I am spending a week in Florence at the end of February. I have booked us into the Hotel Savoy. Does anyone have any thoughts on this hotel? Also, I would greatly appreciate any restaurant recommendations. Would love to find places where locals eat. Thanks!

Hi CT,

>Would love to find places where locals eat.<

Florence is full of them. How much do you want to spend?

You might want to enter <florence and restaurant> in the "search this forum" box.

Guess I am interested in reasonably priced places, plus one place for a special meal. I will be visting my daughter who is studying there on her 21st birthday and I would like to take her for a birthday celebration. Thanks!

Good morning, aso am spending about 4 days in Florence but at the middle of the month. Have not stayed at the HOTEL
SAVOY, however it is is a very centrally located square. We have over the years used these ristorantes, all
which are in walking distance from your location and they are :
Rist. TOTO, via Bargo SS Apostili, 6,
$$$ excellant bistecca alla florentina.
Trattoria Da Celestino, Pza, S. Felicita, 4r, $$$ just over Ponte Vecchi
in small square to left...veal chop!!!!
Trattoria Il Bargello, Borgo Die Greci, 37r $$$ just behind the Palazzo Vecchio.
Cantinetta Antinori,m Palazzo Antinori, 3, $$$$ good wines and variety of foods..Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Here is one place I like that is a local favorite: Al Antico Ristoro dei Cambi. It is right off the Vespucci Bridge in the Oltrarno, on the south side of the river. There are beautiful frescoes on the walls, great food and an excellent wine list. They are known for bistecca and other local specialties. It is casual and you must call to reserve.

Hi CT,

>I will be visting my daughter who is studying there...<

She ought to have some idea about good restaurants. Why not call her?

For your special night out you might like Il Ritrovo
Via dei Pucci 4/A 055.281688
Full dinner w/wine abt 40-50E pp Closed Monday
From Pzza San Giovani (NW corner of the Pza del Duomo) walk one blk East to Via dei Martelli. Go left to Via dei Pucci. Turn Right. Look very carefully on left. No sign. Door could be locked. Ring bell.

Reasonably priced places are always my first choice.

We were disappointed in the food at Il Ritrovo. Plus they had street musicians who came in and played while strolling the tables, and mildy pressured you to donate. Very tacky. We would not go back

This thread has some good suggestions:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34702083

and this one:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34706696

Can't help you with the Savoy, it is out of my price range, but we will be in Florence next October, so I'm looking around for hotels and restaurnats myself.

By chance, I mentioned this to our new next-door neighbors and they have family (Cousins) in Florence who run a hotel, the ALBION.
http://www.hotelalbion.it/.
They say it is right on the Arno, convenient to everything, full of antiques, has good reviews on Tripadvisor, and they "Treat us like Family". (Well, right, they ARE!)

Anyway, I pass it along for addition to the mix. If anyone has stayed there, I would apreciate feedback.

I was also very disappointed with Il Ritrovo. I know it gets lots of rave reviews here, but it was definitely the worst meal I had in 18 days in Italy in Sept.

I enjoyed Osteria Cinghiale Bianco and Aqua al Due, great food at those.

In general, you will find the better reasonably priced places on the south side of the Arno in the Oltrarno. Also speaking generally, with a few exceptions, you will find fewer tourists here as well. I mentioned Cambi earlier. Another place I like is Alla Vecchia Bettola which is out of the central area but within walking distance of the Ponte Vecchio. Cash only.