I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti was high on my bucket list of places to try in Florence. You absolutely must put it on yours. We had heard about the long lines, and yep, they were out the door.  But it added to the excitement  to our delight, the lines moved quickly, and it was worth it.  We actually needed all that time to discern what to order as the list of sandwiches is huge and everyone looks better than the next.    It was a tough decision. It was truly one of  of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. And most of you reading know how picky I am.

They serve schiacciata, which is a type of flat Tuscan focaccia sandwich. It’s a food lovers fantasy come to life, crispy on the outside, warm and light on the inside. It’s baked fresh, and it holds up well to the fillings, they heat it up again for you after the sandwich is assembled and it doesn’t getting soggy or too much to bite through.  Every bite was perfection.  That bread alone would be worth the stop.

Their meats were thinly they sliced and carefully assembled. Prosciutto, mortadella, porchetta—it was all paper thin, layered high, and placed in a way that gave you a full experience of flavor with every bite . The porchetta was my favorite. Italian roasted pork, seasoned with herbs and pepper, and tender without being greasy. I have not experienced this in America that’s for sure.

We went back again later in the week because it was that good. Each time, the sandwich was fun, creative and unusually perfect. The spreads and cheeses weren’t overdone. You could taste all the ingredients clearly, completing each other. The marinated vegetables added texture, and the cheeses and toppings were well balanced. Nothing felt random or thrown together.

The staff worked fast, even with the crowd, and they stayed friendly and focused. It’s not a sit-down place.  Maybe some seating upstairs? You order, you take your sandwich, and you eat it standing outside, or find a ledge or bench nearby. But that didn’t matter. The food was the focus.

Florence has a lot of great food, but this stood out. It wasn’t fine dining, and it didn’t need to be. It was a family tradition, well-prepared, and packed with flavor. Definitely a core memory now. A sandwich to which others with be measured by. I’ll be thinking about that sandwich for a long time. I’ve had a lot of great food in Italy, and this was right up there with the best of it.

If you’re anywhere near the city center, don’t skip it. The line’s worth it. And if you’re like me, you’ll probably end up going back before the week is over.