Where to eat in ValdiChiana. The best restaurants

Located between Arezzo and Siena, the Valdichiana winds its way through picturesque villages, castles and thermal resorts that satisfy the needs of every traveller. Gourmets will find unique products here, fine wines, excellent extra virgin olive oil, cheese and cured meats seasoned to perfection, and the excellent meat of Chianina, one of the most important breeds of cattle in Italy. At the table there is a triumph of flavours, the result of culture, tradition, wisdom and a pinch of creativity. Here are the best addresses.

Where to eat in Valdichiana

Castiglion Fiorentino

La Piana

Restaurant. In the heart of the city, near the ancient Torre del Cassero, this is an address to keep in mind because it makes you feel good and the food is equally good, in the wake of tradition but with successful creative inserts. Examples: soft-boiled egg, potato cream and black truffle; ravioli stuffed with rabbit; guinea fowl breast wrapped with pancetta, stuffed with plums and sausage. Interesting wine list, charming venue, nice terrace.

La Piana – via Dante, 23 – 0575 048045 – la-piana.net

Silla’s Bistrò

Bistro. Pamela Brocchi, Maria Costantini and Gabriele Laurenzi – the women in the kitchen, at him at the reception and the wine cellar – are the passionate managers of this address in the centre, equipped with a small inner garden for dining outdoors. In the dishes there isn’t only tradition, because Pamela and Maria's imagination also reaches out to the sea front, with more than happy results. Going along with everything is a ponderous selection of labels, the result of Gabriele's personal research.

Silla’s Bistrò – corso Italia, 64/A – 333 2965065 – sillasbistro.com

Civitella in Val di Chiana

La Botteghina di Civitella

Gourmet break. You come here for a rich snack, a bite to break down your hunger, but also for a proper meal, to be enjoyed seated at indoor tables or in the roomy outdoor area with a view of the castle and the walls. Grazing boards of cured meats, salumi and cheese are always available, as are the first courses of the day with freshly rolled pasta dressed according to the day. Desserts are homemade, and the tiramisu is a must. Call before visiting.

La Botteghina di Civitella – piazza G. Mazzini, 5 – 0575 448062 – Facebook

Podere Il Riccio Osteria

Trattoria. Just outside city’s centre, surrounded by greenery, is a beautiful structure created from the careful renovation of an old farmhouse. In the former stables, with exposed beams, terracotta floors, and oak tables, is the Osteria. The culinary proposal, while taking into account the territory, goes in several directions with flair and good technique. They range from tagliatelle with wild boar ragout, to braised pork knuckle with Sangiovese wine and the delizia di mele Rugginose apple tart with custard. Fine wines, too.

Podere Il Riccio Osteria – via del Lago, 6 – 333 3732389 – podereilriccio.com

Cortona

Il Falconiere

Restaurant. A charming place just outside Cortona, surrounded by greenery and close to the winery with the same name. At the helm is Silvia Baracchi, owner of two other restaurants in the area. In the beautiful, light-filled lemon house, seasonal dishes are served, organised into courses dedicated to the vegetable world, Tuscan tradition and fish. It is possible to cross - à la carte in fact - the three menus. The wine list is quite wide. If you wish, you can stay overnight in the luxurious relais attached.

Il Falconiere – località San Martino a Bocena, 370 – 0575 612679 - ilfalconiere.it

Osteria del Teatro

Restaurant. Thirty years of history for this restaurant that offers a repertoire of typical cuisine enhanced with an original touch. In a 16th-century building, you can sit in one of the three dining rooms or, in fine weather, at one of the small tables on the terrace. At the table, on a menu that changes with the seasons, choose from classics such as pici with Chianina ragout, and variations such as duck leg with candied lemon, roasted cacao beans and puntarelle. Valid wine cellar with a focus on Tuscany.

Osteria del Teatro – via G. Maffei, 2 – 0575 630556 – osteria-del-teatro.com

Taverna Pane e Vino

Wine bar. The intimate, rustic rooms are housed under the stone vaults of a 14th-century building. The wine list, international in scope with a careful eye on natural wines, is the jewel in the crown of the proposal that does not fail to reserve surprises also from an culinary standpoint. Meals begin with bruschetta, cured meats and cheese; continues with ribollita, pici all'aglione, pappa al pomodoro, exquisite roast meats and cantucci with Vin Santo for dessert.

