The best restaurants Toscane

The well-known Gazebo is distinguished by its charm and elegance. The tables are set in the authentic Victorian-style winter garden of the Hotel Resort dei Limoni, a piece of history. Refined service, nothing is left to chance. The chef regularly revisits his menu to the rhythm of the seasons and the supply. Carefully selected, the raw materials come from the terroir and the coast. A high level kitchen. A rich experience for lovers of great cuisine, tasted in a charming setting with a serene atmosphere.

Small bar-restaurant, rather rustic, with a warm family atmosphere. The kind of place where you mingle with the locals. Da Cipolla is located in front of the main square of Rio nell'Elba. The traditional island dishes are highlighted (sburrita, stoccafisso alla riese, gurguglione...), as well as fish dishes. Take advantage of the pretty shaded terrace around an ancient fountain to relax. On some summer evenings, concerts are organised there.

In Viticcio Bay, just a few metres from the sea, this family restaurant is a famous island meeting place for a romantic dinner at sunset. From the terrace with sea view you can admire neighbouring Corsica and the island of Capraia, with one of the many dishes typical of the Elboise kitchen.

This excellent restaurant is part of the Pilade Hotel, in operation since 1965. Open to all and frequented equally by locals, this place has everything to please. Beautiful terrace, typical Tuscan dishes, grills, home made olive oil and a very good wine list. The carnivores will be satiated, Elio and Angelo will prepare you succulent pieces of meat, grilled on a wood fire. Some even come from far away to appreciate the reputation of these two cooks, whose philosophy could be defined in two words: "carne diem"!

Sympathique osteria, which serves a true kitchen based on mushrooms and truffles. The dessert card is also very interesting, whether it be for its very good tiramisù or the torta della acciughe.

Nice decor simple and pleasant, with wooden tables and marble tops. One of the last authentic siennoises hostels. Gastronomic cuisine in the purest Tuscan tradition, with a family atmosphere but refined. The veau with rosemary, garlic and piments or the rabbit with pepper à, the brain to the zucchini is to taste.

Excellent refined Tuscan cuisine, which is also served in a completely renovated 16th century palace, a room of which is elegantly decorated with period frescoes. The creativity of the chef, Emiliano Rossi, inspired by the market, will seduce gourmets (as he has done since the opening of his restaurant in 1994). You can enjoy, for example, eggplant gnocchi and mozzarella di bufala, followed by a duck breast with black olives or the famous bistecca alla Fiorentina and, for dessert, a charlotte with mascarpone...

The reputation of the famous Brunello di Montalcino attracts connoisseurs, and many enoteche offer to taste this great red wine classified DOCG, which makes the glory of Montalcino, like that of La Fortezza, with its medieval atmosphere. Founded in 1980, it is one of the first wine merchants in the city. The staff is a fine connoisseur! In addition to good Tuscan hams and cheeses, you will find many local specialities. Perfect to have a snack, discover the regional flavours and, why not, buy a few bottles.

A traditional and family osteria, as we like them, with stone walls and beams on the ceiling, which prepares good primi piatti. Friendly service. The products are fresh, local and deserve a culinary stopover. Probably the best Montalcino table in this price category. The great classified red wine, Brunello di Montalcino, will perfectly match traditional recipes, such as thesucculent coniglio (rabbit) al Brunello.

Alain Ducasse's first restaurant in Italy, now under the leadership of chef Enrico Bartolini, awarded a Michelin star for his demanding, generous cuisine. With seating for up to 100 guests, this large trattoria occupies the barn of a charming residence, formerly owned by the Duke of Tuscany, in the heart of a vast 500-hectare vineyard. The wine list, created by sommelier Gérard Margeon, is equally sensational.

The city's leading restaurant, founded in 1948. If you're looking for a romantic meal, don't go. This good downtown trattoria, just a few steps from Piazza dei Priori, serves truffle and mushroom specialties. Next door to the restaurant is an enoteca of the same name, offering a good selection of wines, as well as charcuterie and cheese tastings.

