TuscanHouse favorite restaurants in Siena Province

This list is our personal recommendation for eating well. The restaurants where you should make a reservation are noted with *. 

During the summer call at least one day in advance for dinner (cena) reservations (pre-notazione). Without a reservation, you may get a table for dinner if you arrive after 9:00 PM, restaurants only have one reserved seating. If you go by the restaurant just before it opens for lunch (pranzo), you can usually reserve a table. The kitchen is typically open for lunch: 12:30 - 2:00 PM, for dinner: 7:30 - 9:30 PM, later on weekends.  

In restaurants, pizza is served at dinner only. During the day, buy pizza by the slice from the snack-bars in most towns. House wine is always good. If you’re a couple, ask for mezzo litro di rosso = half a litre of red in a carafe, works out to 4 servings. In finer restaurants only bottled wines.  No smoking inside, but usually okay at outside tables, ask for a porta cenere = ashtray. Some restaurants still don't take credit cards so bring enough cash.    Buon appetito!

  $ = inexpensive, $$ = medium, $$$ = expensive

 Acquaviva di Montepulciano:
Ristorante l'Angolo, classic Tuscan cuisine. Go for lunch while touring the Vino Nobile vineyards. Closed Mondays. Via Galileo Galilei 20, behind the main church, 3 blocks from the main street, center of town (our last visit Sept 04 and still excellent). 0578-767-216. ($$)*

Amiata mountain, village of Pescina:
Ristorante Silene, fine dining at Mt Amiata, well worth a detour to this famous restaurant and country Inn. Refined cooking and local specialties (truffles, mushrooms, game), also vegetarian selection. Enjoy delicious hand-made pasta and the baked chocolate desert. Extensive wine list, professional staff, well furnished dining room. Closed Mondays & during November. At cross-roads, center of village, short drive from Seggiano. 0564-950-805. ($$)*

Asciano:
Rosticceria La Brace, dine in or take out the best home style cooking in the area. Daily specials for lunch and dinner, good service and affordable. Last visit in June 2012. Closed Tuesdays. Via Mameli 9, around the corner from the main piazza with town hall and bakery. Tel: 0577-718-056. ($)

Bagno Vignoni:
La Terrazza, offers the most enjoyable dining experience in Bagni Vignoni, with large terrace overlooking the central pool, inside attractive dining room is a part of the hotel. Menu has local specials and also good pizza in the evenings. Open every day. Located at the hotel, center of town. 0577-887-157. www.albergoleterme.it ($$).

Bagno Vignoni:
Osteria del Leone, has improved and is now an enjoyable restaurant with very interesting seasonal menu at reasonable prices, newly refurbished interiors, attentive service. Last visit in 2006. Open every day, center of village. 0577-887-300. http://osteria.illeone.com/ ($$)

Bagno Vignoni:
Osteria La Parata, nice setting but disappointing food, last visit in 2007.

Bettolle, 1 km from the Val di Chiana A1 exit:
Betulia, classic Tuscan cooking, standard pastas and grilled meats. Closed Saturdays. Established small restaurant with constantly good meals, last visits in 2007. Via Vittorio Veneto 21, just inside the town from intersection to Sinalunga. Tel: 0577-624-131.($)

Buonconvento:
I Poggioli, fresh seasonal dishes, home-made pasta, excellent seafood, big salads, also pizza in the evenings. Delicious food, try the seafood antipasto, home-made lasagne, best spaghetti alle vongole, steaks. Large outdoor area. Closed Mondays and also Tuesdays for lunch. English spoken. Last visit in June 2012. Via Tassi 6. Hidden in the new town area, one block in front of the train station, small street with a pub in the corner. Tel: 0577-806-546. ($$)

Buonconvento:
La Via di Mezzo, good place for lunch and dinner in center of old town, very good local seasonal fare including home-made pasta, daily specials, big salads. Inside lots of room for even big groups, outside a few tables. Closed Tuesdays. Last visit in July 2012. Friendly service and English spoken. Via Soccini 53. On the main street, center of old town. Tel: 0577-806-320.($$) www.osterialaviadimezzo.com

