Pizzeria Giovanni Santarpia — Restaurant in Florence

Currently rated #61 Pizzeria in the world and considered the best in Florence Giovanni Santarpia was born in Campania and moved to Tuscany after mastering the art, his Restaurant east of Santa Croce opened in 2016 still full from the 19h15 opening until close most days of the week.

A contemporary space divided across two rooms, with youthful staff fluent in English ready to explain each of the Chef’s creations, guests will find a list of local Beers and Wines to accompany a brief menu focused on items from the Wood-burning oven.

Neapolitan through-and-through, many Ingredients sourced from nearby markets, Santarpia thankfully strays from strict VPN standards to offer both Appetizers and contemporary interpretations of Pizza, his Mortazza a fried masterpiece of molten Cheese with Mortadella and nutty Pesto on top.

No Pastas or Salads, but housemade Milkbread beneath Tripe and Gorgonzola for those seeking the spectacular, Pizza come with a developed cornicone thanks to 48h leavening and shine whether simply topped in DOP Tomatoes with Basil or made fiery by Salsa Verde plus ‘Nduja.

Concise but certainly not limited, a total of six Desserts atop the rest, servers strongly recommend Giovanni’s Cheesecake with seasonal Berries but for fans of Baba au Rhum this delicate version soaked in sweet Booze with a smear of Cream is a...

5 Stars – A Slice of Heaven in Florence! I had the pleasure of dining at Pizzeria Giovanni Santarpia during my trip to Florence, and it was hands down one of the best meals I had in Italy. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with that cozy, authentic Italian charm you hope to find in a local spot. As a starter we had Bocconcini di Mare, so delicious bites. The pizza? Absolutely phenomenal. The crust was perfectly thin and crisp on the outside while still soft and chewy inside – clearly made by someone who knows their dough. We tried the La Caterina which was bursting with flavor and made with incredibly fresh ingredients. Small wine list but seems the wines are carefully selected. We tried the only one roze in the list and was exceptional. Service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. If you're in Florence and craving pizza, Pizzeria Giovanni Santarpia is an absolute must. It's a place where the passion for food shines through in every bite. I’ll be dreaming of that pizza until...

We stopped by here during a trip to Florence from London. A friend had insisted that we make the journey out of the city to try this pizza. I was dubious as I have celiac and have to eat gluten free. Expectations were very high, but every single one of them was exceeded. The gluten free pizza was specially developed by the head chef, which the menu explained. The texture was incredible, the perfect balance of crispy and chewy. The simple ingredients topping it were of very high quality and perfectly complemented the dough. My husband had a regular pizza with gluten which he also spoke very highly of. Even the desserts were sensational - my gluten free tiramisu made for a beautiful end to the meal.

I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough; if you are gluten free and you come to Florence, you must make the journey to visit...