Urban Adventures Florence Foodies Walk review: eat like a local in 2.5 hours

If you’ve ever wondered where Florence locals actually eat, drink, and snack between Renaissance sightseeing, this foodie walk is one of the best ways to find out. On this bite-sized tour, you’ll wander the pretty alleyways with a local guide, stopping at tiny spots for Tuscan classics paired with generous pours of local wine — the kind of places you’d never spot on your own.

By the time we finished, I was full, happy, and armed with ideas for the rest of my trip. Here’s how it plays out.

Disclosure: I was hosted on the Florence Foodies Walk by Urban Adventures. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Florence is one of Italy’s great food cities, and joining a food tour is a fantastic way to discover local dishes and neighbourhood favourites. This guide forms part of my Florence Travel Guide, where you’ll find tips on where to stay, what to eat and the best experiences in the city. You can also explore the wider Italy Travel Guide for more destinations across the country.

Charcuterie & Chianti: the perfect opening act

We kicked things off at a tiny deli tucked just off one of Florence’s side streets — exactly the kind of hole-in-the-wall where locals pop in between errands. I love prosciutto almost as much as I love Parma ham, Jamón Iberico from Spain or Pata Negro from Portugal. Prosciutto, local salami, pecorino cheese and freshly baked bread showed up on the table with a glass of Chianti that felt like the perfect antidote to a morning of walking. The charcuterie hit all the right spots and already I knew this tour was going to be filled with delicious local food.

The owner sources a lot of his produce from his own farm, so you get that genuine farm-to-table vibe that feels especially good in Tuscany. The wine helped with conversation too — by the end of it, the group was already swapping travel tips and favourite gelato spots.

Local dishes that taste like Florence

After a short stroll, we landed in a cosy spot for traditioanl Tuscan fare. Think cucina povera classics like ribollita, pappa al pomodoro and panzanella, all washed down with more local wine. The pace and portion size feel generous — this definitely isn’t the teeny nibble kind of tour, it’s a full meal disguised as a wander,

Your guide isn’t just there to point and pour either — between bites, you get little stories about the dishes, why bread is such a big deal in Tuscany, and how dishes like pappa al pomodoro speak to Florentine food history.

➡️ Florence has some wonderful regional dishes, from hearty ribollita to enormous bistecca steaks. If you want a quick overview of the local classics, take a look at my guide to what to eat in Florence.

Wine & olive oil at a hidden enoteca

Next up was a stop in a classic Florentine enoteca. Picture shelves stacked with regional wines, olive oils and other pantry delights — this place feels like a tiny museum, but with wine. We paired a couple of glasses with slices of bread drizzled with quality olive oil, and yes, some of the best fettunta (a traditional Tuscan antipasto) I’ve ever had. It’s one of those stops where you start to understand why Italians take their everyday food so seriously.

➡️ If you’d rather cook the dishes yourself, a Florence cooking class is another brilliant way to experience Tuscan cuisine

Gelato, you’ll dream about

Halfway through the walk, we hit what might be my favourite part — gelato. And not just any gelato, artisanal stuff made fresh daily using seasonal ingredients (hello blackcurrant + honey & sesame). It was so good, I found myself back here later in the trip for round two. This stop alone is worth the stroll up and down Florence’s historic cobblestones. 

Cantucci and coffee

You’ve probably heard of biscotti, and at first glance that’s exactly what I thought these were. Technically speaking, biscotti is just the umbrella term for biscuits that are baked twice — but cantucci are a very specific Tuscan version, originally from the town of Prato.

The first recorded recipe dates back to the 18th century, made simply with flour, sugar, eggs and almonds. Nothing fancy, nothing unnecessary — and that’s exactly how they’re still made today.

The shop we visited has been baking cantucci since 1858, so they really do know what they’re doing. These biscuits are famously firm, which is why they’re meant to be dunked — either into a coffee or, even better, a glass of Vin Santo, Tuscany’s classic sweet dessert wine. Once dipped, everything makes sense.

A very sweet ending at a Florentine chocolate shop

Because the Florence Foodies Walk is all about seeing the city through a local’s eyes, it felt only right to end somewhere indulgent. Our final stop was a historic chocolate shop that’s been part of Florence’s food scene since 1928 — the kind of place locals still pop into, not a shiny newcomer chasing Instagram fame.

Inside, the shelves are packed to the rafters with chocolate, nougat, local sweet treats, pastel-coloured fruit jellies and bowls of pink-and-white sugar-coated almonds. It’s wonderfully old-school, and you could happily spend far too long deciding what to try.

We sampled three different chocolates, but the standout for me was a candied orange slice dipped in dark chocolate. Chocolate and orange together just work — rich, bittersweet, and exactly the kind of thing you wish you’d bought a box of to take home.

Who is this walk best for?

If you’re into:

• local food culture over tourist menus
• trying real Tuscan classics (not just pizza & pasta)
• small group experiences with personalities, not crowds
• ending with gelato and wine

…this tour will feel like a great intro to Florence’s food scene. It’s around 2.5 hours, five food stops, and four glasses of wine + a Vin Santo finish — enough to fill you up without making you sleepy.

➡️ If you’re still comparing options, my guide to the best food tours in Florence explains how the different tours work and which one might suit your trip.

Quick tips before you book

• Wear comfy shoes — the walk is leisurely but lively (~1.6 km)
• Come hungry! Portions are generous.
• Gluten-free/vegetarian options are available upon request.
• A small group vibe makes it feel more like eating with friends than being on a tour.

This isn’t a rushed “here’s the tourist food” experience — it’s more like a local friend walking you through their favourite bites, teaching you a little Tuscany history, and making sure you try the good stuff along the way. If your Florence list is all art and architecture, add this food walk — it’ll make you appreciate the city in a whole new way.

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