Close to Piazza del Campo, there is a restaurant that serves traditional Tuscan cuisine with a medieval touch, without being a classic tourist catch. You can discover the authentic and surprising flavours of the 15th century, such as chicken with chickpeas or torta di fiore: a ginger pie, pecorino and edible flowers. You can also choose a more modern dish such as, in season, homemade tagliatelle with fresh truffles, or lamb with tomatoes, lemon, cumin, coriander and roasted almonds.

A new philosophy in the heart of Florence, in the ancient cloister of Santa Maria: Quinoa is the first "Gluten Free" restaurant in the city. Food specialists and chefs have combined their know-how to create a quality cuisine exclusively gluten-free. An ambitious project that allows to discover new recipes but also traditional dishes based on this cereal called quinoa, a flour rich in fibre and protein but gluten-free. In short, a charming place in the heart of history serving an innovative cuisine!

An address that differs from other (sometimes too many) tourist restaurants in the city. Here, in the central square of Fiesole, the chef has created a rich and typical menu of the region, such as the tasty bistecca alla fiorentina, fresh and homemade tagliatelle with bean cream, dried tomatoes and pistachios, or Cinta Senese's fillet on its bed of shallots. Otherwise, to have a drink, it takes place at the counter. The service is attentive and the atmosphere of the tavern is successful. In short, this is where you can have fun!

A classic of Florentine cuisine, located right next to Santa Maria Novella, a stone's throw from the cathedral and chic via Tornabuoni. This restaurant is a landmark for Florentines, over 130 years old and renowned for its famous bistecca alla fiorentina on embers and meats on its famous spit. First-rate meat at a fair price, with the same quality and expertise as our other specialities. A historic venue where intimacy and romance are the order of the day, as is the friendliness of the staff.

A beautiful find near San Donato in Poggio, on the heights of a hill with a typical view of Chianti. In the heart of a hamlet that stands like a micro-centre of life and that time does not seem to have disrupted, this table promises a journey back in time, surrounded by a preserved countryside. Its terrace calls you. You won't regret it, even if the price is a little higher than usual. The reason? The originality, the precise cuisine, the seasonality, and the raw materials of great freshness, for a friendly moment and very pretty dishes.

Restaurant located in the sumptuous Villa Marta hotel, an 18th century residence. An intimate place where the quality of the cuisine blends perfectly with the romanticism of the place and its Renaissance garden. The dishes are typically Tuscan (tortello luchese with stew sauce and zuppa alla frantoiana...) with a new touch of cuisine that only improves the quality and presentation; all this accompanied by fresh products exclusively from the surrounding countryside. The menu gives pride of place to seasonal products. In summer, Thursday evenings are barbecue days!

Near the central market, a traditional family-run trattoria, known for serving fish on Fridays and Saturdays according to tradition(baccalà alla fiorentina). Massimo, Aldo and Francesca take turns in the dining room, at the bar or in the kitchen to satisfy you, in this century-old place with a relaxed atmosphere, for a tasting of typical dishes and wines. All types of pasta and Tuscan-style salads are easily available. Good value for money. Next door, the management has opened a fiaschetteria, for a quicker bistronomic formula.

Between Ponte Vecchio and Pitti Palace, one would think that it is impossible to enjoy a quiet meal. And yet... by moving away a little from the flow of tourists, we discover this charming little floweredsquare della Passera, and this restaurant with terrace that extends its arms to visitors. The interior decoration is a clever blend of old stones and soft contemporary colours. The cuisine is typically Tuscan and tasty, with a touch of inventiveness. Customers from the region and elsewhere. It is better to book.

In Rignana, a few minutes by car only, south of Greve, the house only uses local products. It must be said that it would be wrong to deprive itself, as it is located in the heart of Tuscan nature, between olive trees and vineyards. The menu of the "Petite cantine de Rignana" offers delicious homemade pâtés, wild boar and rabbit. The antipasti to share are divine. Two possible rooms: either the rustic room or the large terrace on sunny days that overlooks the countryside.

