Architecturally, the Central Market was the largest structure built in Florence of steel and glass. Inside the building, a grid of aisles placed over two floors houses a lively food market still widely used by locals. Outdoors, the San Lorenzo market is a seemingly interminable series of souvenir stalls which cater almost exclusively to tourists. Indoors, meat (cooked and raw), fish, deli meats, cheese, milk, fruits and vegetables can be bought. There are also some small eateries offering quick and hearty lunches. Outdoors, souvenirs of all sorts (postcards, local paper and leather crafts) as well as fashion (from leather jackets to leather bags to canvas shirts and T-shirts) are sold.

Great place to grab a quick bite to eat. They have so many options and you can't go wrong with any of them. We ate a couple of pastries from the bakery, had a beer at the bar along with some pizza. All of it was excellent. The atmosphere is wonderful and the theme of the market is great! I loved all of the drawings for each of the vendors.

Central Market, nestled in the heart of Florence, is a bustling hub of culinary delights that does not disappoint. Open till midnight, it caters to both the early risers and the night owls, making it a versatile spot to satiate your hunger. From mouth-watering burgers to freshly made pizzas, the market's offerings are both diverse and delicious. The oriental desserts are an unexpected treat, offering a unique twist to the traditional Italian fare. The quality of the food is impressive, and the quick service makes it a great place for those on-the-go. The market also houses a bar, which adds to its appeal. It's a great place to hang out, enjoy a drink, and soak in the lively atmosphere. Whether you're looking for a quick bite to eat or a place to unwind after a long day of exploring the city, Central Market has something for everyone. One minor suggestion would be to provide more seating arrangements as it can get quite crowded during peak hours. However, this is a small price to pay for the excellent food and vibrant ambiance. Overall, Central Market is a must-visit if you're in Florence. It's a feast for the senses that adds a unique flavor to your Italian adventure.

July 2022 update. Ground floor fresh produce and second floor is food court …… fast food with a large varieties of foods and drinks. A few Tuscan specialties as well. No cover charge. No taxes and no service fees. Ground floor is closed in afternoons but food court opens until midnight daily. We had a Margherita pizza …. Pretty quick service and staff seem happy working there. Dough is very light weight and thin. A bit like pita bread. Light snack. They also have this €10 offering. Happy hour equivalent promotion. ( appetizer drink and snack ) You can mix and choose from different vendors as the whole place runs the same promotion . However there is no AC in the place. We were there at 10 pm and it was stuffy and hot. I cannot imagine how it would be in the heat of the day.

This is food Heaven. There’s too much to see and do in Florence and Mercato Centralle is one not to be missed. It’s a busy lively place, bustling full of people. A lot of food options. The sight of beautifully and colourfully decorated and displayed food is a feast to the eye. Just walking around, seeing people in vacation good mood puts you too in a happy mood.

Huge market with 2 floors centrally located in the city Level 1 fresh produce opens morning til only early afternoon. Everything from fresh meat, vegetables fruits to cured meat produce, cheese spices and loads more… Level 2 food galore a la food court style open til midnight, great place to dine and wine, lots of good options. Got some great dried herbs, porcini mushrooms and fruits. Great finds! delightful experience.

Incredible foodie experience at Mercato Centrale! Here you can taste all the flavors of Italy and beyond. I even saw a food stall with ‘Japanese Ravioli’ who knew that was a thing? If you sit at one of the big tables upstairs someone will stop by and ask if you want a drink from the bar. I really enjoyed my time here sampling some of the different flavors. I will definitely return for more before heading out of Florence.

What a fantastic place and a must see on a visit to Florence. My daughter who lives in Florence took me for a birthday treat. Wow, beautiful building, lovely atmosphere and a wonderful array of freshly produced Florence and Italian delicacies and staples at reasonable prices. I recommend taking a walk round every stall before deciding. You can buy from a few and sit with a local beer to enjoy the food, atmosphere and architecture.

At the top of the market is this place where you can eat products of all kinds and variety, from fish, meat, seafood, bakery, pastry shop, pasta, charcuterie, cold cuts, sausages, ice cream, all at an excellent price and with a quality that I did not find elsewhere. The system consists of ordering in one of the premises and sitting at the tables in the center, which are usually always busy and it is convenient to take into account whether or not there is space to avoid circulating with food and drink.

A fresh seafood, meat and produce heaven! On the 1st floor you will find more cheese, meat, seafood, produce and mushrooms than you ever even knew existed. Upstairs are many little restaurants with a great variety of food to tempt you. There is even a cooking school. This is a wonderful market place where the locals shop and tourists come to take pictures and wind up staying and eating, having a coffee or drink and yes, shopping. The Metcato Centrale is a nice change if you are suffering from art or antiquities overload. Nice way to start the day (because most of the downstairs portion of the vendors are finished by early afternoon and packing up to go). Or you can come in the evening for a relaxing place to eat.

I can never get enough of this Market! The food stalls upstairs serve incredible dishes and exquisite desserts. Downstairs amazing selections of spices, olive oil, pastas,balsamic vinegar, fresh fish, meats, and cheeses. It doesn’t stay open late, so get there with enough time to take in the experience of eating and shopping there. It’s easy to spend hours here, I love this place! The vendors are very helpful and so nice. Don’t miss this Market.

We only made it upstairs during our visit as the downstairs was closed... but I'll tell you, the food was outstanding. We ate the BBQ restaurant & loved everything we ate. We also indulged in one the custard & strawberry filled donuts... or two! :) The place itself it nicely decorated & filled with tons to look at. Must go!

