I don’t know how long the amazing eating area above the Mercato Centrale in Florence has been open, but the last time I went upstairs there the space was used for a rather ordinary furniture market. Some very clever people have turned it into a whole floor of great places to eat.
I went there yesterday and found it full of people enjoying lunch in the various sections…fresh pasta, wood fired pizzas, a beer bar, gelato…take a look.
There is a cooking school waiting for business. I’m sure it would be a fun experience.
There is a tripe stand for the Florentines and other brave souls.
I think it is a great addition to the markets. When you have wandered through the wonderful food stands downstairs go upstairs for lunch for a new take on delicious Italian food.
Go in the front door behind the leather markets in Via dell’Ariento, turn left and take the escalator to the first floor. There is an internal staircase as well.
The post I wrote on the food markets 2 years ago has become my most popular post ever. Click here for the lovely markets.
Wow – what a great place to go and eat and even Lampredotto too!
By: Francis on May 22, 2014
at 7:10 am
I can live without Lampredotto, but the rest looks great.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:09 am
The never-ending wonderful places to discover in Florence this looks wonderful – great find! hugs
By: Helen Close on May 22, 2014
at 7:19 am
It is great for a quick lunch or snack, but I will still go to my favourite restaurants and no trip to Florence is complete without a stop at Giacosa.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:17 am
Wow I lived there last year and it definitely didn’t look this nice!!
By: halyse23 on May 22, 2014
at 7:43 am
I will have to find out when it opened. It looks new, but clearly a lot of people have found it.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:12 am
Missed this! Ah well good excuse to go back.
By: Janet on May 22, 2014
at 7:50 am
Who really needs an excuse to visit Florence?
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:13 am
Interesting that food is the most popular. My favorites are your walks in different seasons. Oh yes, and the many beautiful faces you have collected.
Thank you for taking the photos I might have chosen of doors, trees, cats and of course Faces. Bravo.
Cheers, Marsha
By: Marsha on May 22, 2014
at 9:00 am
Food is always popular, but I love the details, things often missed. Thank you for your kind comment.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:14 am
What a fabulous place to eat. Thanks for flagging this up. We’ll definitely be trying it in the summer.
By: chris oconnor on May 22, 2014
at 9:24 am
I think it is a great place to stop fora quick snack, it all looked delicious.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:18 am
Wow that looks fabulous! How on earth do you decide what to try first???
By: Where's Wiwi? on May 22, 2014
at 9:34 am
I had already had lunch when I called in so I had to settle for a gelato. I will try a pizza next time.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:20 am
Your post has made me hungry. I only had an apple and an orange for lunch. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on May 22, 2014
at 11:39 am
…a very healthy lunch.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:21 am
😀
By: anotherday2paradise on May 23, 2014
at 4:57 am
Thanks, Debra. We had a look at it a week ago and it looked as a great alternative for a quick snack. We are going there tomorrow and I will let you know our opinion. I will not try the tripe, though….
By: mulino dominillo on May 22, 2014
at 12:05 pm
I will be interested in what you think.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:21 am
Next time I am at those markets I will most definitely eat there. Fabulous find
By: Lyn on May 22, 2014
at 12:17 pm
I love the markets, so another reason to go there is good.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:22 am
What a great idea and it seems to be a better tie in with the market than furniture stalls.
By: Just Add Attitude on May 22, 2014
at 4:49 pm
Much better.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:22 am
expensive looking fit out for the cooking school, backed by the Institute – looks like a must see place grazie Deb.
By: Roz MacAllan on May 22, 2014
at 7:18 pm
The cooking school looked great. I wish I had seen it in action.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:22 am
A good place to eat in Florence? What a novel idea!
By: aFrankAngle on May 23, 2014
at 12:50 am
I know, there is already lots of great food in Florence, but I like this modern style for a change.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:24 am
Well said.
By: aFrankAngle on May 23, 2014
at 11:08 am
Florence continues to excite with all these new discoveries.
By: Jim & Kerry on May 23, 2014
at 2:27 am
I like to see something new and modern as well as the wonderful old things.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 23, 2014
at 4:23 am
[…] is a new eating area above the market and it is wonderful. Click here to see the post about […]
By: San Lorenzo Mercato Centrale….Florence’s fabulous food market | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on May 23, 2014
at 5:52 am
Bet you didn’t try the tripe stand food, did you? Looks amazing -all of it !
By: Dianne Cant on May 23, 2014
at 11:02 am
I remember that post from before! And I always tend to think of outdoor markets when I think of Italy but this shows there are so much more!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on May 23, 2014
at 1:01 pm
Looks wonderful! Bookmarking for a future trip.
By: Madhu on May 25, 2014
at 6:27 pm
I think you will love this.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 26, 2014
at 6:29 am
It is a great new addition to the markets.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 26, 2014
at 7:11 am
I imagine that a cooking school above that beautiful food market would be a magnetic draw card for tourists. I remember your post on the Mercato Centrale and confess to revisiting often – I can almost smell it. Lampredo – is that tripe – sounds much more exotic doesn’t it.
By: Jan on September 28, 2015
at 10:34 pm
The photos look like food heaven!! We are visiting Florence in April and will visit. Thanks so much.
By: Debby Saporetti on March 26, 2017
at 5:38 am
It is wonderful. Go early, it can be crowded at lunchtime.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 26, 2017
at 5:43 am