Market · Florence Historic Centre

Mercato Centrale

Mercato Centrale is a two-storey cast-iron and glass market hall built in 1874 that remains the beating culinary heart of the San Lorenzo neighbourhood. The ground floor is a working food market; the first floor is a buzzing food hall open every day until midnight.

Ground Floor: Shop Like a Florentine

The ground floor stalls sell what Florentines actually cook at home: blood-red Chianina beef, aged Pecorino wheels, fresh porcini mushrooms, and handmade pasta in every shape. Arrive between 8 am and 1 pm on a weekday when the market is at its liveliest and the produce is freshest.

Nerbone, a legendary lunch counter tucked inside the ground floor since 1872, serves a lampredotto (tripe) sandwich and ribollita soup at communal tables for under €8. It is one of the most authentic cheap lunches left in central Florence.

First Floor Food Hall: Evening Eating

The upper floor, redesigned in 2014, houses around 15 permanent stalls covering everything from Florentine steaks and fresh pasta to craft beer and Sicilian cannoli. It stays open until midnight, making it a rare option for a late, relaxed dinner in a city that eats early.

Grab a glass of Chianti Classico from the wine bar, find a stool at the edge of the mezzanine and watch the whole market hum below you — it is one of the most effortlessly enjoyable evenings in the city.

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