A Summer Salad Spot in Florence

Florence, the city of art and museums, offers no shortage in the way of food for the soul. But church exploring and gallery hopping should never be tackled on an empty stomach.

Yet in the land of pizza and pasta, lighter, healthier options, particularly sought-after in the hot summer months, are often hard to come by. When searching for a fresh and cheap salad in Florence, look no further than Enoteca Natalino (Borgo degli Albizi 22/r).

This simple, unsuspecting venue is no more than a few feet wide, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in quality service and food. Located on the bustling street of Borgo Albizi, this pocket-sized panino bar is one of the cheapest, tastiest lunch spots in town.

Through the hatch in the wall, grab a panino to-go or snag one of the tiny tables along the narrow interior lined with bottles of wines. The menu offers sandwiches on traditional schiacciata or baguette bread, with a range of fresh fillings to choose from. Enjoy a glass of wine from a selection of local labels while you wait.

But the true stars of this sandwich shop are in fact the salads. With no fixed menu, customers are free to select their own toppings to pile onto a large bowl of lettuce or rucola (arugula or rocket). Choose from freshly sliced prosciutto, salami, turkey and tuna, or keep it vegetarian with grilled vegetables and olives. Add tomatoes, traditional mozzarella, Tuscan pecorino cheese and more to create an entirely personalised salad. An artistic flourish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar makes these generous servings as nice to look at as they are to eat.

Deliciously fresh ingredients prepared on the spot mean this no-fuss lunch option is a must for summertime in Florence. And at just €5, salad lovers will have a hard time finding a cheaper, better quality option than Natalino’s. (poppy jackson)