Thanksgiving in Florence: How the City Celebrates an American Tradition

Thanksgiving is not part of Italy’s calendar, and November 27 will pass like any other Thursday for most Florentines. Yet in a city with one of the largest American communities in Europe — and a long history of cultural exchange — Florence has learned to embrace the warmth and conviviality of this holiday. Every year, restaurants and clubs across the city set their tables for a feast that brings together expats, tourists, and curious locals eager to taste a bit of Americana.

The spirit of Thanksgiving in Florence is less about ritual than about connection. Some venues go all in on the classic menu — turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie — while others reinterpret the holiday through Tuscan ingredients or fine dining creativity. Whether you’re far from home or simply intrigued by the tradition, there are plenty of ways to join the celebration.

Classic American Feasts

A few long-standing restaurants have made Thanksgiving part of their yearly calendar. Ristorante Accademia near piazza San Marco will host its 25th edition of the dinner, serving pumpkin soup, roast turkey with stuffing, and a trio of traditional desserts in a convivial setting that has become something of an institution for Florence’s American residents.

The Hard Rock Café in via dei Brunelleschi offers the familiar experience of slow-roasted turkey and all the trimmings, a reliable choice for families and travelers who want the comfort of a tried-and-true American menu. At Restaurant Arno inside the FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, the atmosphere is more formal, pairing the traditional dishes with an elegant, international flair.

Elegant or Experimental Tables

Several fine-dining hotels reinterpret the Thanksgiving theme with Italian craftsmanship. At The Place, overlooking piazza Santa Maria Novella, the menu adds Tuscan bubbles and refined touches to the classic four-course meal. The Four Seasons Florence includes dishes such as prawn mac and cheese and a turkey roulade that bridges Italian luxury and American nostalgia.

At Osteria Pagliazza in the Hotel Brunelleschi, the two culinary cultures are combied in his own way: pumpkin and corn soup with cornbread, stuffed cockerel with cranberry chutney, and themed cocktails that playfully nod to the Pilgrim and Negroni traditions. Nearby, La Buona Novella at the Grand Hotel Minerva adds creative courses like mushroom and chestnut flan and pumpkin risotto before closing with pumpkin pie and cinnamon cookies.

Casual and Contemporary Celebrations

Thanksgiving also finds a home in Florence’s more relaxed spots. Melaleuca, the riverside café and bakery, proposes a “Fall Harvest” menu for dining in or takeaway, along with its much-loved seasonal pies — pumpkin, pecan, apple, or key lime — which can be pre-ordered for home celebrations.

For something informal, Djària prepares a comforting spread of roasted turkey, mashed or sweet potatoes, cornbread, and pies, while Harry’s Bar at Sina Villa Medici hosts a traditional four-course dinner joined by members of the Tuscan American community.

Meanwhile, the Saporita Supper Club takes a more social approach, transforming Thanksgiving into an Italian-style apericena with festive drinks and American-inspired bites at the B.East Gallery.

Beyond the Dinner Table

Thanksgiving in Florence isn’t just about dining out. The Dolce Vita Experience organizes private chef services, complete home-style meals, and a “Thanksgiving Schiacciata” pop-up at the Sant’Ambrogio market — a playful fusion of Italian street food and American comfort classics. Cooking enthusiasts can join Mama Florence for classes on how to prepare a Thanksgiving-inspired Tuscan dinner, learning and sharing in the spirit of the holiday.

Florence’s Own Forgotten Thanksgiving

Long before roast turkeys and pumpkin pies appeared on Florentine tables, the city had its own late-November celebration of gratitude. The Feast of San Simone, once held on October 28 in piazza San Simone near piazza Santa Croce, was a day when families gathered to share simple food and give thanks for the year’s harvest. The tradition faded over time, but it remains a fascinating echo of how Florence once expressed the same spirit of community and appreciation that defines the American holiday.

A Shared Celebration

Over the years, Florence has made Thanksgiving its own — not by copying American customs, but by blending them with Italian conviviality. Around these tables, you’ll often find locals sitting beside Americans, exchanging recipes, stories, and reasons to give thanks. It’s a reminder that gratitude, good food, and good company need no passport.

(The information in this article was gathered from publicly available online sources and does not include promotional content)

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