Obikà
Price guide: Mid-range
Via de'Tornabuoni 16, Florence, 50123
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#18 of 25
expert-rated restaurants in Florence- Recommended for:
- Foodies, Shopping, Sightseeing, Trendiness
Expert review of Obikà
The Florence branch of the small chain of mozzarella bars lies in a shopper's heaven.
The Florence branch of the Obikà chain of mozzarella bars (that includes branches in Rome, Milan, New York, London and Tokyo) opened in 2009 and has proved itself hugely popular, not least because it provides a smart yet affordable place to eat on the mostly unaffordable Via Tornabuoni. I go here to meet friends for lunch when we want something simple and fresh to eat without having to deal with a whole meal. I also sometimes come for an aperitivo in the evening when there’s a great spread of ‘free’ nibbles.
Food and drink:
The main ingredient on the menu is er... mozzarella and it arrives daily fresh from award-winning producers in Campania. Eat it accompanied by prosciutto, fennel-flavoured finnochiona salame, grilled veg or Sicilian caponata or on its own; there’s a dégustazione plate that offers three different kinds. Other dishes include pasta, salads, savoury flans and carpaccio. The menu varies with the seasons.
Recommended dishes:
Try a pane cunzato, a speciality of Campania and a kind of giant, dried rusk topped with tomatoes, basil and olive oil or grilled veg and mozzarella. The juice from the topping soaks into the base and softens it up; delicious!
Ambience:
Obika occupies part of the ground floor of a grand Renaissance palazzo, but has been given a fresh, contemporary makeover. Sheet glass windows overlook a splendid porticoed courtyard where you can eat under big white umbrellas in the summer. It’s particularly busy at lunchtimes when it fills with local offices workers, shop assistants from the designer stores that line the street and ladies who lunch.
Service:
The service can be inconsistent but the staff are friendly enough.
Location:
It's bang in the middle of the designer store heaven that is Via Tornabuoni.
Price advice:
Salads cost from 7 euros, pasta dishes from 9 euros, mixed mozzarella plates from 9.50 euros.
Tables to book:
Take what comes; some of the tables are communal.
More information on Obikà:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Bar, Restaurant, Wine bar
- Food:
- Italian
- Address:
- Via de'Tornabuoni 16, Florence, 50123
- Telephone:
- 055 277 3526
- Website:
- http://www.obika.it
- Serves:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Opening times:
- Daily 10am-11pm.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Reservations:
- Not possible
