Although there were many delicious restaurants that I got to try out during my college study abroad experience in Florence, these were my four favorites:

#1 La Giostra

This restaurant, owned by the Princes of Hapsburg, had a warm and romantic setting. My favorite meal was undoubtedly the Pear Ravioli. Taste it, and you will understand. It’s definitely my favorite pasta dish in all of Florence, and that’s a pretty bold statement.

#2 Il Teatro

My second home, just a few blocks from my apartment on Via Ghibellina. It was inexpensive, but the quality of the food was amazing and the service was outstanding. The sweet woman who owned the restaurant, Mirella, constantly made sure that our food exceeded our expectations and she frequently brought over complimentary dessert, which was always appreciated. They had an appetizer called it the tuscan cutting board which had prosciutto, fried dough balls, and burrata cheese... I still dream about it!

#3 Acqua Al 2

The setting of this restaurant was more modern than most of the others in Florence. My favorite meals included the blueberry filet mignon and strawberry risotto. Unique and worth the visit.

#4 Golden View

I discovered this restaurant when my mother and aunt were visiting. The ambiance was spectacular, as well as the food. We enjoyed listening to the live jazz music while gazing at the Arno and the iconic Ponte Vecchio.