Somewhat touristy of course but nevertheless this unique transformation of a Roman amphitheatre has its own charm. Nice bars and restaurants serving typical tourist fayre and a few benches where you can sit and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Don't omit to find the few remaining original Roman stones on the outside.

I get a kick out of things people call "tourist areas" as though that makes the places less interesting. I understand that we may not always want to be cramped in with other tourists (as if we're not a tourist ourselves). In fact, we often want to find places that are more frequented by locals, something more authentic. I'm with you. But there's a reason people flock to certain areas: something is interesting, compelling, and unique. Eiffel Tower, Times Square, Golden Gate Bridge, and on and on. Heavily touristed? Yes. Should you see them? In my opinion, yes. The Piazza here is worthy of a visit, too. There are good restaurants, nice people, and stunning architecture. A visit during the evening photographic golden hour is really quite stunning. It's historical, beautiful, and part of Lucca. Now, I'm off to hide amongst the locals!

One of the tourists spots in Lucca. Lots of small stores and food places within this square. Plenty to see and it was a good day trip to experience parts of Lucca. Inside the Piazza were many restaurants and most had the same menu.

It was once a Roman amphitheater and it shows in its near curricular design. It is now an area of mixed use with bars, restaurants, shops and housing. It's a very cool. It's open to the public to walk through and around at no charge.

It was a nice experience to walk around this historical place. It is well maintained and clean. Plenty of shops for dining and drinking. A lot of people just come to sit and hang there and when the weather is good, it’s a nice place to just enjoy hanging around.

Very nice round Plaza, nice restaurants all around it's internal area. Flower market in the middle. Good for people watching and dining, also if it rains

A unique oval piazza created as people repurposed the ancient Roman amphitheater into buildings. Walking the exterior exposes elements of the original Roman architecture where the interior is filled with cafe’s and shops catering to tourists. A bit crowded with tourists - but worth the visit.

Great public area (elliptical shaped) that used to be a Roman amphitheater. The buildings are converted to living areas. The lower area is lined with shops and restaurants all around. Had a wonderful outdoor dinner here.

If you’re in Lucca, you must visit this elliptical shaped piazza at least once. But since it’s free, don’t restrict yourself to just once if you don’t have to! It’s a great use of the historical space of the amphitheater. In the summer it has many nice restaurants, during the Christmas season, it’s nicely lit.

One of the best place in Lucca. Beautiful view to hilly country around city and across the roofs. The place up the tower was quite small, but I was lucky and there was less then 5 people. I cannot imagine being there with group of people.

Beautiful views across Lucca at the top of this tower, with trees planted at the top! Easy walk up, wide staircases (only one very narrow part). Lots of places to take a rest. We went at 10:30 and were able to enter straight away.

Very nice tower to climb, with great views as a reward for the climb. The stairs are easy at first and become slightly narrow towards the top but never really problematic. The views on top are really worth it; you can see all of the city and the surrounding country side.

Not a hard climb like Giotto's bell tower or Brunelleschi's dome in Firenzi. Lovely open airy climb. Very inviting area at the top with shade trees and 360 degree view of old Lucca

Highly recommend: There’s a reason why climbing the Guinigi Tower is listed as one of the top 3 MUST DO’s in Lucca. Check out the photos, you’ll see what I mean. Addition info: - Last climb of the day if before 6.30pm - €5 per ticket - (either in person or online - I recommend in person, the line moved very quickly? - the steps are not that as overwhelming as you might and very doable.

Definitely worth visiting. We were there on a busy holiday weekend and had to wait about 30 mins in line. At this tower, you can purchase a combo ticket that also includes the Tore dell Ore (clock tower) and botanical garden. There is a nice garden at the top, and of course a beautiful view over the town.

I was pleasantly surprised to see plants and trees on the top of the tower, providing pleasant shade. You can walk around the trees, it's a bit cramped here, hard to get around people. However, the view is very rewarding, with a beautiful panorama, all the towers of Lucca can be counted.

Beautiful Tower with a stunning view. Can buy tickets online or on the door under 8 year old are free. Lots of stairs but worth it for the views over lucca.

Most beautiful tower in Lucca. The fact that it has trees on the top is unique and spectacular. There are only stairs to reach the top so be prepared. The stairs start off large and are made from brick. Near the middle/top of the staircase, it becomes a metal structure which is slightly tight. So you may need to be patient and allow others to pass. The tower can get busy and there might be a queue as there is a limited amount of people which are allowed on the top. My advice is to try to go to the Guinigi Tower before visiting the other churches.

Towers are everywhere in Italy, and I have climbed quite a few. Beside the amazing view of Lucca and beyond, this tower has trees! Although a historic trope, that is a rarity today and makes this tower a little extra special.

Amazing 360-degree views of Lucca. Interesting way to get your sense of the town layout if you know the key landmarks. A few small stairways that get a little tight for us bigger guys, but the climb is easily worth the views -- especially from under the shade provided by the several hundred years old oak trees.

About 15 minutes wait. Narrow stairs inside! But worth the views from the top. €6 per adult or if you buy a combo ticket with other attractions then €15 for 3. A little crowded on the top so had to shuffle around. About 15 minutes at the top is enough. Would recommend for awesome views of Lucca!

(Translated by Google) A beautiful event not to be missed if you are in Lucca. A tribute to Puccini and the work in the evocative setting of the San Giovanni church. 1 hour starting at 7.15pm every evening. This year free entry for Italian citizens and residents. Not to be missed. (Original) Un bellissimo appuntamento da non perdere se si è a Lucca. Un tributo a Puccini e l’opera nel suggestivo contesto della chiesa San Giovanni. 1 ora a partire dalle 19:15 tutte le sere. Quest’anno ingressso gratuito per cittadini Italiani e residenti. Da non perdere.

