Trattoria Da Burde

Tucked away in the Peretola neighborhood closer to Florence’s airport than its famous Renaissance treasures, Trattoria Da Burde rewards those willing to venture off the beaten path. This isn’t a place you’ll accidentally discover while wandering cobblestone streets—it’s a destination, and one that’s been serving authentic Florentine cuisine since 1901 under the watchful eye of the same family for generations.

The moment you walk through the door, you’re greeted by a delicatessen counter stocked with house-cured meats and fresh cakes, alongside a small grocery section where neighborhood regulars pop in for provisions and local gossip. Push past the counter into the dining room proper, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by antique artwork and tables filled with locals savoring what this family does best: honest, hearty Tuscan cooking.

The menu reads like a greatest hits of traditional Florentine fare. Start with chicken liver crostini while you decide between comforting classics like pasta e fagioli, the thick vegetable-laden ribollita, or the simple perfection of pappa al pomodoro. For the adventurous, the mixed-meat bollito offers a proper taste of old-school Italian cooking, complete with cow tongue. This is food that’s meant to sustain and satisfy, prepared without pretension but with generations of know-how.

Fair warning: Da Burde keeps lunch hours only, with Friday evenings being the lone exception for dinner service. The current generation running the kitchen is just as spirited as their predecessors, so come hungry, come curious, and come prepared for a meal that proves sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you have to work a little harder to find.