Best restaurants in Chianti wine country
Eating in Chianti is not just about checking off restaurants - it is about long lunches where the table fills with ribollita, pici pasta, bistecca, and bottles of whatever the winemaker poured that morning. The food is honest, rustic, seasonal.
Most places require reservations now, especially on weekends from May through October. Some close for riposo between lunch and dinner, others only open Thursday to Sunday. A few only do lunch. Calling ahead or booking online saves you from showing up hungry to a locked door or a wait until 9pm. This list covers a mix - fancy spots for special occasions, everyday trattorias that locals actually use, and a couple winery restaurants where the view matters as much as the plate.
Before you hunt for a restaurant table, check out our guide to Chianti wine tours from Florence - many include lunch at family estates or traditional trattorias paired with tastings, so you can sample local Tuscan food and wine without worrying about separate reservations or getting lost on country roads. If you're doing a tour, lunch is usually covered and the guide picks spots that actually deliver on flavor without tourist-trap pricing. But if you're exploring Chianti independently by car or staying overnight in the region, the restaurants below are worth booking ahead. They range from Michelin-starred dining rooms where the bill makes you wince, to family-run places where nonna still runs the kitchen and the house wine costs less than bottled water back home. Most require reservations during high season, especially May through October, so calling a few days ahead saves you from showing up hungry to a full terrace or a locked door.
Best restaurants in Chianti wine country
Osteria di Passignano
Set in an ancient abbey courtyard, this Michelin-starred gem blends monastic history with refined Tuscan cooking. Chef Matteo Lorenzini turns local ingredients into elegant dishes like saffron risotto with rabbit ragù, slow-braised Chianina beef, and delicate homemade pastas that change with the seasons.
- Price range: €60-90 per person
- Timings: 12:30pm-2:30pm (lunch), 7:30pm-10pm (dinner), closed Mon-Tue
- Location: Via di Passignano 33, Badia a Passignano, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
- Booking: Required, especially weekends
- Good for: Special occasions, romantic dinners, wine pairing enthusiasts
Ristoro di Lamole
Perched in the Lamole hills with sweeping vineyard views, this family-run spot serves no-nonsense Tuscan comfort food. Think thick ribollita soup, hand-rolled pici with wild boar ragù, grilled sausages with white beans, and tiramisu that's more cream than coffee. Simple, honest, filling.
- Price range: €25-40 per person
- Timings: 12pm-3pm (lunch), 7pm-10pm (dinner), closed Wednesdays
- Location: Via di Lamole 6, Greve in Chianti
- Booking: Recommended on weekends
- Good for: Casual lunches, families, hikers needing calories
Dario Cecchini - Solociccia
Legendary butcher Dario runs this loud, communal-table meat temple in Panzano. One set menu: multiple courses of beef in every form - tartare, burgers, roasts, stews - served family-style with red wine flowing freely. Vegetarians should skip this one. Everyone else, come hungry and loud.
- Price range: €50 fixed menu
- Timings: 8pm seating (one sitting), closed Sundays
- Location: Via XX Luglio 11, Panzano in Chianti
- Booking: Essential, weeks in advance in high season
- Good for: Meat lovers, groups, memorable experiences
Ristorante Badia a Coltibuono
This former monastery turned winery estate serves lunch on a stone terrace overlooking endless olive groves and vines. The menu leans traditional - pappa al pomodoro, tagliatelle with porcini, roasted guinea fowl - but executed with care and paired with their own wines. Peaceful, understated, lovely.
- Price range: €35-55 per person
- Timings: 12:30pm-2:30pm (lunch only), closed Mon-Tue
- Location: Località Badia a Coltibuono 19, Gaiole in Chianti
- Booking: Recommended
- Good for: Leisurely lunches, couples, wine estate visits
La Bottega del 30
Small, cozy spot on Castellina's main street where chef Franco Camelia mixes Tuscan staples with creative twists. Truffle-laced egg dishes, delicate fish carpaccio, herb-crusted lamb, and a wine list that goes deep on local Chianti Classico bottles. Casual but polished.
- Price range: €40-60 per person
- Timings: 12:30pm-2:30pm (lunch), 7:30pm-10pm (dinner), closed Sundays
- Location: Via Santa Caterina 2, Castellina in Chianti
- Booking: Recommended, especially for dinner
- Good for: Dates, foodies, mid-range splurges
Albergaccio
Sit on the terrace at this countryside inn and watch the sun drop behind Castellina's medieval tower. The food is classic Tuscan - think fettuccine with truffles in fall, grilled steaks year-round, and panna cotta to finish. Nothing groundbreaking, just solid execution and a view worth the drive.
