A central Florence risotto specialist with an unusually broad, fully gluten-free menu, warm service, and strong repeat appeal, though occasional diners report inconsistent seasoning, texture, and late-service experiences.
Risotteria Melotti Firenze stands out for strong food quality, with an extensive risotto list and a fully gluten-free kitchen that draw praise across many dishes. Attentive service and a central location near major sights add to its appeal, though occasional texture and seasoning misses and a decor that feels simpler than the food keep it just short of the very top tier.
Tucked near Florence’s Duomo, Risotteria Melotti is a small, cozy, table-service specialist where the entire meal revolves around rice. Diners repeatedly describe warm welcomes, helpful recommendations, and a room whose family story carries into the details; one solo guest even managed a satisfying dinner during a tightly timed busy service. The terrace, when available, adds a particularly attractive springtime perch with reported Duomo views. The cooking is risotto-first rather than a general Italian menu: classic cacio e pepe, mushrooms, and Isolana sit alongside pistachio and stracciatella, duck with orange and pine nuts, beetroot with Gorgonzola, seafood, and black truffle. The current menu confirms a genuinely creative range, with mains mostly €13-20 and truffle at €25. Reviews overwhelmingly celebrate creamy texture, bold flavor, generous portions, and the novelty of an entirely rice-based, gluten-free experience, although a minority report bland, dry, or undercooked risotto and occasional uneven service. Families are welcome, and the menu has practical child-friendly anchors such as cacio e pepe, mushroom, pumpkin, arancini, and chocolate brownie; one child reportedly enjoyed grazing from the adults’ plates. Still, this is not a nuggets-and-pizza safety net: picky eaters may struggle with the concentrated risotto format, so choose familiar flavors and ask staff for guidance.
Area vibe: Renaissance core popular with tourists, museums, and pedestrian streets.
Safety: Busy and well-lit by day and evening though pickpocketing can occur in crowded spots.
What's nearby: Steps from the Duomo, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, shopping streets, museums and frequent public transport stops.
The strongest picks range from truffle at €25 to duck with orange and pine nuts, wild boar ragù, pumpkin and Amarone, and pistachio with stracciatella
Expect a small, risotto-only format with limited options for conservative eaters, peak-time booking pressure, and possible extra costs
Gluten-free diners can choose from the entire menu, vegetarians have many risotti, but the vegan selection is much narrower