Where a Michelin Starred Chef Loves to Eat in Florence
You’ll want to plan a Florence trip after seeing where she eats
This week, we’re in Florence with Karime López, the former Executive Chef of Michelin-starred Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura in Florence.
Karime López has trained in some of the world’s most respected kitchens, including Noma in Copenhagen, Pujol in Mexico City, Mugaritz in Spain, and Central in Lima, Peru.
In 2018, Massimo Bottura invited her to lead the kitchen at Gucci Osteria in Florence, where she served as Executive Chef from 2018 through the end of 2025. Today, her husband, Takahiko Kondo, is the Executive Chef at Gucci Osteria.
Just a year later, in 2019, the restaurant received a Michelin star—making Karime the first Mexican chef to achieve this honor. Most recently, she was named Chef of the Year in Italy and has won numerous Best Chef awards.
Below, the award-winning chef shares the best of Florence that you can fit into one trip:
Her favorite trattorias and the must-visit restaurants she takes visiting chefs to
Where she goes for quick bites, from Tuscan sandwiches to pizza
Where to find the best pastries, gelato, and aperitivo
Incredible Florence stores you can’t find anywhere else in the world—plus when to visit for the best experience
A Google Map with all of the locations is provided at the end of the interview