There are plenty of tourist traps firmly camped out in Florence’s main squares, which makes Vini e Vecchi Sapori a bit of an anomaly. It’s the safest (and best) bet near Piazza della Signoria for both lunch and dinner. This old tavern features walls full of vintage photographs and marble-topped wooden tables pushed close together, and is filled with loud Italians catching up over Tuscan staples. Whatever you do, don’t ask for an Aperol spritz—they have a big section on the menu that reads “no pizza, no ice, no takeaway, spritz or cappuccino.” It’s a refreshing departure from the many places in the city that only cater to an Italy that only exists on TikTok. This is a great place to try peposo, a warm-you-up beef stew braised in local wine and slow-cooked with black pepper, but they also do exceptional pasta like paccheri in a sauce of zucchini flowers and saffron or the pappardelle with duck sauce.