection of bio wines as well as an abundant salad bar. Although the menu changes constantly this restaurant always provides an excellent array of regional and international choices. Fresh delicious organic dishes served in a friendly non-pretentious atmosphere, Il Vegetariano is a perfect place to relax and just enjoy the food.

Location:

Via Delle Ruote, 30 R

Ristorante Quinoa

What it's like:

On Villa de Santa Maria Maggiore near the Florence Cathedral, you will find Florence's only 100% gluten-free restaurant. Ristorante Quinoa offers not just a menu for those that require a gluten-free diet but innovative and experimental dishes for everyone too. The lunch menu changes daily but always includes burgers, salads, pizzas, and pasta dishes.

Our recommendation:

Never using anything but fresh seasonal ingredients, the inspired menu changes once a month. Seasonal offerings by chef Bernacchiono include must-try dishes like cream of asparagus & potatoes with ricotta chees and ginger. The 16th-century cloister restaurant also provides lively nightlife, add in the incredible food and you have an unforgettable experience.

Quinoa is not strictly a vegetarian restaurant but it offers incredibly tasty vegetarian and vegan options and so it made the list!

Location:

Vicolo di Santa Maria Maggiore, 1, 50123 Firenze FI

La Raccolta

What it's like:

Open for lunch from Monday to Saturday with dinner served only Friday and Saturday nights, we highly recommend making a reservation at La Raccolta. The vast menu offers a changing selection of seasonal and daily specials like cauliflower cream and truffles. There are a few staple menu items, the most popular being the chef's signature dish peposo di seitan.

Our recommendation:

Chef and owner Vincenza creates food with passion and creativity that is both vegan and vegetarian or macrobiotic. When you have finished dining, you can always wander over to the attached shop for some fresh vegetables and other organic products. La Raccolta is located in the downtown area on Via Giacomo Leopardi, close enough to walk but a little further away from the crowds too.

Location:

Via Giacomo Leopardi, 2r, 50121 Firenze FI

Giumella Gastronomia Vegana

What it's like:

You can often find the owner Lucia behind the counter of this deli-restaurant serving up her own special recipe of seitan, a must-try for anyone. She uses only locally sourced ingredients and by combining Tuscan cooking and vegan principles has created some truly tasty dishes. At Giumella you will find the vegan foods sold not by the dish but by the weight, which allows you to try a vast variety of dishes.

Our recommendation:

Buying dishes by weight is a great way to get just the right amount of food without paying too much unless you are really hungry. The small deli-restaurant is at Via Lorenzo de Credi, near the Florence train station. The best thing to do is grab the food to go and enjoy it at the nearby park Giardino del Cenacolo di San Salvi.

Location:

Via Lorenzo di Credi, 12, 50136 Firenze FI

Libreria Brac

What it's like:

Without a doubt one of the artsiest restaurants, this is also one of the top vegetarian restaurants in the city. The former library gives a nice cozy atmosphere whether sitting in the courtyard or in one of the rooms. Books still line the walls, you can read any you like and even purchase them. The entrance, in the heart of Florence, is tricky to find as it is small and unmarked, but you will certainly be happy when you find it.

Our recommendation:

With a completely vegetarian menu with some vegan choices, the option of having a "single plate" is highly recommended. It gives you 3 tastings, a starter, a rice or pasta dish, and an "oven" dish. The menu changes with the seasons, but if it is available the tortellini with sweet red pepper filing is to die for. The portions are smaller than ordering a full plate but you get a variety of tastes and it will still fill your belly.

Finish the meal off with an organic coffee and one of their incredible cakes and you will wholeheartedly agree this is truly one of the best restaurants in Florence.

Location:

Via dei Vagellai, 18/R, 50122 Firenze FI

Konnubio

What it's like:

This is another restaurant that is not a completely vegetarian restaurant but serves such amazing alternative vegan and vegetarian menu items that it had to make the list. This elegant San Lorenzo hotspot, next to the Basilica de San Lorenzo, is a perfect combination of old-world architecture and chic modern decor. The beauty of the food matches the incredible surroundings, and the extensive options served are sure to end up on your social media.

Our recommendation:

The food doesn't just look great, it tastes great too. The seasonally based dishes include roasted pumpkin and spicy figs, and the recommended risotto with chocolate. If you can't decide on one dish, go for the "tasting plate" as it gives you smaller servings of several dishes. Konnubio is more expensive than most restaurants in Florence, however, the food and the experience are well worth the splurge.

