Ora d'Aria

We had an incredible experience here with our friends. The dishes were so flavorful and delicious. They start with giving you an option of meat or fish tasting menu. Pairing wine was an option if you like. The service was great as well. The dishes kept getting better and better. My favorite part was the olives desert. I know it sounds weird but that ice cream tasted so smooth and balanced I almost asked for more but we were all so full. The dining room is small and only a few tables which I think it’s a great idea. I was a bit skeptical coming in reading other reviews but i would highly recommend.

If you're looking for a fine dining experience in Florence, Ora d’Aria delivers. This Michelin-starred restaurant is elegant without being stuffy. We went for the tasting menu, which was a beautifully curated journey through Tuscan cuisine with a modern twist. Standout dishes included the roasted pigeon with pear and the handmade pasta with smoked butter and anchovy. Every plate was a work of art, and the service was impeccable – attentive but never intrusive. The wine pairing was spot on and featured some lovely regional selections. The interior is modern and minimal, with large windows that let in beautiful natural light during lunch. It’s pricier than most (€100+ per person), but the quality and attention to detail justify every cent. It’s close to the Uffizi but tucked away on a quiet street, which makes it feel like a hidden gem. Perfect for a romantic evening or a celebratory meal. Definitely one of the most refined meals I've ever had in Italy.

Wow!! Coming from London where we are blessed with many restaraunts and having quite high food standards, we were very impressed with the food and the service. We were able to select our own tasting menu (does not need the whole table to have the same food) which is great so we could try everything they had to offer. Note that they only do red/white bottles by the bottle, but they were able to suggest a wine that would be suitable for both meat and fish dishes. It is a very small and intimate restaraunt with only about 8 tables, and the kitchen is right there and you can see how they operate through the glass window. The kitchen was very professional and also very quiet throughout the meal. Chef Marco Stabile was overseeing everything, and presented us with our wine. He also helped served other food items for other tables, and overall it seemed like he was very passionate about his restaraunt.

Going through other reviews, they are complete catfish. Do NOT take the pictures seriously, as they seem to change the menu a lot. My girlfriend and I came here for our one year anniversary, something which I noted in our reservation details along with the fact that I don’t eat beef. None of my comments were ever mentioned or taken into account. We arrived and the mood was off, and we had to wait quite a few minutes standing in the entrance to be seated. The bread was quite good. After that, all the food was quite unremarkable. The dishes all seemed very similar to one another, and parts were just frankly below the standard of what you’d expect from this price range. The service was very friendly, and allowed us to switch one of the courses from the meat menu and the fish menu, but our waitress was incredibly difficult to understand, so we weren’t always sure what we were eating. Besides the wine list which looked nice (but was shown to us on their website on an iPad) and 4 basic cocktails (gin and tonic etc) there were no fun other cocktails or nonalcoholic beverage options at all. We were not offered a dessert wine for the last course, or a coffee or tea following the meal. In general, we left the experience feeling like attention to detail was missing. The location was nicely central and convenient. Would sadly recommend steering clear of this place though.

Some of the dishes (mainly the ones with pasta or risotto) were spot on, but most were lacking that last ‘oumph’. The service was alright at the start but when the place started filling up it worsened; we went from getting detailed information with each wine to only being read the name on the label. I think for the price they set expectations they cannot meet themselves, because there are a good few restaurants in Firenze with tasting menus for less than half the price with so much more excitement for the palette. I am very disappointed jn this experience.

We chose Ora d’Aria to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We love fine cuisine and have had our fair share in the USA. But, Chef Marco impressed us beyond what we have experienced. We chose the tasting menu and we found the cuisine to be both inventive and intelligent. As an example, we were delighted by the artichoke and shrimp course. Chef Marco’s take on this pairing is both playful and pleasing, bringing out the best flavors of both. Likewise, we cannot stop talking about the risotto. Exceptional! Every other course equally dazzled and delighted. The filet, delicious. The gnudo, an elevated yet approachable and comforting bite. Each dish honored the ingredients with thoughtful balance and seasoning. I could go on and on. We were quite satisfied with the service, too. Friendly, professional, attentive. A wonderful dining experience all around.

