Pisa
For generous-sized pizza (€4 to €12), cooked in a proper, wood-burning oven, and burgers (€10 to €12) washed down with a local craft beer, you won't do…
Must-see restaurants in Tuscany
Northwestern Tuscany
This traditional trattoria, just off central Piazza Palestro, is the place to feast on crostini caldi con lardo (warm toasts topped with lardo),…
Northwestern Tuscany
A fashionably spartan, appealingly retro interior ensures nothing distracts from the business at hand at this bottega con cucina (shop with kitchen):…
Central Coast & Elba
What makes this seafood restaurant at Porta di Baratti so unique is the 15th-century watchtower that the modern building is wrapped around. The freshly…
San Gimignano
The Bertelli family has lived in San Gimignano since 1779, and its current patriarch is fiercely proud of both his heritage and his sandwiches. Salami,…
Pisa
When you tire of traditional Tuscan (or touristy Tuscan), recharge taste buds with an imaginative pizza or burger at this contemporary waterfront cellar…
Montalcino
We thought about keeping shtum about this place (everyone loves to keep a secret or two), but it seemed selfish not to share our love for its pasta dishes…
Siena
Serving fruit and vegetables grown in the surrounding cooperative organic farm, this rustic eatery is an excellent spot for lunch – when soup and pasta…
Oltrarno
Exceptional dishes come out of the kitchen of this humble family-run gem in San Frediano, pleasantly off the beaten tourist track. Meat and fish get joint…
Arezzo
Tucked behind the Cappella Bacci, this gourmet panini bar has Zen-styled decor and a choice of sandwiches filled with fish, cheese, meats (pork, rabbit),…
Eastern Tuscany
The panoramic views from the dining room of this chalet are as good as the pasta and meat dishes on the menu, which incorporate seasonal delights such as…
Chianti
Tuscan menus are dominated by meat dishes, so the existence of this upmarket cantinetta, which focusses on seafood, comes as a pleasant surprise. We…
Volterra
Contemporary cuisine is the exception rather than the rule here in Volterra, so the existence of this modern bistro next to the town's walls is cause for…
Elba
Fish drives the menu of this traditional osteria (casual tavern) – no wonder, as the boats that land it are moored right outside. Traditional dishes such…
Siena
The name says it all. Prosciutto is the focus here, served in panini or on a taglieri (tasting board); cheese is an optional extra. Order to take away –…
Val d'Orcia
There aren't any vineyard views at this winery restaurant, but there's plenty of atmosphere. A particularly welcoming choice in the cooler months, when…
Eastern Tuscany
Follow the locals to this wildly popular eatery, which has a large summer garden that's perfect for summer dining. Cuisine is staunchly Tuscan, with lots…
Southern Tuscany
Orbetello's fish cooperative restaurant may lack frills but it makes amends with the freshness of its lagoon-caught seafood. Grab a ticket, tick off your…
Eastern Tuscany
This easy dine in Soci, 5km east of Poppi, is run by young dynamic sommelier Barbara and chef Cesare. It's a real favourite with locals – and travellers –…
Chianti
Located in a hamlet 2km above Greve, this well-regarded trattoria has six indoor tables and a hillside terrace overlooking cypresses, olive trees and…
Southern Tuscany
The aromas emanating from the kitchen door off Via Zuccarelli should be enough to draw you down the stairs and into the cosy dining rooms, which are…
Elba
The floor-to-ceiling windows at this formal, hillside restaurant at the lower end of Poggio village create the sense of eating in a classy treehouse,…
Volterra
Its blindingly white, ultra-utilitarian interior is miles away from the trattorias found elsewhere in Volterra, but this fast-food joint has one major…
Arezzo
Contemporary Italian cooking is on offer at this game-changing restaurant in central Arezzo. Design lovers are wooed by the minimalist interior with part…
Boboli & San Miniato al Monte
Local gastronomes adore this modern, minimalist address with five-star wine list at the foot of the hill leading up to Piazzale Michelangelo, in village…
Duomo & Piazza della Signoria
There is no sweeter stop between shops for the sweet-toothed than this seductive temple to chocolate where the choice, quite frankly, is torturous –…
Pistoia
A timeless faithful, Pistoia's traditional enoteca (wine bar) promises hearty Tuscan fare in the company of excellent wine and a staunchly local crowd…
Livorno
Its name means 'the Anchor', an acknowledgement of this building's history as a 17th-century marine workshop. The vaulted-brick interior is atmospheric,…
Pisa
This small bistro on a pretty square, well away from the Leaning Tower crowd, is the perfect fusion of easy dining and gourmet excellence. Its menu is…
Arezzo
Located near the railway station, this much-loved trattoria is cosy in winter when its vaulted, red-brick cellar setting comes into its own. Cuisine is…
Oltrarno
This contemporary pizza space in San Frediano is an inspirational cocktail of perfect pizza, delicious craft beers brewed by small producers and striking…
Cortona
Simple seasonal dishes are the trademark of this vaulted cellar, a hotspot with local bon vivants who come to indulge in their pick of Tuscan and Italian…
Siena
The name means 'Whaddya want?' and the answer is simple – cheap and tasty food prepared fast and served in pleasant surrounds. Beloved of local students,…
Livorno
Harbour workers are the first to fill the long wooden tables at this unpretentious osteria (casual tavern), with other locals following close behind…
Chianti
Sit inside the 18th-century villa or on the terrace of the restaurant on the Castello di Ama wine estate to enjoy rustic dishes featuring vegetables grown…
Siena
Operating since 1901, this farmer's co-op is a rich emporium of food and wine, much of it locally produced. Self-caterers can source meat from the on-site…
Elba
They work the pizza chef so hard here that the dining room sometimes has a smoky tinge. To go local, start with a lip-smacking plate of torta di ceci …
Volterra
Owner Jonni is a fifth-generation member of the Guarguaglini family, owners of the Frantoio dei Colli Toscani olive estate. His casual bistro and wine bar…
Florence
Florentines flock to this family-run restaurant in Maiano, a village 8km north of Florence near Fiesole, at weekends to indulge in long and lazy, wine…
Eastern Tuscany
In the evening the dozen tables at La Tana degli Orsi (The Lair of the Bear), an unusual chalet-style building, are hotly contested, making advance…