Location:

Via dei Conti, 8r, 50123 Firenze FI

Veg e Veg

What it's like:

On the first floor at Piazza del Mercato Centrale, you will find this restaurant serving up a small but inviting international menu, like Pad Thai, frittatas, and pasta dishes. But the main reason to hit this place is their burgers. Vegans and vegetarians can now eat burgers just like the meat-eaters do. There is nothing like biting into a burger and savoring that feeling as the sauces drip down and the flavors explode on your taste buds.

Our recommendation:

Unlike most restaurants that only serve one (if you are lucky) vegetarian burger, at Veg e Veg you have several delicious veggie burgers to choose from. It doesn't really matter which burger you get as they are all fantastic. But, Compano is the top choice. Throw in one of their healthy choice fresh juices and it is the perfect spot to take a break from shopping at the market.

Location:

Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 4/1° piano, 50123 Firenze FI

5 e Cinque

What it's like:

The family-run restaurant at Piazza della Passera 1, is a little out of the hustle and bustle of the city center, about a 20-minute walk, just across the river. This is the perfect spot for a vegetarian date, with a cozy atmosphere complete with warm and comforting decor. The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients and they have their own herb garden.

Our recommendation:

The seasonal menu is full of traditional and organic dishes that are simple but full of flavor, proving you don't have to be fancy to be good. Dishes like couscous with spicy curry and risotto with saffron are the highlight of an ever-changing menu. The owner and his wife (the chef) offer a super friendly service in a traditional Italian setting.

Location:

Piazza della Passera, 1, 50125 Firenze FI

#RAW

What it's like:

As the name would suggest most dishes served here are raw, they don't see the inside of an oven of any sort or touch a pot or pan. There are a few exceptions like the vegan pizzas and desserts. Like most vegan restaurants, the menu changes with the seasons but there are some main staples like the breakfast bowls and salads.

Our recommendation:

Just down the street from the beautiful Basilica di Santo Spirito, on Via Sant'Agostino 11r is where to find #RAW. It's the top dining spot in Florence to cleanse your soul with food, especially the avocado tartare with cucumber spaghetti. #RAW is a favorite spot for vegan millennials with healthy and balanced meals that find their way to Instagram as soon as they hit the table.

Location:

Via Sant'Agostino, 11B, 50125 Firenze FI

Il Vegano

What it's like:

Around the corner from Piazza San Marco is one of Florence's early vegan eateries, Il Vegano. This fast food vegan restaurant is perfect for those looking for vegan dishes on the go. Burgers with meat substitutes, sandwiches, hot dogs, and delicious plant-based milkshakes can be found on the menu.

Our recommendation:

The vegan burgers top the welcoming vegetarian menu but don't miss out on their lasagna, one of the best in town. The lunch and dinner menu will surprise and delight you but don't ignore the desserts with unbelievably tasty homemade vegan cakes. If you don't have room after your meal just get one to go, you won't be disappointed.

Location:

43, Via S. Gallo, 75 Rosso, 50129 Firenze FI

Nirvana Ristorante

What it's like:

Looking for a great vegetarian restaurant and some zen? Be sure to head to Nirvana. Breaking the mold and misconception of what a vegan restaurant is, Nirvana has smashed through the mindset of carnivores. Look for vegetarian pizza made with vegan cheeses that taste just as good if not better than the classic, food with a Far East flair, and classic pasta dishes that have been tweaked.

Our recommendation:

Nirvana has changed the way people look at vegetarian and vegan food and now locals and tourists alike fill the place devouring the scrumptious alternative vegan meals. And while enjoying your meal you will be surrounded by so many statues of Buddha you might think you are in Myanmar and not Italy. It gets busy, so best to make reservations to make sure you don't miss out, especially on the carbonara, it's to die for.

Location:

Via Il Prato, 4/b, 50127 Firenze FI

Eating Vegan and Vegetarian in Florence

As you can see, you will not lack choices when it comes to top-quality vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurants in Florence. Most of the vegetarian and vegan restaurants use locally sourced vegetables and ingredients that coincide with their philosophy of keeping it healthy and tasty. For those that require a gluten-free menu, make sure to ask the chefs, as many restaurants offer the choice even if it is not stated on the menu.

With a rise in health and social awareness, people are demanding delicious quality vegetarian food that is responsibly sourced. And vegetarian restaurants in Florence are responding with innovative dishes that are sure to satisfy even the pickiest eater, whether they are vegetarian or not.

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