Il Barretto — Restaurant in Florence

I'd like to preface that, although I'm writing this review in English, I'm actually from nearby Florence, and I really want to share my experience with as many people as possible (locals and tourists). It was a fantastic experience on every point.

I went to this restaurant with my girlfriend, and, although we didn't make a reservation, they accepted us with no problems. The environment was quite classy, cozy, and definitely romantic.

We ordered a parmigiana di melanzane as a starter, which, despite the smaller size (just a couple of layers of eggplants), it definitely didn't lack of flavor. It had all the required rich ingredients (parmigiano, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil). It was so good, that I even taught my American girlfriend our traditional scarpetta (wiping the remaining sauce from the dish with a slice of bread).

We then moved on to the first course, and ordered a dish of Pasta alla Carbonara (me) and Paccheri with Shrimps and Mussels (her). They were both great and didn't disappoint at all. The Carbonara was nice and creamy, as it should be, and the pork wasn't too hard or crunchy, as sometimes happens when sizzled for too long. My girlfriend's Paccheri were also quite nice; the creamy tomato sauce was really well complemented by good-quality seafood.

We didn't order a main dish, as we were too stuffed already, and decided to share a Panna Cotta as desert. It was a great ending. My girlfriend and I really appreciated the tart berries. They were really flavorful.

Lastly: the service. I've decided to leave that for last because it was hands-down one of THE BEST PARTS of the night. The manager, who also served us, was an amazing host to say the least. She was very accommodating, smiling, and on top of things. Not only did she make sure that we were enjoying our food and having a great time, but she also gave us a discount, making us pay 80 euros instead of 86. Also, when we were about to leave, she even offered us a couple of shots of Limoncello. A great example of typical Italian hospitality. Another thing that I really appreciated about her work etiquette was that, while other customers were waiting for a table, she offered them a free glass of Prosecco to apologize for the wait. Personally, I believe that little gestures like these really show the professionality and attitude of someone. Their management style is truly a class act. Very well handled in every aspect. I can't find a single flaw with the whole night.

In conclusion, I highly recommend the restaurant Il Barretto. Their prices are quite average for the center of Florence, the food is excellent, and their service is top-notch. Overall, It was a 10/10 experience. I'll...

I chose it through TripAdvisor as this restaurant somehow ended up at the top of their list. We should have turned away when we realised the place is crawling with American tourists. The staff kept on talking to us in English when we kept on speaking in Italian. They came like four times to our table to try and take our order which was annoying. We asked for WiFi password and the manager said they didn’t have any. The network was showing and the table next to ours told us the password. So the manager shared the WiFi password to the American tourists but refused to share it with us! When I directly asked her about it, she came up with “the rain came and shut the WiFi down” 😂. It was working perfectly! Such a liar…. We ordered just one dish each as we became suspicious of the place being a usual tourist trap. My husband sent back his spaghettoni carbonara as the dish was tasteless, “spaghettoni” were regular spaghetti and not cooked “al dente”. The manager came back from the kitchen showing us “spaghetti” and “spaghettini” but didn’t bring any “spaghettoni” with her as obviously they didn’t have them (they are thicker, longer and usually cost more) and it’s a lie to put something on the menu but cook a different thing. My cacio pepe pasta was ok. It didn’t have a gram of pecorino in it and was made with some cheap soft cheese and no pepper at all. I was hungry and didn’t want to send another dish back. After all the pasta was tasty even if it wasn’t an authentic “cacio pepe”. By the way … about the wine… They do not have a decent wine list but they are convinced they do. They actually pointed this out 😂. So I ask a glass of red wine as my husband refuses to drink wine that night. The waiter says it is 15€ per glass. The manager then comes to serve it. I ask her casually again about the price and she says 13€ per glass for the same wine. Fine. But again it shouldn’t be like this. After all this we decided it was enough. Refused the desserts and the staff practically snatched the plates as soon as we placed the cutlery down! The manager insisted for us to have the check printed as she was clearly scared we would report her for something as we showed our discontent. Anyways, it was an unpleasant experience and each time we come back to Italy I realise how things get worse. We live in another Mediterranean country in Europe and we feel being lucky that they do not cheat on us in restaurants and shops etc., unlike they do in Italy to tourists and Italians themselves…....

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Perfect Florence Experience — A Must Visit!

If you're in Florence — whether it's your first time, your fifth, or your fiftieth — Il Barretto is absolutely unmissable. Tucked away with an inviting charm, this spot completely captured my heart from the moment I walked in. It wasn’t just dinner — it was a welcome to Italy moment that I’ll never forget.

I started with the pear and honey appetizer, which was light, fresh, and beautifully balanced — a perfect beginning.

Then came the lobster pasta... and I’m still dreaming about it. Every bite was rich, perfectly cooked, and bursting with flavor. I also had a glass (or two) of wine that was so smooth and delicious I forgot to even note what it was — just know that everything on the menu is curated to perfection.

The best part? Massimo and Ilam — the owners, hosts, and now two of my favorite people in Florence. Their warmth, kindness, and passion for what they do transformed the evening from a great meal into a memory. I felt so at home I couldn’t leave without giving them both a hug.

I was staying at Palazzo Alfieri nearby, and they recommended this as a spot for an intimate dinner. They couldn’t have been more right. It was personal, cozy, and full of joy — exactly what you want when discovering a new city.

If you don’t make it to Il Barretto, Italy might not let you back in. I know exactly where I’ll be going my first night every time I return to Florence.

10/10 would recommend.
Food: incredible.
Atmosphere: warm and welcoming.
Service: unforgettable. Grazie, Massimo & Ilam — see...