Words and photos by Ally Parkinson, who studied abroad with ASA in Florence during the Spring semester 2025
GROCERY STORES.
One of the most important things for me, while budgeting abroad, was the food. I went out for many meals, but I tried to cook at home too. I would like to share my tips and tricks with you guys for navigating your breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Florence.
For grocery shopping, you will most likely be shopping at a Conad or a Carrefour Express.
Both of these are good options. Depending on the location, some stores may be larger than others. I would regularly go to the Carrefour Express because it was near my apartment. You want to shop at the closest grocery store to your apartment because you will be walking everything back, and if you get a lot of food, it will be very heavy.
Which brings me to my next point: either bring a large reusable shopping bag, or invest in one early. It costs money to get plastic bags in Florence, and it is difficult to carry a bunch of them back. Having a large reusable one will save you money and effort.
Florence is a very historic city, and with that comes very thick walls, and little to no reception in grocery stores and restaurants. When shopping, of course, everything will be in Italian. I have tried to look up the Italian words for food before, but I still usually have a hard time finding what I need with no service to Google Translate. I found the people in the grocery stores are very friendly and helpful. I have asked them about the differences between milk, snacks, and anything you could think of. They have always been super helpful and helped me make the right choice.
Groceries were also a lot cheaper in Florence than they are in the States. If you are looking to save some money, it’s a great option for a meal. I regularly got chicken and frozen potato wedges from Carrfour; it was so good that I still think about those meals now.
Cooking can also be a great activity to do with your roommates, whether it’s an authentic Italian dish or something to remind you of home.
RESTAURANTS
European dining is very different than American dining. Everything happens at a much slower pace. So, after you have been seated, expect to wait a while until your server comes over. I always found closing the menus would drive them over (if you are very hungry and ready to order, I recommend trying this). Your server will often not stop by your table to check on you, get you new drinks, or bring the check. You often have to flag them down if you need anything.
Another thing to note, steak is cooked standardly rare, and they will often not cook it longer if you ask. This is something I did not mind. The meat I had was always high quality, and I actually quite enjoyed it.
When getting the check, there may be some words you don’t recognize. There is no need to tip because they add “coperto”, which is an included tip, usually a small amount. When I received really good service, I would leave some extra euros, but it’s not expected. At certain restaurants, there will also be a fee for seating. You’ll find this at restaurants near the Duomo, or near any attractions. I found the average to be about €3-5 per person. Sometimes this fee is worth it to be able to have your morning coffee while viewing the Duomo.
The food and drinks in Italy were absolutely amazing, and you should try as much as you can! But don’t forget it’s also fun to cook!
Thanks, Ally!