jahlie

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good restaurant with views in the hills north of Lucca? I will be staying in Barga for a week and want to try local restaurants with outside seating and a view. I have a car but want to keep the drive under an hour. Thanks in advance.

yorkshire

I'm sure you'll get some great suggestions, as it seems you are looking for a special occasion place. But, just in case you are looking for suggestions within Barga--it had a high concentration of excellent restaurants! I especially liked L'Altana, L'Osteria, and Scacciguai. At L'Osteria, you may be treated to some free opera from the owner's wife. It has outside seating, but it's in a square.
In addition to the slow food guide, you might want to check out A Culinary Traveller in Tuscany: Exploring and Eating off the Beaten Track. It describes the region well.

immimi

We were in Barga for a week and, like you, tried all the
restos in town.

Barga is unique b/c is has a strong Scottish connection and
some of the restaurants are owned by ex-pat Scots. 'Nuff
said? We ate at one place with a gorgeous view to the south
- just heavenly with one glaring exception that I'll leave
you to guess. (BTW, I'm a 1/2 Scot! lol)

However, we did dine at a great little Italian place that
was in the main square - no panorama - but good food. Sorry,
I never take notice of names.

We loved Barga and the surrounding area.

jahlie

I should have prefaced this with yes, I know about the dining options in Barga and am truly looking forward to village life. However, I know I will want to mix it up, perhaps on the way back from Lucca? Pisa? Cinque Terre? I plan on exploring the whole area, so if anyone has a special favorite (yes again,it's my birthday) restaurant with a view, I'd love a suggestion.

HappyTrvlr

The restaurant at Hotel Porto Roca in Monterosso in the CT has sweeping water views, excellent food.
Parking in town.

Elizabeth_S

No views - but these two restaurants are on the road to Barga outside of Lucca and we enjoyed them both very much

Michelin one star -

http://www.ristorantebutterfly.it/

Traditional Luccan cuisine run by a lovely family

http://www.anticalocandadisesto.it/


Pics on our blog of our meals at Antica Locanda (scroll down) - pics of Butterfly will be there in about a week

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/2...mary-jane.html

jamikins

I dont know if any of these have views but here is a list I have made for our trip to Lucca in the next two weeks:

www.ristorantelamora.com

Ristorante Erasmo, Via del Brennero, 1782 at Ponte a Moriano Tel: 0583-406-362, Fax: 0583-57-406.

This one might do it: Ristorante a Palazzo, good country food served up on the mountain with great views towards Lucca. Large outside seating, nice and cool in the summer, big rustic interior dining room. Closed on Wednesdays. S. Giusto di Brancoli, up 10 km along the Sergio River from Lucca, then up the mountain road. Tel: 0583-965-341.

Hope this helps!

stevewith

If you are starting in Barga, it is quite a long drive to le Cinque Terre -- probably at least 90 minutes.

This place in Bagni di Lucca has a view, but maybe isn't fancy enough for a special occasion

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...a_Tuscany.html

another choice

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...a_Tuscany.html

jahlie

We're off tonight and many thanks for the suggestions. The Circolo deo Forestieri and la Mora look lovely - different from each other but both with the ambience I like. I will keep a list of all and see what happens. Thanks.