Castelmuzio:
Camarlegno, good trattoria on the central piazza of the village. Serves standard Tuscan specials at reasonable prices, nice dining room upstairs, walk past the bar to get there. Outside seating during summer. Last visit in July 2011. Closed Tuesdays and during the winter. 0577-665-373. ($)

Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Sant'Antimo monastery:
Osteria del Bassomondo, excellent local food, best home made pastas, try the tagliatelle with mushroom sauce. Closed Mondays. Last visit April 2007. Best place for lunch when visiting the monastery. 0577-835-619. ($) www.antimo.it schedule of services w/ Gregorian Chant

Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Sant'Antimo monastery:
Locanda Sant'Antimo, good home style cooking. Closed Wednesdays. The other trattoria near Sant'Antimo, with large outdoor terrace. 0577-835-546. ($)

Castiglion d'Orcia, 8km up from town, well worth the scenic drive!
Ristorante I Lecci currently (August 2012) we think this is still the best value (quality/price) restaurant in the Orcia Valley and Amiata areas of southern Tuscany. You reach sublime heights of culinary nirvana with their home-made pasta, pappardelle and maltagliati; superbly thin fresh melt-in-your-mouth pasta with delicious sauce of truffle-walnut cream or porcini mushrooms, to-die-for! Also other pasta types, including tortelli can be had with the best ragu. In warm weather we had leisurely lunches under shade on the wide panoramic terrace with platters of antipasti, and in the late fall dinners by the fireplace inside the well furnished large restaurant. Game is also on the menu, and their tender steaks of Chianina beef are cooked over hot coals, but leave some room for dessert too (sharing is okay). Your charming host, Andrea, takes good care of you while the lady in the kitchen creates culinary miracles.

From Pienza and Orcia valley take the route SS2, the Via Cassia, just south of Bango Vignoni, drive up to Castiglion d’Orcia and keeping to the main road, drive past town and continue another 4 km along route SS323, at fork turn left toward Vivo d’Orcia (route SP18). Take this road driving thru the forest and in 4 km you see on your right a 2-story roadhouse with a large parking area. Tel: 0577-887-287, reservations not needed during the week. ($$)

Celle sul Rigo:
il Poggio has two restaurants, one serves excellent Tuscan cuisine ($$), the other restaurant serves pizzas and hamburgers! ($) Open every day. On hilltop next to town. 0578-53748.

Celle sul Rigo:
Trattoria La Pace, good home-style cooking (mamma in the kitchen), enjoy excellent hand-made pici at this friendly family restaurant. Open every day during summer, closed Thursdays rest of the year. Covered terrace in summer is very pleasant, last visit June 2008. In the center of old town, Via Teatro 5. 0578-53716. ($)

Cetona:
Osteria Vecchia has moved away from the narrow alley (old sign still remains Aug/2012), to a much better location at the end of the main piazza, at #33. Osteria Vecchia is now known as Osteria da Nilo ("Nilo's Osteria"), after the owner himself. This is still the same beloved local favorite. Menu has fresh seasonal and regional dishes, superb homemade pastas, delicious food and great value for money. Closed Tuesdays in low season only. Seating outside on the terrace to the right of the main entry (best place for views over the piazza), and more tables al fresco around at the back of the restaurant. Inside is a classy dining room. Highly recommended restaurant, usually very busy so reservation is a must. Tel: 0578-239-040 ($$)*

Cetona:
Osteria del Merlo, is a superb restaurant and serious competition to the above Osteria da Nilo. It opened just 2 years ago, and has already carved out a reputation amongst the Italian foodies. Located at the south-east corner of Piazza Garibaldi, just dozen steps to the left from Nilo's and around the corner from the cafe, you see a large stone tower with covered outdoor seating at the front deck, and inside you take a few steps down to a spacious high vaulted dining room at the base of the tower. A/c inside was welcome for our first lunch there in the hot days of August 2012. Professional waiters offer smooth service and excellent wine list (also by the glass), but the star here is the Chef in the kitchen! She beautifully prepared seasonal foods with sublime flavors, everything we had was delicious. Can't wait to go back! Closed Mondays. Via Sobborgo, 1, Cetona. Tel: 0578-238-299, www.osteriadelmerlo.it  ($$)

