All’Antico Vinaio

All’ Antico Vinaio

New York City

Let me set the scene… It's summer 2022, and I'm sweating through Florence, Italy, to find a viral sandwich shop. It's a tale as old as time, truly. After clocking nearly 14,000 steps, we turn to another beautiful cobblestone corner to see not one but four entrances to this viral shop. The lines steamed every which way down the narrow street, and there were probably over 100 people, all for “All’ Antico Vinaio” 

This Florentine sandwich shop, run by the Mazzanti family, has been around since 1991. While there are multiple shops in Florence alone, then one in Milan, another in Rome- they have recently made their way over to the US (and thank god for that.) They've taken over NYC and even made their way to California and Las Vegas. 

Saveur has declared it “the world’s best sandwich,” and I’m here to confirm: they’re not wrong. Freshly baked Tuscan bread, meats sliced right in front of you, and a wild assortment of cheeses that’ll make you rethink every other sandwich you’ve ever had. While my first All' Antico Vinaio sandwich went quite well with a view of the Ponte Vecchio, it remains just as yummy across their NYC locations. I’ve ventured to their Manhattan locations quite a few times now (We listen, and we don't judge), and my go-to order? The Favolosa. Salame toscana, pecorino cream, artichoke cream, and spicy eggplant. Need I say more? But trust me, there’s no shortage of insane sandwiches to choose from. The La Schiacciata del Boss (prosciutto toscano, pecorino, truffle cream) is a fan favorite. La Schiacciata di Manolo boasts prosciutto cotto, mozzarella, truffle cream, and spicy eggplant. Delicious.

With thousands of restaurants to choose from in NYC, the fact that this street food institution sells out daily is all we need to know. If you need further proof, check out Jack’s Dining Room review, scroll through the countless TikToks from study abroad students, or flip through the magazine write-ups calling it the best sandwich in the world. Give it a try, and you’ll be very tempted to agree.