Molino il Moro
Via delle Ruote, 2
Colle di Val d'Elsa (Si)
Tel. 0577-920862
Closed on Mondays
The restaurant is located in the building of an 11^th century cereal mill, situated on top of the river Elsa and it is quite astonishing to look down at the river through the thick glass floor. The owner of the restaurant, Andrea, is the son of the owner of the famous pasticceria in the city square. It is a semi-formal restaurant, cozy and well decorated and the quality is right up amongst the best of restaurants; big elegant menus with many mouthwatering choices of inventive dishes made exclusively with local ingredients. If you can’t decide, take the tasting menu – it’s always wonderful. The wine-list is also local and offers many less known & less pricey wines. Service young, easy & smiley.
 

Enoteca Fuori Porta
Via Monte alle Croci, 10
Firenze
Tel: 055-2342483
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Sundays
The Enoteca Fuori Porta was one of the first wine bars in Florence (1987) that opened with the concept of offering a wide range of quality wines by the glass with a menu that contains about 30 pages of different appetizers to accompany the different wines. It is a real delight to combine a whole meal of appetizers, most of which based on different cheeses (e.g. crostone (piece of toasted bread) with melted gorgonzola, local honey and walnuts) and without additional cost combine these delicious snacks with any wine the palate could wish. The place is very popular with the Florentines and you are very likely to have to wait to get a table.
 

Osteria Le Logge
Via del Porrione, 33
Siena
Tel. 0577-48013
Closed on Sundays
Osteria Le Logge is a lovely little restaurant placed right off the Piazza il Campo. It is owned by Gianni Brunelli and his wife Sonia. As the name coincidently indicates, Gianni Brunelli is also a producer of Brunello di Montalcino. Sonia runs the restaurant together with their right hand, Mirco, and they have managed to create a restaurant that balances between traditional, modern and absolutely funky. The interior decoration is warm, classy and original, whereas the kitchen is open, so you can see the cooks prepare your meal. The restaurant is always packed and stars of international fame eat there.
 

La Scuderia di Mensano
Via Ricasoli, 25 - Loc. Mensano
53031 Casole d'Elsa (Si)
Tel. 0577-963911
Closed on Thursdays
In the beautiful little town of Mensano (in the direction of Radicondoli) there is to be found a just as beautiful little restaurant that was opened in 2003 by Luca and his English wife. Luca is originally from northern part of Italy, but has spent many years in London where he worked as a chef in some of England's best restaurants. Now his delicious creations can be tasted in his own restaurant, and has indeed already become renowned in the area. Absolutely a place one MUST eat in and will definitely have an incredible culinary experience.
 

Osteria La Parata
P.zza Moretto, 40
Bagno Vignoni (Si)
Tel: 0577-887508
Bagno Vignoni is a favored place for relax because of its hot springs and beautiful surroundings. The town in itself is small and cozy, there are 2 hotels and 4 restaurants. Our favorite restaurant is Osteria La Parata, a great eating place run by the sympathetic Giancarlo and his English wife. The food and wine, though, are strictly Tuscan, only some of the desserts have a touch of the North (e.g.. yummy cheesecake). The food is absolutely great, the portions generous, the service personal and smiley, yet not invasive, and prices are very contained. We recommend this lovely little place to any hungry tourist - you will not be disappointed.
 

Ristorante Le Grazie
Via Volterrana, 41
Colle di Val d’Elsa (Si)
You wouldn’t think it, when you see the restaurant from the street, but this is actually a great place to dine. This restaurant is owned by Fabio and his younger brother, who also wait the tables. It’s a family restaurant with loads of space and a huge terrace in the summer. Don’t let the interior design fool you; the wine list is incredibly good, the menu pages long. This is also the place to go for your typical Tuscan flat pizza (pages of pizzas, too). The fillet steak is as smooth as cream.
 

Ristorante Conte Matto
Via Maresca, 1
53020 Trequanda (Si)
Tel. 0577-662079
The "Mad Count" restaurant in the little town of Trequanda, south-east of Siena, is run by young David and his sister. David is not only a wine expert, but also has the right intuit for restauration that has made this place a huge success. It is one of those restaurants that are always full, even though placed in the middle of "nothing". The food is typical Tuscan, the wine list long and interesting, the dining area elegant but easy, the view absolutely fantastic. Do reserve a table or you might be disappointed.
 

