Italy: Florence: Where to Eat: Neighborhood Places: Osteria Antica Mescita

Osteria Antica Mescita

Located on the “other” side of the river in the San Miniato al Monte neighborhood, this small hole-in-the-wall is worth the ten-minute walk south from the Ponte Vecchio. Call and make a reservation for a table in the front of the main room. Expect rough wooden tables and a bar in the back that reminds you that this used to be a place where workers came to buy cheap wine. It may not look like much, but this is the perfect place to try typical Florentine dishes such as tripe, ribollita (Tuscan bean soup) and pappa al pomodoro (a hearty bread stew). If you can’t decide what to order, try their mixed plates of pasta or tripe, and don’t miss the crostini. There’s a wonderful buffet at lunchtime. If you are with a group, the back room has big tables, which are not easy to find in Florence.