Very good food, even better service, it fell short of our expectations given the price we paid though. We tried the seafood and land 5 course selections. Both had their highs and lows. Starting off, the onion soup was nice starter. The next course of shrimp was extremely tender but we preferred the pheasant. The 3rd course with seafood tortellini was odd, we again preferred the land option. The lobster truffle gnocchi took the prize for the night in the next course, but the crispy pig was also great. The oyster and fish dish was extremely overpowered by the lime granita, Both desserts were a bit underwhelming though the olive ice cream was interesting.... We tried it and understand the quality was good, it just wasn't for us. Though I would pay 50euro for a whole bowl of that lobster truffle gnocchi again!

It was a culinary nirvana..What a mystic experience! The atmosphere was so intimate and cozy. The ceiling is simply a piece of art. The service was excellent. I have to say, I fell in love with every single bites of each courses. The wine pairing was unbelievable. The chef himself took the order, brought us a few dishes and came to say bye at the end…I have been to a few Michelin restaurants in my life and so far this was with no doubts the best one. Grazie mille. The best restaurant in Firenze!

Terrific food, service and experience. Innovative menu, worth exploring for a fine dining adventure. We very much enjoyed the chef's tasting menu, which included a few items we probably would not have ordered - but were very pleased with. Dining room has a full view of the kitchen, which gives the chef a full view of your table, allowing the next course to be timed perfectly. You also have a full view of the kitchen and artistry performed. It's a special event place, prepare to be wowed.

HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT Given that there are a plethora of choices in this region, this restaurant was a huge disappointment. This marks the first time, at a Michelin rated restaurant, that I could not even attempt to finish my entree after having taken one bite. That's after going to Michelin restaurants all over the globe in several major cities. Keep this up and I suspect that this restaurant will not be able to maintain its sole star. On this night, the primi featured dried fish eggs which was akin to cat food, overly fishy and salty. The entree amberjack was tough and not chewable. My wife's entree had a breaded beef that was devoid of any taste. Thai flavors also featured in one of the dishes; it was literally all over the place. The menu was neither cohesive nor coherent. Needless to say, we had to make our exit before the end of the meal.

We where here and had the "tapas style lunch" wich is smaller nibbly-bit pieces of the dishes for 10-13 € each. We tried 6 different dishes and everything was gorgeous and tastet very good. The setting is bright and modern and unlike most places you normally see in Florence. The staff was very nice and we even had a couple of dishes beeing served by chef Stabile himself. Not the best meal we have had but great delicious food in nice setting at an affordable price. Would love to come back. Grazie mille Chef Stabile!

We wanted to try a Michelin star restaurant in Florence and the reviews for this place were pretty nice so we thought it would be a good try. We tried the "past" tasting menu and the wine pairings with it. I'll admit the wine was fantastic but this has got to be the worst food I've ever eaten in my life. Don't be fooled by it, one of the dishes tasted like puréed meat with sawdust, another tasted worse than cold Campbells soup, and even the bread was tasteless and harder than brick. Worst $350 ever spent... we thought it was a joke. Take it from us- don't waste your money. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. Florence has some of the best food I've ever eaten... but not from here!

My family and I (four total) each ordered the 35 euro tasting menu today and were very very pleased with the experience. The menu included five tapa sized dishes, including dessert. The natural bottled water prices were also very reasonable at 3 euros and wine prices spanned all price ranges. 5 euro cover charge also reasonable. First they brought out bread and olive oil. Good and cute! First course was steak tartare, and it was exceptional. Large portion of meat, and truffle flakes and pear perfectly set off the meaty flavor. Second was herb-ricotta cheese in a sauce of fish ragú. Not my favorite, but good by all standards. Third we had beef tortellini with lemongrass and cream sauce. Sooooo good! Fourth was a perfectly cooked fried egg with olive oil and parmesan cheese. Also good, although slightly too oily for me. For dessert we had olive ice cream (with olive pieces inside!) and white chocolate mousse, also with a splash of olive oil on top. The service was also exceptional. Overall, good value for great meal at a Michelin started restaurant. Only four stars because a little heavy on the olive oil... not really used to that much in the US!