Taverna Pane e Vino – piazza L. Signorelli, 27 – 0575 631010 –  pane-vino.it

Foiano della Chiana

Da Mengrello

Restaurant. High vaulted ceilings, brick walls and columns, and terracotta floors, it has been a solid outpost of traditional, tasty and generous cuisine for several years. The menu is displayed in an original way, on a wooden frame, with each course written on a slip of paper. To begin with crostini and cold cuts, then the very typical pici all'aglione, tagliatelle with mushrooms, and grilled meats. We end with tempting desserts, starting with the solid tiramisù. Well-stocked wine cellar.

Da Mengrello – viale della Resistenza, 20/B – 0575 640581 – ristorantemengrello.it

Lucignano

La Tavernetta

Restaurant. Intimate, well-furnished restaurant with a large panoramic terrace. You can test, among other things, bruschetta with Tuscan kale, crostini with chicken livers, assorted cured meats, pici all'aglione, pappardelle with mushrooms (or truffles), a properly cooked fiorentina steak, and pork fillet. Beautiful and tasty desserts complete a pleasing experience that’s also appreciated for the choice of wine and the kindness with which guests are greeted.

La Tavernetta – via Roma, 15 – 0575 836568 – latavernetta.com

Marciano della Chiana

Hosteria La Vecchia Rota

Trattoria. Since 1996, Massimo Giovannini has firmly held the reins of his restaurant in the heart of the village, an ideal address for a full immersion in the traditions and flavours of the Valdichiana. Meals can start with cured meats, sottoli (pickled vegetables in oil) and crostini, then lasagne with mushrooms, pasta with duck ragout, roast suckling pig, chicken in a pan, pork tripe. To finish on a sweet note zuppa inglese and cantucci (both home-made) with Vin Santo. To drink house wine and some labels.

Hosteria La Vecchia Rota – via XX Settembre, 4 – 0575 845362 – osterialavecchiarota.it

Monte San Savino

La Terrasse

Restaurant. In front of Porta Fiorentina, in the centre of the village, a restaurant that has been on the shields for years thanks to its constant level of quality. Land and sea are the main players on a menu that never tires, from which to choose - for example - tuna tartare with olives and sun-dried tomatoes, pecorino pear and truffle pie, tagliolini with truffles, fregula with seafood, Catalan shrimp and prawns or a gorgeous Fiorentina steak. The wine list will delight any oenophile. Panoramic terrace.

La Terrasse – piazza Vittorio Veneto, 2 – 0575 844111 – Facebook

Cetona

Osteria del Merlo

Restaurant. At the bottom of the walls of the picturesque Rivellino Tower, in the heart of the town, a nicely furnished restaurant with a lovely outdoor area. The culinary offer, which ranges amid tradition and modernity, highlights quality and seasonal ingredients treated with wisdom and a touch of flair. There’s no shortage of fish and vegetarian dishes. Fresh pasta and homemade desserts. The wine list is wide-ranging and well-structured, with lots of Tuscany and many labels from the other side of the Alps.

Osteria del Merlo – via Sobborgo, 1 – 0578 238299 – osteriadelmerlo.it

Chianciano Terme

La Torretta

Restaurant. In an ancient tower, well-appointed dining rooms are the setting for an unusual culinary experience, which, starting from tradition, includes successful creative moves. Here then the wild boar meatballs with sage chips, pici all'aglione, gnudi ricotta and spinach with herbs, Chianina hamburger, fried chicken with rustic potatoes and maison sauce, and sbriciolona crumble with ricotta, pears and chocolate. Nice wine list, including options by the glass.

La Torretta – viale Dante, 2 – 0578 31073 – latorrettachianciano.it

Chiusi

La Solita Zuppa

Trattoria. Close to the National Archaeological Museum, this is a cosy restaurant that for years has been the flag-bearer for genuine, home-made, authentic and tasty Tuscan cuisine. On the menu are Cinta Senese cured meats, fett'unta (aka bruschetta), snails in tomato sauce, beef musetto, then lots of seasonal soups, fresh handmade pasta, guinea fowl, rabbit, wild boar, and a very soft cheek. To close, nothing better than a slice of the house crostata. The wine list enumerates good labels.

La Solita Zuppa – via Porsenna, 21 – 0578 21006 – lasolitazuppa.it

La Taverna del Patriarca

Trattoria. Attached to the charming hotel Villa Il Patriarca, just a stone's throw from the A1 motorway exit, it is arranged in spaces with rustic furnishings where there is a nice convivial atmosphere. The protagonist of the food and wine offer is Tuscan tradition, with bruschetta, Cinta Senese cured meats, handmade pici with cacio e pepe, fusilloni with onion, Cinta Senese pork cheek and Pienza pecorino cheese, Fiorentina steak and grilled meats, roast Cinta Senese piglet with potatoes. Considerable wine cellar.

