Italy
Tuscany has arguably Italy's most celebrated regional cuisine — bistecca Fiorentina, pici pasta, ribollita, pecorino, truffles. The best meals happen at agriturismi and trattorias, not necessarily Michelin-starred restaurants. Ask your accommodation host where the locals eat.
Tavarnelle val di Pesa (Chianti) · Contemporary Tuscan
1 Michelin star, inside the walls of the Antinori wine cellar. One of the most atmospheric dining rooms in Italy. The wine list features Tignanello and Solaia at producer prices.
Order: Pappardelle with wild boar, bistecca, anything with local white truffle in season
Book aheadPienza · Classic Tuscan trattoria
The best simple Tuscan meal in the Val d'Orcia. Generous portions, honest cooking, superb local wine list. Tables outside in summer. No pretension.
Order: Pici all'aglione, pork ribs, pecorino platter
Book aheadSiena · Wine bar / Tuscan
Siena's finest wine bar. Outstanding Brunello, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscan selection by the glass. Knowledgeable staff. Perfect for a wine-focused evening in the city.
Order: Cheese and charcuterie board, pappardelle, house Brunello by the glass
Sant'Angelo in Colle (Montalcino) · Tuscan countryside
Hidden village restaurant with sweeping Val d'Orcia views. The best value fine dining in the Montalcino zone. Locals fill the terrace in summer. Reserve ahead.
Order: Hand-rolled pici, slow-cooked lamb, local Rosso di Montalcino
Book aheadFlorence · Traditional Florentine
Florence's oldest restaurant (1886) serving the bistecca Fiorentina that the city is famous for. Old-school charm, huge steaks, excellent Chianti Classico selection.
Order: Bistecca Fiorentina (for two), ribollita, cantucci with Vin Santo
Book aheadFlorence · Food hall
Florence's indoor market — the ground floor is an authentic local food market (best in morning), the first floor is a modern food hall. The lampredotto sandwich is a Florentine rite of passage.
Order: Lampredotto (tripe) sandwich, ribollita, fresh pasta
Every Tuscan hilltop town has an enoteca in its medieval cellars. The Fortezza Medicea in Montalcino (Enoteca Italiana) is the reference — 1,000+ Italian wines poured by the glass. In Siena, the Enoteca Italiana in the Medici fortress pours wines from all 20 Italian regions. In smaller towns, simply walk in and ask for a Brunello or a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione — the enoteca owner will take it from there.