I'll admit that Chef Marco Stabile is creative but I was severely underwhelmed by the execution of the ideas at Ora D'Aria. My friend and I both ordered the 11 course tasting menu with a pairing of a couple small bottles of wine. From the beginning the amuse bouche were bland and unflavorful. There was no interesting play on texture and each small bite was quite unremarkable. Most of the rest of the middle of the tasting menu was unremarkable and unmemorable, except for a very strange herbal risotto (which was much too al dente for my taste) with raspberry sorbet. I'm usually open to interesting flavor combinations and ingredients, but this is the first time in my many years of eating at upscale restaurants that I have been unable to finish a dish. The only dish I can remember distinctly from the rest of the night were the final couple meat dishes that were dome quite well, but still far below my expectations for a meal of this price. The desserts were good but nothing to write home about. Overall this was one of the most dissapointing meals I've ever eaten. I came in with high expectations and left wishing I had simply picked a random trattoria nearby instead. If you're in Florence and looking for a stimulating, creative and delicious meal, look elsewhere.

We went there with expectation. It's a Michelin star restaurant after all...we then walked out with tiny bit of disappointment, everything was just average. Our server was attentive, she explained everything about the tasting menu which we went for, I like to test the knowledge of the server about the food and she passed all of my questions, from where the ingredients came from to how it is done, she knew it all. Food was the most disappointing part. In my memory the sukling pig was the only memorable dish, but be honest, Jose Andres has a sukling pig too, and it was far better than this one. The best part of the meal was Tiramisu...but I mean, we're in Italy, I don't think it can go wrong with Tiramisu anyway.

Started well when the waiter recommended that my husband order a pasta in addition to his main course. After an hour of wooing and ahing at the different interesting dishes, the waiter began clearing our tables of the half eaten butter and the very tasty bread. Feeling strange, we asked about the pasta which the waiter recommended. Lo and behold, it was forgotten! My husband was waiting eagerly for his food, still hungry but it never came. The waiter said he could order it immediately. After spending hours eating, the husband is tired and hungry and lost his mood. Before we left, the chef came out and check on our dining experience. After a day of touristy activities, the husband just want to sleep. He said this was our most expensive and go hungry meal in Firenze.

This place is pricy. It does have a Michelin star. BUT you also get the highest quality of food. Even the bread they bring out before the course starts is SO GOOD. You can just tell that the food is going to be on another level. You should get one of the tasting menus if you can. Luckily, they have a few different versions including one with 5 dishes and one with 10 dishes. Believe me when I say the one with 5 dishes is more than enough. Every single dish we got had ingredients of the highest quality. But the one dish that I still dream about is the Bistecca. I usually tend to stay away from meat, but I can honestly say that is is the best steak I have ever had. The way it melts in your mouth is incredible.

This is one of the coolest Michelin star restaurants that I have been to. The name "Ora d'Aria", or "Hour of Air", comes from the one hour each day that inmates were let outside to exercise in the prison that used to be located across from the restaurant. In modern times, this restaurant is tucked away off the busy streets of Firenze, has no prison across from it, and has the grandiose interior that seem as far removed from the grizzly interior of prisons as can be found anywhere. The restaurant doesn't have many tables, and given its popularity, reservations are highly recommended. The chef and the sous chefs can be seen from every table as the kitchen is put on display in front of you, so you can watch your meal being prepared in the most spotless kitchen. It's a wonder to watch how immaculate they are and how they make no mess at all while preparing these highly curated dishes. You have options for 3 prix fixe menus each one catered according to your dietary wishes: one for those who love seafood, one for those who prefer meatier options, or one for those who prefer a vegetarian meal. The prix fixe are on the more expensive side, but the restaurant offers a 35 euro tasting menu during lunch where diners can choose up to five dishes or an ala carte option (which is not necessarily any cheaper than the prix fixe if you order the same amount of food).The 35 euro lunch menu seems a little on the smaller side given the sizes of the portions. The 3 prix fixe menu options don't suffer from that even if they have the same sized portions, as it has more items on the menu. The wait staff is as attentive as any in any other Michelin starred restaurant. There is also a female sommelier, who is well versed in all things related to wine, and can educate anyone knowledgeably as to the perfect wine to get from the surrounding region, if one prefers such. I got the vegetarian prix fixe...was every dish my favorite - no (especially the grilled peaches - not my thing), but I can absolutely state with confidence, I have never tried any dish like the ones that I tried here and isn't that part of the experience going to these Michelin starred places - to push your palate to try something new or unique? There were some highlights...the potato soup was delicious, as was the risotto and the desserts. Overall the experience, the food, the waitstaff and the chef who comes personally to every table to greet the diners, made it a memorable dining experience.