In San Marco Square, this restaurant is a pure moment of gastronomic happiness. It has a very discreet front, which makes it even more authentic. Over the past ten years, brothers Gianni and Aldo have created a friendly and unpretentious atmosphere that satisfies both local and international customers. The "chefs" and their dynamic team always know how to make a real Tuscan cuisine, refined and particularly tasty, appreciated. Beautiful wine list, smiling service and reasonable prices. Nothing to complain about!

Before entering Lucca from the north-west, here is a beautiful gastronomic step waiting for all lovers of Tuscan dishes. In its modern and rustic setting, La Corteccia offers very beautiful ways to develop its knowledge of regional dishes. The house should be able to reconcile those who don't like the soup, thanks to the many soups that are covered here. The zuppa di farro della Garfagnana is especially delicious. Mushrooms with mushrooms or rabbit sauce are also valid. The reception is very pleasant.

Since 1981, it has been the reference restaurant for vegetarian Florentines, where a relaxed and friendly atmosphere prevails. The menu at the complimentary rates is reduced to three or four primi and as many second courses (in addition to personalized salads and delicious desserts), but changes every day. Tasty regional and ethnic cuisine; fresh raw materials are guaranteed. Service is provided at the counter, after paying at the checkout. Also a wide variety of teas and herbal teas to finish the meal in a healthy way.

Traditional copious cuisine and good local wines in a palace of the xve century, with large vaulted rooms.

Let's take a walk out of the traditional restaurants in the centre to discover a particular and well-known address of the Florentines. Here, the flavours of the cuisine are up to its reputation. This small restaurant, located in an ancient residence on the road towards the Florentine hills, welcomes its guests in a typical Tuscan trattoria decoration with a small Provencal touch. Authentic recipes, made with fresh local produce. The diversity of the wine list completes the picture. A place worth discovering!

A stone's throw from San Michele Square is this excellent family-run restaurant whose name comes from the former convent dedicated to the San Michele archangel. In the past, he welcomed Italian and foreign merchants interested in buying silk which Lucca was a producer. Mr. Vito Cipolla welcomes his clients in the large armed lobby of divans and armchairs. On the right, under the ark, is the restaurant room: decoration and furnishings pure lucquois in the nineteenth. What a class! The room is decorated with green plants making the atmosphere even more pleasant. In front of the lobby, a welcoming terrace also invites you to savor local products with a traditional cuisine. Specialties: garmugia, lucquoise soup of the sixteenth century, and tordelli alla lucchese. Pastries and home bread.

An ideal address because you could linger on the picturesque and sought-after setting, on the warm atmosphere and the charming welcome. This restaurant has all these qualities, but it is the quality of its cuisine that makes it an address not to be missed. Typical recipes, excellent products, a varied menu that suits all tastes... Why not enjoy it? The assortment of twelve antipasti that is shared by two people is always a success.

This place is distinguished by its character, charm and diversity. Local products (cheese and delicatessen to accompany the wine) and traditional food. You can choose from a terrace overlooking the Roman theatre, a room for beer lovers, another for catering and a last one for art exhibitions. A true historical journey punctuated by a Roman cistern and an Etruscan well. In addition to this unexpected setting, the restaurant also offers an excellent surprise, not to be missed the trippa Volterriana and homemade fresh pasta.

A cosy and intimate atmosphere for this small trattoria, perfect to discover the true Tuscan cuisine prepared according to tradition (grandmother's recipes). The four seasons arrive on the table: truffled mushrooms in autumn, wild boar with almonds in winter, baccalà all'isolana in spring and antipasti in summer... And when you discover Toci, the chef, a Japanese man in love with Tuscany, it will quickly become easy to understand why the flavours on offer taste so exotic... An address that, from a gastronomic point of view, remains quite surprising.

Rivoire, on the terrace still very full, has existed since 1882. Coffee, pastry, very chic tea lounge and delicious chocolate went panna (cream). 

Slightly off-centre, on the road leading to Siena, La Chiantina is a landmark for locals who wish to enjoy a well-cooked cuisine, away from the hustle and bustle of tourism. A pretty room, where the friendly welcome makes you feel comfortable. As a starter, the beef carpaccio and its pesto trio will delight lovers of meat and originality. The first courses follow, mainly pasta specialities such as pici cacio e pepe or the famous risotto with pecorino and hazelnuts. The second dishes reflect the Tuscan tradition. In the end, the desserts change every day!

