What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Hostaria il Desco
Review
About
Travelers' Choice
2024
When talking about Tuscan cooking we talk about tradition told in many dishes ranging from Commune to Commune, from season to season and from the many varieties of products that our territory offers. Our intent has always been to follow the season, giving you the chance to taste the most regional specialties, changing the menu several times a year. We are nevertheless proud to be able to do this without GLUTINE and use most vegetables and vegetables at KM Zero.
Features
CUISINES
Italian, Steakhouse, Mediterranean, Soups, Tuscan, Central-Italian
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Free Wifi
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Wine and Beer
Location
Centro Storico
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 7:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Contribute
4.4
1,597 reviews
Excellent
1,003
Very good
404
Average
109
Poor
42
Terrible
40
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silvamars
Pioltello149 contributions
Nov 2023 • family
What a beautiful place! Elegant and collected. Background music accompanying dinner.
Tonight we want to taste the Florentine steak...obviously cooked rare.
To while away the wait they offer us bruschetta with diced tomatoes.
Even though the room is full, there is no confusion.
The waiters move with elegance and smiles between the tables…
His Majesty arrives: 😍. Perfectly cooked, soft when cut and what a flavour!!!
Respected quality-price.
Written November 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andreea R
Busteni1 contribution
Feb 2025 • friends
An Unforgettable Experience at Ristorante Hostaria il Desco!
I have been to Ristorante Hostaria il Desco multiple times, and every visit is a truly extraordinary experience! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends.
The menu is a perfect balance of tradition and innovation, featuring high-quality ingredients and dishes with authentic flavors. I have tried both the meat and seafood dishes, and each time, I have been impressed by the freshness and the beautifully presented plates. The steaks, expertly prepared by the chef, are some of the best I have ever had!
The service is impeccable: the staff is professional, attentive, and always ready to recommend the perfect wine pairing. A special thank you to Lucian, the owner, who puts passion and dedication into everything he does, making every guest feel special.
If you are in Florence, this gem is an absolute must-visit! Highly recommended
Written February 10, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francesco D.
Udine384 contributions
Jan 2025 • friends
For our last evening in Florence, after advance booking, we decided to dine in this place, attracted by the menu proposals. After a welcome platter of cold cuts and mixed cheeses, we proceeded with a 1.6 kg Florentine finding a very high quality, all washed down with an excellent local à la carte wine. The restaurant itself is very nice and clean and has preserved a sort of historical atmosphere in line with the general external context. Valid service, friendly and prepared waiters and normal prices. Definitely a valuable discovery.
Automatically translated
Written January 6, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karuna
Tel Aviv16 contributions
May 2024 • family
This restaurant was recommended by our hotel for a vegetarian couple. Our first dish (tomato soup and bruschetta) were disappointing - 4 small pieces of Burned bread with natural tomatoes for 8€. We shared our disappointment with the waiter - and he nodded and go. For the main dish - not a single vegetarian dish was offered. At this point we asked for the bill. 30 € were charged for water, soup and the 4 burned bread. We asked for a consideration, considering the fact that they are not equipped to serve vegetarian, and got none (besides blaming us for not paying more attention before sitting there). Tourist trap. Nothing more.
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scenic20142289416
16 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
As soon as my partner and I entered the restaurant, we were asked if we'd like the gluten free or the regular menu. I felt very safe eating here as someone with celiac disease.
I had the bread/vegetable soup as a starter, the ricotta/spinach/sage ravioli with a side of sautered spinach as the main, and the pistachio cheesecake for dessert. The taste was very good, but the portions were quite small. However, this was to be expected since it is a restaurant where you are meant to have multiple dishes. We, however, didn't wish to follow this setup, and were met with hesitation and slight disapproval by our server.
I would recommend making a reservation if you'd like to experience this gem of a restaurant, as the restaurant is quite small.
Written July 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manu899
Verona282 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
Expectations for this restaurant a few steps from the Uffizi were very high but these were mostly disappointed.
The environment is certainly elegant and the staff friendly and knowledgeable.
What didn't impress us were the flavors of the dishes correlated with too high prices.
The menu is almost entirely available in a gluten-free version, which is excellent. In particular we didn't like the starters with very hard industrial gluten-free bread, especially considering the high price.
Written March 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalCindy
Huntington Beach107 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
It sure looks like a great place. We were approached by a young man with only English, gluten free ? Not a hello or welcome . Um.
Next the waitress who finally did crack a smile took our order. My husband had the minestrone soup which was good flavor and had a decent amount of veggies.
Next we ordered the fungi pasta and grilled chicken to share .
The pasta looked appetizing but it was bland and had hardly any flavor. The chicken was grilled and chopped over rocket at 26 euros.
I would have told the server what I thought if they bothered to ask.
I’m stunned this restaurant is highly reviewed ! I found this place very mediocre.