What a perfect lunch after a visit to the Uffizi museum. Took my small family there for a wonderful lunch with the tasting menu. Perfectly sized meal. I felt the Michelin star is well deserved and on par with other starred restaurants in Europe where we've dined, including Paris. The tasting lunch is a great bargain. Wine for all budgets. Reasonable water and cover. Approx 200 euros for tasting for 4 and a great little inexpensive bottle of white for a 1.5 hour lunch. I would recommend this to anyone in the area looking for a nice meal in a simple yet elegant setting.

Wow. Wow. Wow. What a meal. Delicate and inventive. The chef came and took our order, and was eloquent in his description of each dish. There were four of us, and we all loved our meals. I especially loved the maialino, with the lightly crispy skin (yum). Well worth the price!!

Best meal I had in Florence. These folks are food craftsmen/women. They only do 1 seating a night in order to make sure diners get a fantastic experience (even though they could definitely do 2). Chef Stabile is very involved in the process, you can see that he takes great pride in his work. The dishes are balanced, delicate, refined, yet substantive. When the bread platter came out before our meal, with with 6 different breads baked that day by the kitchen, I knew we were in for a treat. Every course amazed. I'm sort of a pig, so there's a part of me that wished every dish was twice as big, but surprisingly when I got to the end of it, I was stuffed. Make sure you get an upstairs table near the kitchen, its fun to watch them cook. Michelin stars usually get it right. This is refined food in Italy. If you're looking for the American Italian romantic notion of a hole in the wall trattoria, this is NOT your spot. It's not rustic, it doesn't feel like olive garden or grandma making family style food in a tuscan villa for a family of 20. It's upscale, elegant cuisine, prepared by a true culinary artist. YUM.

The worst meal we had in our 16 day tour of Italy. No idea how this place has a Michelin star. We had a great, romantic seat outside the kitchen window, but that is the only good thing I can say about this place. The service was absolutely terrible. It was slow, unenthused, and off-putting. I know meals are slow in Italy, we don't mind at all and love to enjoy our meal. It was an hour after we sat down until we got our first 1/2 bottle of wine. After we finally got our white wine, our glasses would sit empty forever until a waiter would notice. We would sit there for 15 minutes with no wine to drink. When our main entrees came we were poured the rest of our white wine with a tuscan beef dish, and after we already ordered a 1/2 bottle of red to go with the entree. Just very confusing for a Michelin star restaurant. The service wasn't the only issue. The food was equally as bad. The walnut gnocchi with clams was bizarre and one of the worst things I've tasted. The tuscan beef was the only thing that was OK, and even that was very bland. I don't even remember the rest of our dishes. On the way out the door there was a young Italian couple that asked to meet the chef. They were turned down, by this point I wasn't shocked. The whole experience was so puzzling. Absolutely not what you would expect from a Michelin star restaurant, and unquestionably the worst I've ever experienced. The bill came to about 250 eur. I wouldn't come here again if the food was free, and that isn't an exaggeration.

We were able to get a 7:30 pm reservation which is very early, but meant that we only had to share the restaurant with 3 other tables. The service was impeccable, there were two young gentleman working. One was a sommelier who really knew his wine, and that is very important. The chef takes your order and places is, this showed great meaning for him wanting to ensure it was put it correctly. We chose the fish tasting menu and meat, it was all very delicious. You can see right through to the kitchen which made it even more of a fantastic experience!