La Taverna del Patriarca – strada statale 146 località Querce al Pino – 0578 274407 – latavernadelpatriarca.it

Montepulciano

La Grotta

Restaurant. An evocative location, opposite the temple of San Biagio; an elegant and typical location, amidst stone walls and vaulted ceilings; an outdoor area for dining with good weather. This is the scenery in which the Grotta's cuisine moves, with validity. Which, starting from what the surrounding land (but not only) has to offer, creates carefully prepared and well-presented dishes inspired by traditional recipes and improved here and there with original ideas. There is no shortage of fish-based options. The drinks are very good.

La Grotta – via di San Biagio, 15 – 0578 757479 – lagrottamontepulciano.it

Osmosi a Villa Svetoni

Restaurant. Contemporary cuisine in the heart of the vineyards, within the Fattoria Svetoni estate and in a fabulous landscape setting. The young chef Mirko Marcelli draws from his vegetable garden, the land and the world an essential proposal where in each dish an ingredient is enhanced with a few elements and unusual combinations. Two tasting courses, important wine list. Refined ambience, with well-dosed background music, outdoor seating, the possibility of staying overnight.

Osmosi a Villa Svetoni – via Umbria, 65 – 0578 773533 – osmosimontepulciano.it

San Casciano dei Bagni

Castello di Fighine

Restaurant. Located inside the beautiful medieval castle of Fighine, in the green hills and easily accessible from the A1. The well-known chef Heinz Beck has entrusted the expert hands of Francesco Nunziata with a cuisine that offers emotions, aesthetics and flavour, based on the great respect for local ingredients, as well as vegetables, herbs and fruit from his own garden. The wine list is carefully organised and extensive, with meaningful depth. Elegant atmosphere, refined accommodation, panoramic terrace.

Castello di Fighine – località Fighine, 123 – 0578 56158 – fighine.it

Sarteano

Enoteca del Teatro

Wine bar. Overlooking the village’s main square with a large outdoor area, inside it is warm and welcoming, with beautiful shelves full of bottles, among which France stands out. One comes here for a tasty aperitivo or for a snack or even for a real meal, simple and of quality: a board with Cinta Senese cured meats, Chianina tartare, delicious sandwiches, crostoni, salads. Daily menu marked on the blackboard.

Enoteca del Teatro – piazza XXIV Giugno, 16 – 334 8436559 – Facebook

Sinalunga

La Toraia alla Tenuta La Fratta

Trattoria. In the premises that once housed the bulls, the Toraia fuels its cuisine with home-grown produce and specialities from small local craftmen. On a menu mostly marked by the leitmotif of home-bred Chianina meat, you can choose from hamburgers and various cuts in different ways, tagliatelle with meat sauce and pici alla senese, tartare and typical crostini. Store to buy meat and other products from the short supply chain. Possibility of overnight stays.

La Toraia alla Tenuta La Fratta – località La Fratta, 24 – 0577 678204 – latoraia.com

Torrita di Siena

Gio’steria

Trattoria. A restaurant with no frills and all substance, in the heart of the village, with all-wood furnishings and informal table settings. The cuisine carries on the tradition/modernity track, with dishes that satisfy both sight and palate. On the typical side, not to be missed are the pappardelle with wild boar ragout, pici with duck sauce, peposo, and the succulent Fiorentina steak. The wine selection emphasises regional labels, but there’s no lack of other interesting references.

Gio’steria – via O. Maestri, 23 – 0577 1742386 – giosteria.it

Trequanda

Conte Matto

Restaurant. Comfortable rooms, friendly welcome, well-furnished rooms in rustic style, outdoor patio. At the table parading dishes from the area's culinary tradition, in a truthful set up: a selection of wild Cinta Senese pork meats with giardiniera, vegetable and bread minestrone, pici (here called 'lunghetti') with Aglione della Valdichiana. For the ones who dare the most, the lampredotto sandwich with homemade sauces. To match everything, cocktails and wines, also available by the glass.

Conte Matto – via Taverne, 40 – 0577 662079 – contematto.it

Fondo

Restaurant. Female management for this address a few minutes from downtown, in an ancient hamlet within the Abbadia Sicille. The menu entertains and satisfies: beef tartare with pecorino cheese fondue and truffle, marrow on the bone with toasted bread and parsley gremolata, fettuccine with Chianina ragout, suckling pig with apple and mustard sauce, sandwiches with pulled pork, BBQ maison sauce and “real” fries. At the end of the meal delicious desserts and coffee extracted with the stovetop moka. The wine list focuses on local wineries.

Fondo – strada provinciale 14 km 5,5 – 0577 665528 – fondoristorante.it