We have a week in Florence in mid September and are looking for good budget eating tips and fun places to visit during our stay. We can self-cater , probably visit a market sometimes for this , but it's fun to eat out in cheap unpretentious places too.......

There is a central market close to the Duomo where you can pick up lunch items or sandwiches, and of course items for cooking at home if you have your own cooking facilities. Finding a picnic site in central Florence was more of a problem.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57627066754871

I believe that I geo-tagged the picture correctly.

This is a wonderful place and if you sit inside you can have a buffet lunch for under 10 euros!
http://www.giubberosse.it/

Tommmo, The San Lorenzo food market is a fun place to shop for food. The first floor has cheeses and meats and the upper level has a wide selection of fruit and veggies. It is also know s the central market. The market of Sant Ambrogio located in Piazza Ghiberti and Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, is both indoor and outdoor. It sells al sorts of take away food.

Check out Fred Plotkins book "Italy for the Gourmet Traveler". It will give you good suggestions for resturants all over Italy in various price ranges.

Rolo

I Fratellini. A busy little place on a side street (Via dei Cimatori) with wooden racks hanging to hold your wine glass while you eat (standing in the street). The shelves are numbered so you know which glass is yours. You can select different sizes of wine if you want to sample a few.
http://www.iduefratellini.com/

Mmmm...sounding good! Please keep 'em coming....

One way to save money: Don't sit at a table. Coffee bars and cafes that also serve sandwiches and pastries have different prices for beverages and foods if you stand or occupy a table since the tables are served by a waiter. If you just want a quick coffee, stand at the bar and save money. The comparative price list is posted.

We will probably need to sit down sometimes, I hear the walking is hard work. But point taken about cafe tables.
Also has anyone been to Teatro del Sale, that sounds like a fun place to eat?

I think Zeb is close to our rented villa so I look forward to that...