I did it. I gave a Michelin star place one star. why? because it was BAD! not even disappointing, but outright BAAAD-UH. there was NO salt in ANY dish- tasting courses or a la carte- just flavorless textures. the "hen" dish with the egg was the most interesting but also needed salt. lots of it. everything kept falling from there. my sole dish was inedible- it tasted like a hot sock in red sock juice. I couldn't eat it, which they noticed and said they would send out a replacement dish, which i politely declined "because I was so full." untrue. I just couldn't bear any more crimes against food. my dad had the sole coming up next for his tasting course, tasted mine, and told them not to bring that dish to him because he would send it back. so they made us a "surprise" replacement dish- which was so awful we just had to laugh instead of continue to get our hopes up that it would turn around at some point. it was a gray mush with fish chunks and green ice sprinkled on it. no. just. no. and then having the whole kitchen staff stare at us through the glass kitchen which trying to choke down this goo. GOO. we wanted to leave before our desserts even though we had already paid for them, but they insisted that we stay. just as we suspected. not worth the calories. bland. the kicker- we just wanted to get outta there, and as we were walking out, the waiter insisted that we meet the chef. FOR REAL?! I was too embarrassed to ask for salt, let alone the fact inadvertently sent a dish back, yes, let's meet the chef we just insulted. it was as awkward as it sounds. "sorry you hated your meal and are out $1000." "No we're sorry! it was fine! huh, um.... WELP, nice to meet you!" go to Camillo.

We had a very good experience here. As others have written, it feels like more of a two star Michelin than A one star. Service was superior and tasting menu was delicious. Highly recommended- not sure how some of the others could have such a bad experience!

Had one of the memorable meals of my life here. It was later on a Tuesday night, meaning we were one of the few tables there. We ordered the "surf and turf" which we thought was a combination of the meat and seafood tasting menus, but turned out to just be both. Between that much food and the alcohol pairings it was probably the fullest I've ever been in my life. But the people were wonderful and the food was unreal, and we had the time of our lives.

For a one star Michelin restaurant, it was a bit disappointing. We went for lunch but we were still able to order from the dinner menu - this was a plus. We got a mixture of food from the lunch and dinner menu. The dinner menu items were more impressive but also was more pricey. The highlights of the meal were the pappardelle with cod fish and truffle caviar and the chocolate with lemon cream and hazelnut froth. Service was not what you would expect from a Michelin restaurant but probably on par w service from any of the "better" restaurants in the area. The food was good but not good enough for me to go out of my way to come here again.

The food is great, we stopped by here since we had a few hours to kill before heading to Venice. The place is pretty high end, there are only 9 tables, and you can see the food get prepared, and once it's done, the chef comes over to tell you what he made for you. The food was perfect, but I have to admit I didn't order anything too adventurous since I didn't want to chance anything happening while on a train

Food was too salty that we couldn't finish majority of the dishes hat we ordered. Waitress asked the reason why we didn't finish our dishes so we told her that food was too salty and too much olive oil. After telling her why we didn't finish our dishes, attitude of waitress changed drastically. We ended up leaving no tip. If you like salty expensive food, you may like this place. If not, stay far away from here, you'll waste your money and time.

We were looking for something different from the typical Florentine trattoria, and found it in this unusual modernist restaurant, tucked into a tiny street around the corner from the Uffizzi galleries. We enjoyed the five-course lunch tasting menu, although we felt the first course of beef tartare and the fifth course of a pecorino topped burger were too similar in texture. We didn't mind dining in the downstairs section, but would have preferred the brighter, more open upstairs room. What we did mind was the herky-jerky pace of the meal, with some courses appearing quickly while others took a long time. And then getting the bill became a major project, with over 20 minutes elapsing between when I requested "il conto" and when it arrived. The staff apologetically blamed technical issues in the kitchen, but I don't imagine that the chef actually prepared the bill from raw ingredients, so that's not an especially persuasive explanation. Still, the food was sufficiently interesting that I might visit again for dinner, when I'm in less of a rush to leave.