Gusto Leo — Restaurant in Florence

If you find yourself wandering the charming streets of Florence and craving a truly satisfying pizza, Gusto Leo is the spot to visit. Nestled just steps away from the bustling city center, this pizzeria captures the warmth and authenticity you hope for in an Italian dining experience.

From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt welcoming — lively enough to remind you that you’re in the heart of Florence, yet relaxed enough to enjoy a slow, unhurried meal. The décor is rustic yet inviting, with warm tones and the faint, comforting aroma of wood-fired dough filling the air.

Our server, Giuseppe, was a standout. Friendly, attentive, and quick with a smile, he made us feel instantly at home. He guided us through the menu with genuine enthusiasm, offering recommendations that did not disappoint. His knowledge of both the pizza selections and local wines was impressive, and his hospitality elevated the experience from good to unforgettable.

As for the food — the pizza was outstanding. The crust was thin and perfectly charred, with just the right balance of crunch and chew. The tomato sauce was bright and tangy, clearly made from fresh ingredients, and the toppings were generous without overwhelming the delicate base. My Suprema pizza was a masterclass in simplicity, and the radi di campo had just enough spice to keep things interesting.

In a city where good food is the norm, Gusto Leo still manages to stand out — thanks not only to its excellent pizza but also to the warm, its excellent pizza but also to the warm, personal touch of service from Giuseppe. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a genuine, memorable pizza experience...

Wife and I are in Florence for our anniversary and happened upon this gem. Holy moly this place was great! Jovial man at the front door led us into a delightful restaurant where TRULY EVERYTHING WE ORDERED was fantastic. I always want to try things and decided to try out the tripe which usually isn’t my favorite but, hey, when in Italy… I figured if anywhere is going to make it tasty this would be a good place to try it. Anyways it was delicious! Perfectly cooked and flavorful. The carbonara was also awesome but the crown jewel would be the pork ribs my wife ordered. Fall-off-the-bone tender!

Our server Lola was a star in her own right. Sometimes being from the USA with a bit of an accent we experience a bit of attitude from locals but that wasn’t this place! Lola was attentive and knew the menu well with fine recommendations (try the artichoke appetizer - you’re welcome)!

Finally we managed to try some dessert and even though we were completely filled by our meals we couldn’t help but destroy the tasty pistachio cheesecake. Yes. Pistachio. Cheesecake. It was served in a glass jar and quickly consumed by two people that thought we couldn’t possibly eat another bite after our dinners.

Awesome! Simply awesome! Great service, food, and I almost forgot the atmosphere. You can see the ancient beams through glass portions of the floor and it is right across the street from a magnificent duomo landmark.

Eat here. Don’t overthink it, just do it! If you get Lola that just makes it...

There are a lot of highly rated restaurants in Florence, but the ratings are more about the tourists than the restaurant. For many people Florence is a dream come true, you walk around eat gelato look at gorgeous churches and then have a spritz or two. So long as the waiters are reasonably quick people give a 5 star review.

I was in Italy for two weeks and my daughter's favorite pasta was carbonara, she had it all over the place in Venice, Florence and Verona. If you are curious how it should be you can watch this video https://youtu.be/bnZ_70XyVAk?si=SecSHSRrF1LInlMS. In my two weeks in Italy this was the only restaurant that used guanciale in their carbonara. I saw it made with ham, bacon or prosciutto. I saw it made with precooked pasta, some of the dishes were just sad and embarrassing. Gusto Leo surpassed them all.

If you decide to eat at Gusto Leo I high recommend the pasta dishes, it's not that the rest of the food is bad it's just that the pasta is so good and made to order. We ate there twice and I can speak to the quality and consistency. The risotto was heavenly, the pasta with clams so good we had to order an extra to share. I already miss the food. The staff are friendly but the star of the show to me is the food. This is how Italian food is supposed...