Florence & teens
 

We will be spending two nights in Florence in early July, with two teens aged 13 and 17. Any suggestions for restaurants that would be appealing to American teens (i.e., casual atmosphere, with simply prepared pastas, pizza, or chicken)? If we want to take a break from all the Florentine art & architecture, any suggestions for other things to do/see in Florence that would be appealing to a 13-year-old boy who may burn out on art by this point in our tour? Thank you!

Check out the History of Science Museum, it's a nice break from art & arch.

For a casual restaurant with excellent food, try I Latini. The teenagers may want to climb to the top of Duomo for a great view.

Hi Linda,
The kids might like the Museo Stibbert.

http://www.vps.it/propart/stibbere.htm

Whatever you do, do not do what you can do at the mall at home.

Consider the cafeteria style spot just about straight out the main door of the duomo and just to the left. It is about 100 feet from the Baptistry and the closest building to it. You get your food on the first floor, and can sit there too, but there are three more floors of seating above with dead on views of the duomo and bell tower. Rather curious place that seems to attract the budget minded (e.g., students). Quite inexpensive. There are numerous outdoor cafes on one side of the duomo that are super people watching places, too.

Gelateria dei Neri for gelatto!!!!!!!
I also liked Il Latini.

Thank you all! Great suggestions!

Unless your teens are EXTREMELY picky eaters, I think most of the cafes offer simple pastas and pizzas. I second the recommendation of Il Latini's. It's a very fun place. For meats, they had simple grilled steaks, pork chops and chicken. Your 13 year old son will love the pig's head on the counter!

They might enjoy the Mercado Nuovo (sp?), it was a wonderful enclosed market area very near the museum with David. It had wonderful displays of vegetables, bread, pasta. But also very unusual meats -- rabbits, eels, chickens with their heads still on, pig snouts. I know it would be right up my son's alley.

Sorry, that's the Mercado Central -- not Mercado Nuovo (that's something different).