Steeped in the fin de siècle atmosphere of the Hotel Saint Regis Florence, the Winter Garden by Caino has come about from the creative liaison between chef Valeria Piccini and executive chef Michele Griglio. Their menu brings the territory’s great cuisine back to the limelight in an innovative way, with elements from every part of the globe, ranging from classic Tuscan dishes for strong stomachs such as tripe and ‘lampredotto’ to more refined proposals, such lobster tail on topinambour and mandarin cream. Also the desserts, particularly the ‘Diversamente Tiramisù’, are a joy for the eyes and the taste buds.

Address: Piazza Ognissanti, 1 – Borgo Ognissanti Area
GPS: 43.772388, 11.24575
Phone: 055 27163770
www.wintergardenbycaino.com

Inside the Hotel Four Seasons, in a sophisticated environment with tables both indoors and outdoors, Il Palagio bases itself on a culinary proposal that looks to the Italian and regional tradition with a touch of modernity, as in the terrine of foie gras with Vin Santo gelée or cheese and pepper cavatelli with red shrimps and baby squid. Chef Vito Mollica offers a menu that is a symphony of flavours, raw materials and colours, at times venturing far beyond the confines of Tuscany with dishes based on truffle, wagyu beef or three kinds of caviar. The wine menu includes more than 400 labels, 50 of which also served by the glass.

Address: Borgo Pinti, 99
GPS: 43.77708, 11.26628
Phone: 055 2626450
www.ilpalagioristorante.it

Overlooking the banks of the Arno, with a picture postcard view of Ponte Vecchio, the restaurant Borgo San Jacopo is perfect for a romantic evening. In this case too, the winning recipe is one that blends creativity, tradition and quality ingredients (lamb in seawater or Bresse rooster and octopus are an example of this), all washed down with wines chosen from a cellar of 900 labels. You can opt for the tasting menu (the potato-based one is unmissable) or à la carte.

Address: Borgo San Jacopo, 62/r
GPS: 43.7679072, 11.249072
Phone: 055 281661
www.borgosanjacopo.com

Inside the Villa Bardini museum complex in Costa San Giorgio is the one-star restaurant La Leggenda dei Frati. A breathtaking view over Florence and across vineyards at the rear, these are just the cherry on the cake of a creative culinary proposal, which in this case too draws its inspiration from the local tradition, with a propensity for quality meat (the boiled sausages and ‘soppressata’ are self-produced), but also for vegetables picked directly from the restaurant’s own vegetable and herb garden and for the hand-made bread using flour from ancient grains.

Address: Costa S. Giorgio, 6/a
GPS: 43.7642432, 11.253827
Phone: 055 0680545
www.laleggendadeifrati.it

Literally translated: ‘hour of air.’ We don’t know if the owner had in mind to escape from culinary boredom when he gave this name to his restaurant, just a stone’s throw from Ponte Vecchio, but it certainly gives that impression. Tuscan chef Marco Stabile is playing at home with dishes that are a reminder of granny’s recipes but tending towards a more creative contemporary style. Lovers of strong flavours can delight in dishes such as soft-crisp piglet or pigeon cooked in three ways. For lunch the choice of the “tapas” formula allows you to try a selection of small portions of gourmet dishes. The wine cellar boasts Tuscan wines but also prized Italian and French labels and a highly select menu of beers.

Address: Via dei Georgofili 11R
GPS: 43.76845, 11.252636
Phone: 055 20016 9
www.oradariaristorante.com

How do you manage to be honoured with three Michelin stars, the highest recognition, which is only achieved by a hundred restaurants worldwide? In the case of the Enoteca Pinchiorri, it comes from the winning combination of prime quality raw materials, the search for innovation, yet without forgetting the territory’s (great) culinary tradition, obsessive attention to every detail and an unrivalled wine menu, which includes highly prized labels, along with others that are little known but equally interesting. Then we can add the fact that the restaurant is located inside the Eighteenth-century Palazzo Jacometti-Ciofi and that its desserts are a delight for the senses.

Address: Via Ghibellina, 87
GPS: 43.76997, 11.26223
Phone: 055 242757
 enotecapinchiorri.it

Zero food miles products gathered from the organic vegetable garden that the restaurant possesses in the Florentine countryside, meat reared by local farms and fresh fish. These are the strong points of the Bottega del Buon Caffè. On the Lungarno, in the shadow of the medieval Tower of San Niccolò, chef Antonello Sardi proposes a cuisine based on the use of seasonal ingredients, with a predilection for herbs and spices to bring out the flavours. The seasonal tasting menus include gems such as amberjack served in three ways (tartare, ‘ventresca’, fillet) or home-made cappelletti with pigeon, butter and thyme.

Address: Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 69/r
GPS: 43.764739, 11.2638963
Phone: 055 5535677
www.borgointhecity.com