Bistecca alla fiorentina
T-bone steak, served rare
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In short
A lunch-only Florentine trattoria beside the Mercato Centrale in San Lorenzo, where strangers share tables and prices stay low. Bistecca alla fiorentina is the dish to order. It is closed on Sundays.
Trattoria Mario is a lunch-only Florentine trattoria at Via Rosina 2r, beside the Mercato Centrale in the San Lorenzo district of Florence. It suits travellers who want cheap, traditional Tuscan food and are happy to share a table with strangers. Santa Maria Novella station is about five minutes away on foot and the Duomo about ten.
Three generations of the Colzi family have run the place, and the routine has barely changed. Mario opens Monday to Saturday from about noon to 15:30, closes on Sunday, and shuts for the whole of August.
Ribollita and the daily handwritten menu
The menu is written fresh each day. Ribollita, the thick Tuscan soup of bread and vegetables, is a regular, along with beans in olive oil, fried potatoes and a plate of local salumi. Fish appears on Fridays.
The bistecca alla fiorentina is the dish most visitors come for. It is a T-bone sold by weight and served rare, with no exceptions for anyone who wants it cooked longer. Portions are large, so sharing one across the table is normal.
No bookings and shared long tables
There are no bookings. You give your name at the door, wait, and are seated at long wooden tables beside whoever else is next. Arriving just before noon usually gets you into the first sitting. Lunch takes about an hour, and the staff keep the tables turning.
The room is small and loud. Market traders, office workers and visitors all crowd in together, which is a large part of the appeal.
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CloseSun - Closed
- Monday12:00–15:30
- Tuesday12:00–15:30
- Wednesday12:00–15:30
- Thursday12:00–15:30
- Friday12:00–15:30
- Saturday12:00–15:30
- SundayClosed
Suggested Booking: Around 1 hour
Dine-in
Price band: Budget
Payment options
CASH