There are some absolutely wonderful restaurants across Italy. Dining in Tuscany is no exception. Often, the most unassuming Tuscany restaurants can provide the most exceptional cuisine.
We are working hard to provide a list of some of the best Tuscany restaurants that we have enjoyed on our travels around the region. Admittedly, this is an ever growing list, but here are some of the best we have found to date.
First is The Golden View restaurant overlooking the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. www.goldenviewopenbar.com. It’s not a cheap option for dining in Tuscany but you’ll always find bags of atmosphere, with live music at the weekend, a great view and delicious food!
In Siena, we have two dining in Tuscany recommendations. The first is Ristorante Grotta Santa Caterina on Via della Galluzza. www.bagoga.it. Service here is exceptionally quick which can be offputting but don’t be fooled! The food is excellent and it’s an incredibly popular place with the locals. If you go at the weekend, there is always a stream of people being turned away at the door if they haven’t booked. The second restaurant which also offers exceptional food is Osteria le Logge. www.giannibrunelli.it. The food here is absolutely superb and a visit here is highly recommended! if you’re looking for a quick snack though, or looking more for some amazing food to take away and enjoy at home, then a must in Siena is Pizzicheria de Miccoli. It’s the most amazing shop, with meats hanging from the ceilings, cheeses galore and a whole host of Tuscan specialities to enjoy. Situated at Via di Citta 95, it usually attracts a lot of attention from passers by, who try to gain a glimpse through the red curtained doorway. It’s more expensive than some of it’s competitors in the city but the quality is incredibly high and it’s worth the extra expense. Ask for the local red wine which is fantastic and also try their ricciarelli as they are some of the best we have ever tasted. (Ricciarelli are traditional Italian biscuits which originated in Siena in the 14th century.)
In Cortona, a couple of our favourite restaurants are Osterio del Teatro and La Bucaccia. The former offers excellent food and a wide and varied wine list. All their pasta is made daily by hand and is absoutely delicious. The atmosphere is also superb and guests always receive a friendly welcome. La Bucaccia is just as good and, as well as serving delicious food, they also offer the opportunity to enjoy a cooking class with them or a cheese making and tasting class.
Montepulciano is not far from Cortona and, if visiting this popular town, definitely head to La Grotta. The chef here cleverly gives traditional Tuscan cuisine an innovative twist.
In fact, all these Tuscany restaurants are extremely popular, particularly with the locals. So, make sure you always reserve a table ahead of your stay to avoid disappointment.
We will keep adding to this list of Tuscany restaurants as we discover more and more gems on our travels round the region. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions to add, please contact us.