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Foodie Paradise above the Mercato Centrale in Florence

Imagine a place in Italy, where you can try all sorts of regional foods in large communal tables, open seven days a week, even Mondays. 3000 sq meters of space with over 500 seats.

The new ‘primo piano’ in the Mercato Centrale in the San Lorenzo neighborhood in Florence is one of the newest projects to entice both tourists and locals to a place that showcases the best of Italian food and atmosphere. In the same building designed by architect Giuseppe Mengoni (who is responsible for the San Ambrogio market and the more famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan), this new renovation of a popular location in Florence is all thanks to Umberto Montano and Claudio Cardini.

This fancy food court boasts an array of interesting goods, artisan made bread, a veggie bio corner, vegetarian burgers, local cheese and Neapolitan pizza make their home here. The perfect meeting point for those who want to get an idea of Italian food, you can taste your way through the different booths. They also offer cooking classes in one corner of the market organized by Lorenzo de’Medici cooking school. All above the original central market where you can still pick up fresh veggies and fruit.

We have been ourselves and were personally impressed by the quality of food served at the fresh new Mercato Centrale, starting with a fresh bite of Mozzarella and ending with a chocolate eclair from the pastry section, there are so many options to satisfy any stubborn foodie. They also have a ‘Chianti corner’ where trained professionals will help you choose a bottle, or you can relax with friends with a glass before your meal.

Florence is located less than an hour away via train from Borgo San Lorenzo and Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort. 

Mercato Centrale ‘Primo Piano’ . 

Piazza del Mercato Centrale
Firenze
055 210214m Open every day, 10am – Midnight. Website. 

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