Enoteca Pinchiorri

Enoteca Pinchiorri is the most decorated restaurant in Florence and one of Italy's best-known fine-dining addresses. It began in 1972, when Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Féolde opened a small wine shop with a kitchen; over the following decades it grew into a grand restaurant, and it has held three Michelin stars since 2004. It occupies a 17th-century palazzo on Via Ghibellina, between the Bargello and Santa Croce, with dining rooms decorated with paintings, frescoes and fresh flowers.

The cooking is contemporary Italian, built on luxurious ingredients and a strong sense of Italian identity rather than passing trends. Expect a choice of tasting menus and an à la carte selection, with dishes that change with the seasons, from refined pasta to fish, game and meat courses. The pastry kitchen, led by Francesco Federici, is a highlight in its own right, and the soufflé is a signature. Service, led in the dining room by Alessandro Tomberli, is formal, attentive and highly choreographed.

The wine cellar is the restaurant's legend and the reason it still carries the word enoteca in its name. The Michelin Guide describes it as a unique and quite simply mythological treasure, and the list is as much a part of the evening as the food. Let the sommelier team guide you, whether you want a pairing with the tasting menu or a single bottle to suit the table.

This is a special-occasion restaurant, priced accordingly. It opens for dinner only, from Tuesday to Saturday, and is closed on Sunday and Monday. Reservations are essential and are handled directly by the restaurant, so book well ahead, especially for weekends and in spring and autumn. Dress smartly for the occasion. There is a terrace for warm evenings, and the restaurant is air-conditioned.

It suits couples celebrating, serious wine lovers and anyone who wants to experience Italian haute cuisine in a historic setting. Allow at least three hours for a tasting menu. The restaurant is a five-minute walk from Piazza Santa Croce and about ten minutes from the Duomo; taxis can drop you at the door. Mention any allergies or dietary needs when you book so the kitchen can plan ahead.