- Price range: €30-50 per person
- Timings: 12pm-2:30pm (lunch), 7pm-9:30pm (dinner), closed Tuesdays
- Location: Via Fiorentina 63, Castellina in Chianti
- Booking: Recommended for terrace seating
- Good for: Sunset dinners, reliable meals, local vibe
Trattoria Oltre il Giardino
Tucked in Panzano's garden-lined back streets, this tiny trattoria feels like eating at someone's home - which essentially you are. Mama cooks, papa serves, the menu changes daily. Handmade tortelli with spinach and ricotta, slow-cooked rabbit, panzanella salad in summer. Unpretentious, warm, real.
- Price range: €25-35 per person
- Timings: 12pm-2:30pm (lunch), 7pm-9:30pm (dinner), closed Wednesdays
- Location: Piazza Giacomo Bucciarelli 42, Panzano in Chianti
- Booking: Helpful, limited seating
- Good for: Local atmosphere, solo diners, simple authentic meals
Ristorante Le Panzanelle
A short drive from Radda, this countryside spot specializes in fresh pasta and local game. Pappardelle with wild boar, ravioli stuffed with pecorino and pear, grilled duck breast with balsamic reduction. The setting is rustic-chic, the portions generous, the wine list heavy on nearby estates.
- Price range: €35-55 per person
- Timings: 12:30pm-2:30pm (lunch), 7:30pm-10pm (dinner), closed Mondays
- Location: Località Lucarelli 29, Radda in Chianti
- Booking: Recommended
- Good for: Pasta lovers, relaxed dinners, small groups
Looking for a place to stay near these restaurants? Check our guide to the best hotels in Chianti for recommendations on where to base yourself.
Common questions about dining in Chianti
Do I need reservations at Chianti restaurants?
For any restaurant listed here, yes - especially on weekends from May through October. Places like Osteria di Passignano and Dario Cecchini book out weeks ahead. Even casual trattorias fill up fast during peak season. Call or email a few days in advance minimum.
What are typical meal times in Chianti?
Lunch runs 12:30pm to 2:30pm, dinner starts around 7:30pm and goes until 10pm or later. Many places close between lunch and dinner for riposo. Showing up at 6pm for dinner wont work - kitchens simply aren't open yet.
Are these restaurants expensive?
It varies. Casual trattorias like Ristoro di Lamole or Oltre il Giardino run €25-40 per person. Mid-range spots like La Bottega del 30 are €40-60. Michelin-starred places like Osteria di Passignano push €60-90+. Add wine and you're looking at another €15-40 per person depending on what you order.
Can vegetarians eat well in Chianti?
Yes, but you'll be leaning on pasta, risotto, soups like ribollita, and vegetable sides. Most menus are meat-heavy. Higher-end places like Osteria di Passignano and La Bottega del 30 usually have vegetarian options or can accommodate if you call ahead. Skip Dario Cecchini entirely - it's all beef.
Is wine included in the meal price?
Almost never, unless you're at a set-menu place like Dario Cecchini where wine flows with the meal. Most restaurants charge separately for wine. House wine by the carafe is usually €12-20, bottles start around €20 and go way up from there depending on the estate and vintage.
What should I order at a Tuscan restaurant?
Start with antipasti - cured meats, bruschetta, crostini. For primi (first course), try pici pasta with wild boar ragù, pappardelle with porcini, or ribollita soup. For secondi, bistecca alla fiorentina (if you're sharing), roasted guinea fowl, or slow-braised veal. Finish with cantucci biscuits dipped in vin santo.
Are kids welcome at these restaurants?
Family-run trattorias like Ristoro di Lamole and Oltre il Giardino are fine with kids. Fancier spots like Osteria di Passignano technically allow children but the vibe is more adult-focused and meals stretch long. Loud communal places like Dario Cecchini can work if your kids are older and don't mind chaos.
Can I just walk in without a reservation?
You might get lucky on a weekday in low season, but it's risky. Most popular places are fully booked by the time you show up. Smaller trattorias sometimes have space at the bar or a late seating, but don't count on it. Always safer to book ahead.