Cetona:
Mondo X, Ristorante La Frateria, at Convento di St. Francesco, supreme culinary feast in one of the most elegant and historical settings, pris fix tasting menus and a' la carte, near 100 euro per person. Best for intimate fine dining. Closed Tuesdays. Beautiful setting in historical convent, outside terrace too. Located just north of Cetona. 0578-238-261. ($$$)*

Chiusi:
Osteria La Solita Zuppa, creative take on Tuscan cooking, good food but small portions. Closed Tuesdays. Friendly service, cozy restaurant. Via Porcenna 21, in middle of the old town with the famous Etruscan museum. Tel: 0578-21-006. ($$)* www.lasolitazuppa.it

Colle Val d'Elsa:
Ristorante Arnolfo, the very best cuisine in Siena Province, with Michelin stars. Fabulous tasting menus of 6 or more small courses, expect to pay over 100 euro per person, and you can also order a' la carte. Excellent wine list. Stop here when driving to San Gimignano or Volterra. Food is elevated to a fine art, service is professional, dining room is comfortable and smart casual dressing would be appropriate. Closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Via XX Settembre 50, center of the upper old town. 0577-920-549 www.arnolfo.com/information.htm ($$$)*

La Foce:
Ristorante Dopolavoro has now re-opened, newly remodeled as a spacious open barn-like restaurant and highly recommended stop while touring the Val di Orcia region. Located near the famous villa and gardens, come here for lunch before taking the guided garden tour on Wednesday afternoon at La Foce. We had lunch there on 4th of July 2012, fresh and tasty food in a relaxing covered outdoor setting, with friendly service and English spoken. Strada della Vittoria, 90, La Foce (SI) - Tel: 0578-754-025 www.dopolavorolafoce.it

Lucignano, in Val di Chiana (Ar):
Ristorante La Tavernetta,  good local cooking, specialty is mushrooms and truffles, with outdoor dining. Closed on Mondays. Via Roma 15, in center of town.  0575-836-568 ($)

Montalcino:
Taverna del Grappolo Blu, our last visit in 2008 was a pleasure, rich and tasty home made pastas on pretty plates, excellent guinea foul, half-bottles of house red at great value. Warm and cozy interior in rustic building, friendly service, English spoken. Located right off the main street (Via Mazzini) near town-hall piazza, a few steps down the side alley Scala di Moglio, look for the signs. Open every day. 0577-847-150 ($$)*

Montalcino:
Boccon di Vino and  Taverna dei Barbi are 2 well known restaurants, but it's possibly their fame that resulted in overpriced food and disappointed customers who expected much better for all the money they forked over.

Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey:
this summer 2012 we recommend going to the hill-town of Chiusure for a good meal, just 2km up from the Abbey, the Osteria il Pozzo is open this season from Thursday to Sunday, both lunch and dinner. Marilena is a wonderful chef, she prepares delicious starters like the baked melanzane stack with herbs, for pasta course enjoy the delicate homemade ravioli, and for the main go for the aged steak Fiorentina to share, or the tagliata = sliced steak, with rucola and parmigiana or al rosmarino. Good local wines and all at a reasonable price, highly recommended. Located in center of the village. Afterwards, walk up to the top of the village, there is a small park with a terrace, and the most spectacular panorama over the region. Tel: 0577-707-148, cel: 331-249-0359 www.ilpozzodichiusure.it/ ($)

Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey:
Ristorante La Torre at the Abbey has good food but is often busy with tour groups. Closed Tuesdays. Enjoy lunch on the terrace when visiting the famous abbey. 0577-707-022. ($$)* 

Montefollonico:
il Botteghino, excellent cooking, very popular with locals, one of our favorite “truck-stops”. Try the house spaghetti. Closed Thursdays. Large covered outdoor dining. Last visit July 2009. Located on the main road at the intersection north of town. 0577-668-031. ($)

Montefollonico:
La Chiusa, another famous restaurant we find overpriced. Go instead to La Grotta or Locanda dell'Amorosa or Mondo X La Frateria for the best fine dining in this region.

