Il Faconiere
The stylish, one Michelin starred, Il Faconiere, is a typically Tuscan fine dining restaurant. Located in an old lemon house that forms part of a bigger 17th century villa, it feels both charmingly rustic and very sophisticated, with a modern glass and wrought iron terrace looking over the surrounding countryside. It’s one of the best places to sample the cuisine of the region, and the seasonal tasting menu is the best way to sample as much as you can.
Il Faconiere, Località SanMartino Bocena, 370, Cortona, Italy, +39 0575 612679
Enoteca Pinchiorri
Currently owned by Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Feolde, the three star Michelin restaurant, Enoteca Pinchiorri, was named the 32nd best restaurant in the world by British Restaurant magazine. Found in Florence, the establishment serves dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, paired with tasty Tuscan wines. For a special treat, order the six course menu; though the costs are high, the quality of the food is well worth the price.
Enoteca Pinchiorri, Via Ghibellina, 87, Firenze, Italy, +39 055 242757
L’Imbuto
Inside Lucca’s Contemporary Art Museum, you’ll find creativity of a different kind at L’Imbuto. Offering tasting menus for three prices (40, 60 and 90 euros), Chef Cristiano Tomei seeks to provide customers with a new dining experience using traditional Tuscan ingredients.
L’Imbuto, Via della Fratta, 36, Lucca LU, Italy, +39 0583 491280
Il Canto del Maggio
Tucked in the small Valdarno Iborgo, Il Canto del Maggio provides diners with classic farm-to-table service. Owner Mauro and his daughter opened up the hotel at Canto Del Maggio, as well as the restaurant, preparing dishes made from ingredients found in Mauro’s garden (clients can even ask him to give a tour). Prices are reasonable, wines are local and the view is priceless.
Il Canto del Maggio, Località Penna Alta, 30/d, 52028 Terranuova Bracciolini AR, Italy, +39 055 970 5147
Piccolo Principe
Piccolo Principe is an unassuming restaurant located on the fifth floor of the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, on the coast by Lucca. The venue has two Michelins stars and is one of the best in the region. Executive Chef Giuseppe Mancino attributes the restaurant’s success to his goal of serving food that exemplifies the crossroads of tradition and innovation. Enjoy scallops with turnip, caviar and yogurt, local lamb with chicory, peppers and coffee, or fresh pastas and risottos.
Piccolo Principe, Piazza Puccini 1, Viareggio LU, Italy, +39 0584 401 8622
Caino
In the heart of Maremma, Caino, serves delicious two-star Michelin cuisine. What began as a wine retail business transformed into a contemporary restaurant that seats only nine tables, allowing Chef Valeria to fully focus on the food. Traditional Tuscan dishes are deconstructed and re-assemble in a completely new way, giving new life to old flavors. Dishes include interesting combinations such as roasted veal tongue sandwich with blueberry flavored onion, saffron potatoes and capers, or hare with pumpkin cream and foie gras.
Caino, Via della Chiesa, 4 Montemerano, Manciano (GR), Italy, +390564602817
Trattoria Verdiana
Hidden in the small town of Montemerano, Trattoria Verdiana is a family run restaurant that is noted for serving fresh game and local vegetables. Managed by Sergio and Annarita, the restaurant serves rustic meals that are as memorable as they are authentic. Customers recommend the focaccia bread and the Chef’s specials.
Trattoria Verdiana, Montemerano, Manciano GR, Italy, +39 0564 602576
Osteria La Piana
Osteria La Piana is a casual restaurant with walls covered with pictures of the city’s famous annual horse race. While the menu offers a number of local specialties, such as Tuscan wine and large steaks, customers rave about the pici con cinghiale, pasta with wild boar sauce.
Osteria La Piana, Via Camollia, 122, Siena SI, Italy, +39 0577 270737
IO Osteria Personale
The philosophy behind IO Osteria Personale was owner Matteo Fantini’s desire to breakdown stereotypes about Italian cuisine. Forget everything you thought you knew about Tuscan staples, pasta or seafood, and expect creative combinations such quinoa risotto with figs, coffee and blue cheese.
Osteria Personale, Borgo S. Frediano, 167/r, Firenze, Italy, +39 055 933 1341
La Taverna di San Giuseppe
La Taverna di San Giuseppe offers diners an informal dining experience in a restaurant that was once an Etruscan wine cellar and a medieval chapel. The intimate space is the perfect place for an antipasti, and the locals come here for the homemade pastas, the chianina steak and the cinghiale (wild boar). It can get crowded, so make a reservation beforehand.
La Taverna di San Giuseppe, Via Giovanni Dupre 132, Siena, Italy, +39 0577 42286