15 Best Restaurants in Tuscany, Italy

Locals flock to this central café to quaff a cappuccino and pick up panforte (cake made of fruits and nuts; the chocolate panforte is a real treat) and ricciarelli (almond cookies). You can get sweets to go, or rest your feet for a spell over breakfast or lunch.

Local butcher and restaurateur, Dario Cecchini, has extended his empire of meat to include this space above his butcher's shop. In addition to two tasting menus—one heavily meat-laden, the other with none—you'll find a stellar version of giardiniera sott'olio (pickled and preserved vegetables), and exceptional bread (the product of much experimentation).

Located in Manciano, just south of Saturnia, this local institution has a circus-themed interior, and, if you can get past the creepy clown statues, you're in for a treat. Owner and pizzaiolo Antonio—who has been winning Italian pizza championships since the 1990s and who developed this eatery with Michelin-star chef Valeria Piccini—celebrates all things Maremman with pizzas like the favorite la briaca, featuring Morellino di Scansano wine–soaked pears and a locally produced blue cheese called guttus.

As at his other eateries, Dario Cecchini, Panzano's local merchant of meat, offers two set menus for lunch—one where beef products dominate every course and the other vegetarian. The musetto al limone e brodo vero (an interesting salame served with stunning beef broth) might kick off the proceedings, and on the table you'll find pinzimonio, a dish of raw sliced vegetables (carrot, fennel, onions) to be dipped into terrific olive oil and sprinkled with Dario's special house-made herbed salt.

At lunch and dinner time, this social hub for San Miniatans turns into a full-blown trattoria serving up local specialties. You can't go wrong with any of the wonderful panini, which are made with bread baked on-site and which you can eat seated at a table with a splendid valley view.

It's a most unassuming bar a stone's throw away from a massive Medici villa up the hill, and you might be tempted to walk right past it. Besides serving the usual array of coffees, spritzes, panini, and wines by the glass, it turns out terrific pizzas.

Recently restored to its 19th century glory, Bar Stefano is one of Arezzo's oldest coffee shops, known colloquially and affectionately by its original name, Gli Svizzeri. Stop by for an almost overwhelming selection of homemade pastries, cakes, savory focaccias and, during the summer months, gelato, as well as excellent espressos and cappuccinos.

If you need a break from sightseeing, stop here for a cappuccino, sandwiches at lunchtime, or the array of appetizers set out during the cocktail hour. In summer, a few outdoor tables are set up directly on Via Nazionale, Cortona's main pedestrian street, and provide a great perch from which to people-watch.

Come here for a finely crafted sandwich (they have 18 different varieties on the menu), or something more substantial like the crostone ai funghi (a very large portion of toasted bread topped with local, fragrant porcini mushrooms). Tiny local blueberries, in season, appear in numerous guises on the dessert menu. At après-ski time, the place positively hums as the pizza oven is fired up, and happy skiers seat themselves on furniture that looks as if an Alpine Fred Flintstone designed it.

Treat yourself to one of the terrifically fragrant ice creams at this gelateria just outside the center of town. The fruit flavors—fragola (strawberry), melone (cantaloupe), and limone (lemon)—are all homemade and particularly good.

Grosseto is known for its glut of gelaterias, but this one stands out for its artisan production and original flavors. Aside from the perennial classics like pistacchio and stracciatella (cream with chocolate shavings), try unusual combinations like rose and rice pudding or apple strudel.

Husband-and-wife team, Piero and Caroline, live by the motto "antica esperienza, bonta moderna" ("old-school knowledge, innovative techniques"). They use top-notch ingredients such as Bronte pistachios and IGP Piemonte hazelnuts in their ice creams, which include out-of-the-box options like the Burlamacchi—vanilla smothered in cookie crumbs and salted caramel.

It's small, but the very cheery staff is only too happy to provide you with wonderful plates of typical Tuscan food. The kitchen stays open a little bit later than most, which makes this a perfect stop after seeing some of the amazing art that Arezzo has to offer. Reservations are a necessity if you are attending the monthly antiques fair.

The first things you'll see upon entering this mercato e cucina (market and kitchen) is a row of dazzling, just-caught fish on ice and a display case with prepared foods to go. Select from a large array of crudi (including several raw oyster options) before opting for the fry (either mixed, anchovies, zucchini with squid, or fish croquettes) or the very tasty fish burger. Nice wines by the glass are on offer, as are bottles.

It's a butcher shop in the front and, on weekends, a great lunch restaurant in the back. Since 1925, the place has been in the hands of the Falaschi family, who source locally and put four generations' worth of experience into turning out excellent food. Though the primi are fine, go for any meat course. This is, after all, a butcher shop.