Montepulciano:
Osteria Acquacheta, excellent value in touristy Montepulciano and the favorite place of the locals. Simple rustic place with good atmosphere, great selection of vegetables and daily specials. Service can be a bit rough!. Just down from Piazza Grande, past Teatro Poliziano. Via del Teatro 22. 0578-758-443. ($)*

Montepulciano:
La Grotta, highly recommended classic restaurant with refined cuisine and professional service, and it's the perfect place to enjoy the splendid Vino Nobile wines. Seasonal specialties include truffles, porcini mushrooms, game, fresh pasta. Outside dining too. Last visit in 2011. Closed on Wednesdays. Next to the San Biagio church, below the town on the west side. Tel: 0578-757-607. ($$$)*

Monticchiello:
Osteria La Porta, excellent restaurant and wine bar, recently re-done, popular with Italians who come to enjoy the fresh and creative interpretation of local specials, and the spellbinding hilltop village. Ask for a table on the terrace with panoramic views. Last visit in 2009. Closed on Thursdays. Small restaurant, best to make a reservations. English spoken. Located at the town gate, Via del Piano 3. 0578-755-163. www.osterialaporta.it/osteria.en.php ($$)*

Palazzone:
Ristorante il Pozzo, has been a good local restaurant over the years, but changes hands often and is open during the warm months only. If you are renting a villa in the area, look this up first, but if closed, you can walk to the pizzeria down the road for a simple meal.

Piazze:
La Bottega delle Nane, excellent cooking, highly recommended. Some of the best food in the area, lots of daily and seasonal specials. Two problems are (1) no written menu for the daily specials - they tell you what's available, the waiter speaks some English. (2) No house wines by the glass, only full bottles – but the local Monte Cetona area wines are not expensive. Last visit in 2011. Closed Thursdays. Via Provinciale 187, town center. Tel: 0578-244-295. ($$)*

Piazze:
Ristorante - Pizzeria La Vigna, good local cooking, outdoor seating in the back. Run by a charming elderly couple, a traditional place where you'll eat very well. Fresh fish Thursdays and Fridays. Closed Wednesdays. Via Provinciale 163, center of town. Tel: 0578-244-007. ($)

Pienza:
Latte di Luna, excellent local cooking, our favorite place to eat the best homemade pici (= hand-rolled spaghetti, have it with ragu or aglione, the garlic sauce) and superb steaks (filetto), some days also rabbit and duck, best known for their maialino = roasted suckling pig, this is the house specialty. Friendly service by owners Roberto and Enrica, with their mammas in the kitchen. Closed Tuesdays and the month of July (they take the kids to the beach!). Very nice outside dining in front, must reserve table well in advance. Last visit in August 2011. Via San Carlo 2, east end of main street, just inside the gate. 0578-748-606. ($)*

Pienza:
Ristorante del Falco, for a good Tuscan meal, you should try this established local restaurant, we always eat well here. On our last visit in October 2011 we had good homemade pasta, grilled lamb chops, and delicious desserts. Outdoor tables in the front courtyard. This classic local restaurant does not rate highly in Pienza, but it's because they have not changed their traditional ways just to appeal to the modern tourist trade. Service is quick and friendly, English spoken. If you are tired of the limited fare at the many wine-bars in Pienza, come here for a proper meal. Closed Fridays. Piazza Dante Alighieri 7, on main road next to the park, just outside of the old town. Tel: 0578-748-551. ($)*

San Casciano dei Bagni:
Ristorante Daniela, excellent Tuscan cuisine restaurant-style. Highly recommended by our clients. Closed Wednesdays. Piazza Matteotti 7, center of town. 0578-58041. ($$)*