L'Oste del Borgo
Colle di Val d’Elsa (the old part)
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Wednesdays.
Terrace in the summer
€ 15-20 excluding wine
Do you ever get confused about the difference of the Italian restaurant names (ristorante, trattoria, osteria)? Well, if you want to know what an osteria is all about, you must visit Valentina at Osteria del Borgo. You can choose many light dishes a la carte or daily specials. The atmosphere is cozy and you will relax, and can seduce your senses with a carpaccio of duck-salami with orange, chives & balsamic, the hot crostoni with local cheeses & tagliatelle with a ragout of cinta senese accompanied by a good glass of wine.
 

Antica Fattoria del Grottaione
Via della Piazza
Montenero d’Orcia (Gr)
Tel: 0564-954020
Closed on Mondays
When visiting our producer of Montecucco, Perazzeta, you might as well stop by the Antica Fattoria del Grottaione, which is placed practically next door to the Perazzeta cellar. Here you can enjoy a lovely traditional meal in a very friendly atmosphere, tasting the wines of next door, or you can sit on the terrace where you can enjoy the fresh air of the hills with the view of most of Montalcino and drink a Brunello to your supper (you can see as far as Pienza!)
 

Enoteca Gustavo
Via San Matteo, 29
San Gimignano (Si)
Tel: 0577-940057
Enoteca Gustavo is San Gimignano's oldest Wine Bar. Sit down and relax, while drinking a good glass of wine, accompanied by a delicious cheese platter.
 

La Collegiata
San Gimignano (Si)
Località Strada, 27
Tel: 0577-943201
The famous Hotel and restaurant La Collegiata is by all means the most luxurious place to be in the neighborhood of San Gimignano. Both restaurant and hotel are situated in a beautiful former Franciscan monastery built in renaissance stile. The restaurant and wine bar offer more then 850 labels on the wine menu
 

Osteria del Teatro
Via del Teatro
Campiglia d’Orcia (Si)
€ 15-20 excluding wine
This osteria is owned and run by Daniela, a beautiful local young woman. Campiglia d’Orcia is a small mountain town south of Siena, rather much south of Siena, actually. But the place is always full. Maybe thanks to the intimate atmosphere, the high quality products and the great wines and low prices.
Daniela does everything herself, and when it’s busy she’ll get some friends to come and help. In the summer she keeps open all day long from 1 pm ‘till midnight, resting only on Wednesdays. You can sit in the garden and enjoy the fresh mountain weather, while you are enjoying hand-cut ham and salamis, cheeses with fruit mustards and many other things. Daniela will open any bottle of wine if you just want a glass, but the prices are so reasonable that you might as well take the bottle.
 

Bacco
Via Garibaldi, 37
Colle di Val d'Elsa (Si)
Tel. 0577-924018
Open every night all year.
In the lower part of Colle Val d'Elsa you will find this modern little restaurant/pizzeria. The surroundings of the restaurant are colorful and cozy and the menu gives us a varied choice of antipasti, pasta-dishes, salads & the thin, but huge pizzas. The wine-list is surprisingly good, and as it turns out, the owner, Luciano, suggests a marriage between pizza and wine. For this reason there is a huge choice of pizzas from the wood-fired oven with for example fresh truffles, porcini mushrooms, or figs and blue cheese. Street-terrace in the summer.
 

Ristorante Lo Spugnone
Bagni S. Filippo (Si)
Open lunch and dinner. Closed on Tuesdays
€ 20 excluding wine
This little fun restaurant seems to be far away from the real world, in a little place called Bagni S. Filippo, one of the best places to enjoy the natural warm springs. And when you get hungry for lunch, you cross the road, and enter the characteristic restaurant owned by two young guys, Matteo and Tiberio. Mum’s in the kitchen and prepares antique medieval recipes. Ask for the wine, and they’ll tell you what they’ve got at the moment.
 

Osteria il Rialto
Via il Rialto
Siena
Open lunch and dinner. Closed on Tuesdays
Fish restaurant in Siena? Yes, but this is probably the only real one. Paolo is the sympathetic owner and all-arounder of this tiny restaurant, hidden in one of the small streets behind Piazza del Campo. He’s in the kitchen, in the bar and waits the 4 tables. The dining room is so small, that you would think that he’s kidding. But his reputation tells us otherwise. All the restaurateurs of Siena show great respect for this high end fish restaurant. Paolo’s wine cellar is quite amazing, too. He chooses wines on instincts, and serves them as he pleases with the food. This is surely amazing, but that’s exactly what you are in for when you dine here.
 