While walking in the direction of the Santa Maria Novella train station I discovered this market. It only has access to the top floor for now (I believe the ground floor is where you actually buy groceries and the usual stuff you find at a market. This time I went upstairs and discovered a great food court with lots of food stalls, bars, a couple of gourmet food stores and lots of tables and chairs to sit and eat. From meat to pasta and fresh pizza all the stalls have something interesting to offer. Some of them only food and some also sell drinks. From the left entrance to the second floor I found a butcher shop with nice meat cuts, you pick the one you like and they prepare it for you. Another one had burgers with pulled pork, steak, vegetables and more. Another one was making fresh pasta served with different sauces. A stall of wines of all kinds and also some finger food. I decided to go for fresh dough pizza and it was a hit. The dough was perfect, the edges were crispy and had a lot of cheese. Right in front of the pizza stall was a big and well stocked bar so I ordered a couple of drinks from here. You pay in advance with cash or card and after your order is ready, your number is called to be picked up The prices are very similar than those from the restaurants but I chose this because it seems so chilled and nice ambience.

This is one of the best places in Florence. I am a little disappointed we waited until our last day to come here. The variety of food available is awesome, but prices did seem a bit on the high side. I will be back!

Great place to stop for a bite to eat, it's basically an open area food market upstairs which is open late. They serve drinks in the middle with food store fronts surrounding the whole perimeter. Great for coming with friends because people can grab what they want and then sit down together to enjoy a meal. We came here twice to eat and one of the times we stopped for an aged Porter house Florentine steak which was incredible! The potatos were also extremely delicious, soft and buttery with a side salad. You can share this with 2-3 people or eat it all to yourself depending on how hungry everyone is!

Every time during my visit Florence. This is only one and only place that I always have been eating. The best food ever and you can feel the real Tuscan food. Since I have found this place I stopped eating at the restaurant. Lots of food selection. Freshly cooked in front of you. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed my visit at the market. There were several stalls open with a great selection of food - pasta, seafood, meats, deserts, street food, etc. There was even a culinary school on the premise. Social distancing was enforced. I was even ask by a police officer to show my Covid Card. The prices were reasonable, the food fresh - they prepare in front of you. There was live piano music. I went around 9pm, on a week day. It was a bit crowded, but there were enough tables for everyone. I highly recommend especially if you're with a group or want to try a variety of food.

Really good market in Florence. On the first floor, they have raw meat and vegetables, on the second it's a lot of food courts where you can eat everything you want, Italian food, more American style food,even Asian food , interesting and original desserts, any type of drinks. I think it is better to have lunch there than in any overrated and extra expensive restaurants in the city.

The bottom floor is great for authentic Italian real food. Make sure to go before 2pm when the close. Upstairs is a tourist trap, but still a great place to drink at the wine bar or have a quick bite, but I wouldn't go here just for that. The 1st floor is much better especially the biscotti spot!

Hear about this place and had to visit. It’s overwhelming and amazing. While the lower floor is more of a market there are plenty of options for eating. In the center of the market you’ll find stairs to the second floor where you’ll find a massive food court with multiple options. You can purchase at the counter and find a place to sit or order from your table. There are two giant screens that have numbers and the outlet name to tell you when your order is ready. Many of the market signs are only in Italian so google translate is a big help. I had the fried fish which was a great change after so much pasta!! Drinks are also available. Beer, wine, mixed, etc.

Great central location with lots of food and wine options. I had a pizza and a glass of wine which were great. The place can get a bit cold later at night (spring time). Lots of locals which is always a good sign. 👍

This place is simply awesome. It’s a good thing I don’t live close to here because I’d get very big lol. There’s food literally everywhere and there’s something for anyone. The first floor has vendors that specialize in local produce and they’ve been there historically for generations. Go upstairs for more local food stalls and get a mix and match up different foods and drinks! For grillers like me: recommendation would be to pick up a nice slab of steak from a butcher, get some local produce (vegetables, truffles, beer, etc) and grill at home!

An amazing experience with delicious food, drinks, and desserts in a fantastic environment. We were blown away by the pasta with truffles, simple but absolutely delicious, and the great selection of wines. And the Florentine steak was a real highlight. Highly recommended this place

If you love foods, this is a perfect place to visit in Florence. Lots of delicious foods with very affordable prices are available in this area. You can perfectly satisfy your hunger with their wide range of choices from pasta, steaks(very reasonable price compare when dining in other restaurants in the area), bread and everything. 🫰😘During Sunday the lower ground is closed but the first floor which is the food court is open.

Really cool place to grab a bite to eat. Good selection of food vendors and nice bar with just about any kind if drink you want, including non alcoholic. Really good, unique food. Lots of fun.

This is must visit place!! Downstairs is more your traditional Mediterranean food market although there are a few places you can eat and drink - such as Pasta Fresca that had huge cues. Upstairs is where the action is in terms of eateries - with a large variety of different places to eat and drink. It's a fun place to eat - loud and energetic. It's a bit basic in terms of sharing tables and the toilets but it's great.

As its name indicates, Il Mercato Centrale is situated in the heart of Florence. Its location explains its dual personality and justifies why it caters to locals and to hordes of tourists. The streets around the main building of the market carry mostly non-food items, while the inside of the building has mostly food stalls. See both. You don't know what will appeal to you more unless you do.

We only visited the "streetfood" section on the first floor because we went there in the evening. There, you can get a lot of good food (even vegan food!) and delicious wine or beer at a very good price :) The atmosphere was very chill and nice!

Great drinks! We didn’t get to try the steaks but we definitely will next time. You could spend at least a half a day here just browsing. Very fun! There was a security guard going around checking peoples vaccine cards (green cards) while they were already in the place eating or drinking so be prepared for that.

Loved this place. The restaurants upstairs are slightly overpriced but it's great that its open late. Great produce and friendly shop keepers!