San Quirico d’ Orcia:
Trattoria Osenna, highly recommended restaurant, with a wonderful setting for outside dining in the courtyard garden. Closed Wednesdays. Last visit in 2011. Via Dante Alighieri, 42, center of town. Tel: 0577-897-541. Cell 349-4631541 ($)

San Quirico d’ Orcia:
Ristorante il Tinaio, is unfortunately now closed (2011)
San Quirico d’ Orcia:
Ristorante il Garibaldi, is unfortunately now closed (2011)

Sarteano:
Osteria Da Gagliano, good cooking in a classic small Osteria. Closed Tuesdays. Via Roma 5, a few steps from the main piazza in the old town. Best food in Sarteano. 0578-268-022. ($$)*

Sarteano:
Saracino, good Tuscan home-style cooking from the rosticceria. Closed Mondays. Via di Fuori 47, on the main road through town. ($)

Siena:
Osteria Le Logge, excellent Tuscan cuisine at elegant old-world restaurant, best tables on the ground floor, also outside seating. Delicious fresh pasta and desserts! Closed Sundays. Located just off the Campo on Via del Porrione 33. Beware of the small step down just inside the front door! … Reserve table 0577-48013. ($$$)*

Siena:
Osteria il Grattacielo, little corner Osteria seats a dozen people, has good antipasto platters and sandwiches. Order at the counter. Closed Sundays. Located at corner of Via Pontani (8) and archway from the main drag, see newspaper kiosk in that corner. 0577-289-326 ($)

Siena:
Osteria Nonna Gina, best authentic home-style cooking in Siena. Closed Mondays. Rustic dining room and a few tables outside, friendly service. Located a short 5-minute walk up from the Duomo: Pian dei Mantellini 2. 0577-287-247 ($)*

Siena, north of the city:
da Quinto, large modern restaurant with the best local cooking, House wine is served in big bottles, you pay only what you drink. Closed Tuesdays. About 7 km north of Siena along the old Via Cassia at the T-section to Fungaia, Riciano. 0577-593-387. ($)

Siena, north of the city:
Osteria Lornano, excellent Tuscan cooking, restaurant style. Very pleasant outdoor seating at the small piazza. Closed Mondays. To Lornano village, take Badesse exit just north of Siena, turn left and follow signs to Lornano. 0578-309-146. ($$)*

Sinalunga:
Locanda dell'Amorosa, one of the best dining in all of Italy, under brick arches of the converted stables. They can accommodate large groups. Delicious food, professional service, really enjoyed our last visit June 2006. Closed on Mondays and also for lunch on Tuesdays. Between Sinalunga and Torrita di Siena. www.amorosa.it/en/ 0577- 677-211 ($$$)*

Sinalunga:
Ristorante Santorotto, good Tuscan cooking, modern air-conditioned restaurant at a hotel, favorite for business lunch. Reservations not needed. Closed Sundays. Next to Esso gas station, parking in front, Via Trento 173. ($$)

Torrenieri:
Pizzeria La Compagnia, their thin-crust Roman style pizza is the best in Tuscany! Excellent full menu with fresh pasta, mains include both meats and seafood (Fritto Misto!) Friendly service and good food, outdoor seating, pizza in the evenings. Closed Wed. Last visit in August 2012. Located on main street Via Romana, just south of the town center. 0577-834-265. ($)*

Trequanda:
Ristorante Conte Matto, one of our all-time favorites, they serve an excellent meal at good value. Enjoy the mixed antipasto, delicious duck liver pate, handmade pastas, tasty lamb chops, and well-aged beef are followed up by mouthwatering desserts. Ask Davido to recommend local wines. Well worth a detour, parking lot just below school, sunny terrace has panoramic views, attractive décor and a/c inside. South end of town. Closed Tuesdays. Last visit in 2011. www.contematto.it , tel: 0577-662-079. ($$)*

Please send your comments to  zak@tuscanhouse.com and tell me about your experience at these restaurants, so we can better provide current information to fellow travelers. Thank you and Buon appetito !