La Leggenda dei Frati
Piazza Garfonda
53035 Abbadia A Isola (Si)
Tel: 0577-301222
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Mondays
€ 50 excluding wine
A classy restaurant in the little medieval town of Abbadia A Isola, in between Monteriggioni and Colle Val d’Elsa. If you are in for an extraordinary dining experience, this is the place. The restaurant is owned by three young friends, who are doing a great job to keep a high level on these famous premises. The menu changes with the seasons and even the bread is home-made. The wine cellar is full of vintages and interesting labels.
 

Il Piccolo Castello
Monteriggioni (Si)
During the summer, open every day
Monteriggioni is a very characteristic medieval fortress that lies a little north of Siena. You will be able to see it from the highway if you take the Florence-Siena. It is the most beautiful place to stop for a break, walk around the little village, and maybe have lunch on the terrace of this splendid little restaurant. The owner, Mauro, a successful restaurateur, also opened a 4 star hotel just outside Monteriggioni. The restaurant has a very complete wine list - more than 300 names to choose from!
 

Enoteca Baldovino
Via S. Giuseppe 18/r (Piazza Santa Croce)
Firenze
Tel 055-2347220
Open lunch and dinner – every day.
Baldovino is surely a success story. The Baldovino Pizzeria/Ristorante was opened by a young Scottish couple, Catherine and David Gardner. Their magic formula meant people waiting in the street to get a table. So right opposite, the Enoteca was opened, offering a place to get a great glass of wine, or to have a light supper.
Massimo is currently the manager, and is also the sommelier. Not only does he have a vast experience in the wine making business, but he is practically one of the few people who know what they are talking about.
So if you pass by Florence, you must visit and try one of the many good wines that are served by the glass. Maybe with a good cheese platter or a light tasty salad?
 

Terre delle Arti
Piazza Rossi
San Gusmè
Castelnuovo Berardenga (Si)
Tel: 0577-358009
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Tuesdays.
Alessio is the part owner and manager of this restaurant, in the medieval town of San Gusmè which is 5 kilometers from one of the wine capitals in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga. Here it seems that time has stopped, and Alessio manifests this with his tranquility and inclination to talk to everyone. It is always worth the ride, because this is one of the best culinary experiences that you can get! Alessio is also the cook and can turn any ingredient into the most delicious plate, you’ll ever taste. Here you will find particular wines, too, many open by the glass.
 

Baccus
Corso Rossellino, 105
Pienza
Open all day long. Closed on Sundays.
Visiting Pienza, you’re starving and probably confused. There’s a restaurant in every street, and how will you distinguish the touristy from the really worth your while (and pocket)? Baccus is a great snack place run and owned by Rino and his wife. You can order crostini, bruschetta, cheese platters and enjoy different wines by the glass as you proceed in filling that hole in your stomach with delicatessens in the cozy atmosphere. Did you enjoy the wine or the cheese? Shop in the enoteca across the road and bring a good memory with you home.
 

Ristorante La Giostra
Borgo Pinti, 10
Firenze
055-241341
La Giostra,  which means “carousel” is owned by the prince Soldano di Asburgo Lorena and his twin sons. It began as a hobby and then became an instant hit and remains fully booked seven days a week.
The ambient is small and cozy, with a ceiling lit by hundreds of colored lights and the walls decorated with hundreds of personal photos. A big photo of Brad Pitt witnesses that the film star has eaten here.
The menu is very long and there is something for everyone. Remember, though, that the portions are huge (the schnietzel plate is almost bigger than the table itself!). Click here to view the menu in Italian.
 

Don Beta
Volterra (Pi)
Via Matteotti, 39
Tel: 0588-86730
The Don Beta restaurant and Pizzeria is a traditional restaurant with an excellent reputation in the heart of the old Etruscan town of Volterra.
 

Enoteca Mari
Via San Giovanni, 12
San Gimignano (Si)
Tel: 0577-940673
Enoteca Mari offer a broad selection of excellent wines at reasonable prices. The shop offers some good traditional delicatesse as well.