During our honeymoon in Florence in June 2024, we found ourselves in food heaven, exploring the city primarily through its vibrant bars and restaurants (the best way, in my opinion).
After researching the local dining scene and browsing highly rated spots online, we stumbled upon Trattoria Pallottino – a traditional Tuscan eatery beloved by locals. It was a must-visit.
From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for a treat. The welcoming atmosphere, the sight of locals dining alone, and the rustic charm of the place made it clear this was where Florentines came to enjoy authentic cuisine. While the language barrier was evident (the staff didn’t speak much English), it only added to the charm, and we managed to successfully order our pasta and wine.
We opted for the pappardelle with ragu and the rigatoni with their house-made pasta sauce. Both dishes were divine – the rigatoni in particular was so delicious, I could easily eat it every day without ever getting tired of it.
After finishing our pasta, we were eager to order a secondi, but the language barrier caused some confusion. Eventually, we decided to skip the secondi and settle for a tiramisu to share instead. That’s when the owner came over. Despite a hilariously broken conversation, we managed to compare wedding rings, share a few laughs, and before we knew it, he disappeared only to return with three shots of homemade limoncello. We toasted and took a sip, only for him to quickly return with a stronger bottle when he deemed the first batch too weak. We toasted again, laughed some more, and enjoyed the moment together.
This spontaneous, joyful experience was one of the highlights of our trip. If you find yourself in Florence, don’t miss out on this incredible local gem!