Written October 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CatBookWine
16 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
Hostaria il Desco was recommended to us by our hotel, the Davanzati. We liked it so much we went there three times in five days.
The food was very good, we enjoyed the wines, and the customer service was excellent. Don't be afraid to go there if you don't speak Italian - the staff all speak English, and they were very friendly.
I loved how each table has balsamic vinegar and olive oil waiting for you when you sit down. You can enjoy the warm fresh bread while you decide what to eat.
The atmosphere, the cozy size, and the warm brick walls made it a real Italian experience for these tourists from Canada.
Written November 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Il Valbu
Valeggio Sul Mincio17 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
We decided to go and eat at this place because we were attracted by the setup and the photos of the dishes, we booked a table from the site. I'll start by saying that we liked everything, we took angus carpaccio with truffle, tagliatelle with wild boar and green beans with truffle and gorgonzola. I gave it 4/5 because in my experience it is undervalued, it would have much more potential. Starting from the dishes, the carpaccio is good but not very flavourful, if I take it with truffle I expect to taste the truffle but very little, the same for the tagliolini, with light gorgonzola fondue, flaked fresh truffle and truffle pralines, you could feel the gorgonzola although it was "light" but not the truffle, and this, loving truffles, is one of the things that disappointed me the most, pasta add a drizzle of truffle oil and the flavor would have remained given that the oils are always intense , the wild boar fettuccine was very good but the sauce still had an aftertaste of red wine, which in my opinion needed to be evaporated further. However, it is still a good dinner and a recommended place if you are visiting Florence, prices a little above average but not exaggerated, doses of a gourmet restaurant.
Written January 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniela D
2 contributions
May 2024 • family
The environment is dimly lit, there are very soft lights.
I, who love the light in spring, found it a bit sad and dark.
They cook gluten-free and are kind.
I took a plate of fettuccine with porcini mushrooms and it was very good but, for what it costs, the portions are really small... and I'm not even a big eater.
Written May 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathryn M
14 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
Marco is simply adorable. He made sure that my 90-year-old mother felt truly cared for. He made eye contact with her and explained everything clearly and with a smile. You con't imagine how precious this is for a person of age. He timed the meal perfectly and was not afraid to guide our dining experience and gently correct my abominable Italian pronunciation. I have been a hospitality professor for 15 years in Switzerland and would be very pleased if my students had the natural grace and professionalism of Marco. (By the way, the food was simply glorious.)
Written July 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicinabella84
Chiavari151 contributions
Dec 2023 • family
Elegant place, really pleasant background music, very good food (I haven't found fillet so tender in ten years!). I didn't give it the maximum because the portions are really small, the ribollita was less than half of what I ate for lunch for the same price. There is a separate super rich gluten-free menu, well done!
Written December 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ana
Tempe56 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
Beautiful atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food. My boyfriend has a gluten allergy and they were able to accommodate him just fine with no issues. They even had a gluten free menu that they immediately asked if we wanted one before they even knew he had an allergy. We both got the truffle Gorgonzola pasta as our first dish and split the Florentine steak as our second meal. The pistachio cheesecake was to die for wow I still can’t stop thinking about it!
Written June 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarcoPD55
Florence14572 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
A short distance from the Uffizi, there is this elegant place: it is called "Hostaria", but, as is often said, it does not have much of the old Osteria: it is
a restaurant with a certain elegance, nice presentation of the tables (even if a little narrow) and the equipment; good welcome from the
personal.
Rather varied menu, with a prevalence of traditional Tuscan dishes.
We have choosen:
Starters: Truffle Caprese with tomato, heart of burrata, fresh black truffle and black truffle pearls;
First courses: Tagliolini with light gorgonzola fondue, fresh truffle flakes and black truffle pearls; Pappardelle with wild boar
Second courses: Baked rack of lamb with fresh black truffle and white truffle cheese sauce; Grilled fillet of beef and braised sliced beef with parmigiano reggiano and rocket with a side dish of baked potatoes.
Wine: Chianti.
Definitely a positive opinion both in terms of quality and quantity.
Fast and punctual service; prices above average, justified by the raw materials.
Advised.
Written February 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenna Sheppard
Vancouver36 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
This hotel came very highly recommended by our hotel. It did not disappoint! We started with the caprese salad to share and each had the tuscan minestrone soup. Our mains, both of which were specifically suggested by our hotel was the purple cabbage risotto and the truffle pasta w/ gorgonzola sauce. This was all accompanied by a bottle of the house red and the meal did not disappoint! At the end of the meal, we went for the pistachio cheesecake with vin santo despite being very full! The entire meal from start to finish was fantastic, and the service was lovely. If I had another night in Florence, I would happily do this meal all over again. Make reservations, this place is small but very busy as all the good places are :)
Written June 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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