A pizzeria but also a restaurant well known to the inhabitants, a reputation obtained thanks to its services and the quality of its products. It's hard to choose between excellent pizzas and fresh dishes. A Tuscan cuisine that does not disappoint. It feels good, in a warm, friendly atmosphere, in the historic centre a stone's throw from Alighieri Square and Place des Miracles. Careful service and decoration. The history of the walls completes the setting, with old red brick vaults and wooden beam ceilings. A good address!

Outside, a beautiful terrace overlooking the port of Portoferraio; inside, the tone is simple and there is an iodized counter filled with fresh fish and seafood of the day. Make way for the plate: a creative and gourmet cuisine, accompanied by striking wines from the region. The welcome is considerate, which doesn't spoil anything. Located a few meters from the ferry loading dock, this restaurant is ideal for a last meal on the island of Elba!

Little known by tourists, and frequented by the Italian gratin and discerning foreigners, this chic restaurant is located in a quiet passage between the Place du Dôme and the borgo San Lorenzo, Florence's historic heart. Refined Tuscan cuisine, modern decoration and intimate atmosphere. A terrace is prepared daily as soon as the beautiful days come back.

Here is another address that takes advantage of its unique setting to attract customers. And it's worth being seduced, since the food served here is far from being bad. But how to stick to the dish and concentrate on your plate, when you find yourself eating in the old crypt of a ten centuries old church! A very popular address, as there are less and less in Florence. Reservations are recommended in the evening.

Whether you want to flatter your taste buds with sweet or savoury ingredients, this is one of the best rustic addresses in the Tuscan capital. Undoubtedly the place to enjoy wonderful pastries, melting focaccias, delicious sandwiches with a glass of wine at the counter or in a small elegant room. However, you have to be patient, there are often crowds. Everything here comes from the famous Verrazzano estate, located near Greve in Chianti.

Under the supervision of the rabbi of Florence, Rav Joseph Levi offers kosher cuisine with several vegetarian dishes in a simple but pleasant setting. The restaurant adjoins the synagogue and the attentive staff never fails to tell anecdotes about the construction of one of the most beautiful places of worship in Italy. An excellent rallying point for the Florentine Jewish community, but also for travellers from all over the world who love falafels, because here the recipe for chickpea dumplings is mastered. Nice kosher wine list.

Arriving from outside the old town, take the stone bridge, then turn left and left again. All tables are indoors. To eat in the purest tradition of the Apuan. Very nice map with many local products. A good address for all those who love fine cuisine.

Homemade kitchen in the program. This restaurant is distinguished by its beautiful room. A good time to go in perspective, especially for those who love pasta, such as pappardelle in casa al ragù di cinta senese or mandorle mandorle mandorle.

The Ancora is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in the city. Cuisine based on seafood products, of course, including Livorno's great speciality: cacciucco, a tasty soup made from fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Other specialities are to be noted, such as wild boar cooked in several ways, pappardelle with hare, tortelli, or even local soups, seasoned with olive oil, all accompanied by a prestigious wine list. We're having a great time! And it's better to book.

When you come from the tourist areas of Pisa or Lucca, the particularly pleasant and joyful welcome of this restaurant marks the spirit. Montenero families love to share a meal on the weekends. So it should come as no surprise if the server asks if it is necessary to set a table for fifteen people! If the terrace on the gravel is not the most convenient, the setting catches up with the century-old trees and the sanctuary a few steps away. Very fresh and delicious fish.

One of the best restaurants in town, even if a little expensive. Let us be clear about this. As the room is small, it is advisable to book. In Castiglioncello, the Gargotta de Federico was unanimously approved. The entries are almost sufficient to support this idea. The care given to the presentation of the plates says a lot about the chef's application in his work. The narrowness of the place adds to its charm, a privileged relationship being established between customers and employees of the restaurant. Fish lovers will appreciate the place even more.