(Translated by Google) Superb. Every evening 1 hour of concert. Not to be missed. (Original) Superb. In fiecare seara 1 ora de concert. Nu trebuie ratat.

(Translated by Google) This church is full of surprises, the basement takes you back to the Romans, mosaic and foundations. With the same ticket you can go up the tower, what a view, the best of Lucca. Not suitable for small children and people with physical limitations. The entrance fee was 4 euros, and not crowded. Recommended. (Original) Deze kerk zit vol verassingen, de kelderverdieping brengt je terug naar de Romeinen, mozaïek en funderingen. Met hetzelfde ticket kun je de toren op, wat een uitzicht, het beste van Lucca. Niet geschikt voor kleine kinderen en mensen met fysieke beperkingen. De entree prijs was 4 euro, en niet druk. Een aanrader.

Beautiful old church. One worth visiting and taking photos of.

Interesting church given its facade and different columns. Entry was free of charge. Beautiful inside with what I'd say is strikingly simple, not overly ornate, which I appreciated. I also appreciated the juxtaposition of the oversized KISS "End of the Road" World Tour poster exhibited across from the church. What a hoot!

Wonderful church on the outside, not as interesting on the inside as you’d expect from the outside. Free to visit though. The mummified remains of a 1000+ old saint don’t necessarily add much to the atmosphere. Must see on the outside though.

This place doesn't even look real. When I encountered this cathedral I found a place to sit and ended up staring at it for a good 30 minutes. It looks like an illustration you might see in a fantasy novel. And the size of this place, compared to the surrounding community, just stunning.

This church is a fine building from the outside and forms a striking backdrop to a "touristy" square. Lots of pictures here so I won't add any. However the inside did not hold my attention and the remains of San Davino on display under the alter in a glass box made we want to be sick so I left quickly not wanting to look any further. Lots of people say this is nice inside, there are even photos of the Reliquary. Not for me. This is not nice at all and if you are not entrenched in this kind of Christianity you might not like it either.

San Michele in Foro in Lucca is an architectural masterpiece with a unique feature—the mummified body of Saint Zita. Since her death in 1272, her remarkably well-preserved remains have been on display for public veneration. The mummified saint, believed to have performed miracles during her life, attracts pilgrims and visitors intrigued by the fascinating combination of art, history, and devotion within the church.

This church has an exceptionally beautiful facade of white marble with various colours in it. The church dates back to the 9th century but was completely ovehauld in the Pisan Romanesque style in the 11th and 12th century

What a beautiful little church, we had the good fortune to be there when some musicians were practicing for a concert and the sound was magnificent. Free entry which is a rarity in Italy in Tourist season, this church must understand that God wants us in his house for whatever reason.

Lucca, is the "City of 100 Churches" but this Church is different from others. It's one of the best tourist attractions in Lucca. The plaza is full of cafes and locals with great atmosphere. San Michele is a very nice place to visit

This was the older Cathedral of the city. Must see are the underground roman remnants. The church is built on top of a Roman Forum (looked more like Therme to me!!!).

Incredible architecture. Outstanding cathedral that you shouldn't it

Beautiful church, good ambience. Nice music in the evening. Lots of places you can have diner or eat ice cream. But we couldn’t go in because it was 8:17 PM.

The church is one of the oldest in Lucca. It costs €3 to enter. You can purchase the ticket online or when you arrive. The church is open 9am to 6pm. When you enter the lady provides you with an information leaflet in your language. As you approach the church there is a large mosaic on the outside of the church and a number of frescos inside the church. Each look like they are painted yesterday. Once inside the church look up at the ceiling as this beautiful.

The church itself is nice, going up the campanile is a must do when you’re here. It’ll give you amazing views of the city. A windy staircase at first leads up to normal stairs going all the way up to the top, leading to the amazing views. Do go into the side chapels of the church as well for some lovely old frescos.

Do not miss San Frediano, it is just 2 min far from Piazza Anfiteatro. The highlight at the entrance is the huge 12th-century Romanesque baptismal font (the Fonte Lustrale)

Beautiful church both outside but especially inside. Highly recommend visiting this basilica when in Lucca.

Most extraordinary church facade. The city’s patron saint is preserved inside, attracting many followers daily. The week I was there happens to be her festival, there are flower display in front of the church that is like a mini-golf course with a garden and a pond. It charges an entrance fee but worth the visit.

🏛 Nice basilica! Fridianus (Frediano) was an Irish bishop of Lucca in the first half of the 6th century. He had a church built on this spot, dedicated to St. Vincent, a martyr from Zaragoza, Spain. When Fridianus was buried in this church, the church was renamed Ss. Frediano and Vincenzo. Soon afterwards, a community of Augustinian canons was growing around this church. In the Longobard era, the church and the canon house were enlarged. In 1104, this order was recognized by Pope Paschal II. The prior of St. Frediano was later accorded a rank equal in dignity to that of a bishop. The church acquired its present appearance of a typical Roman basilica during the period 1112-1147. In the 13th-14th centuries the striking façade was decorated with a huge golden 13th century mosaic representing The Ascension of Christ the Saviour with the apostles below. Berlinghiero Berlinghieri designed it in a Byzantine/medieval style. Several chapels of the nobility were added in the 14th-16th centuries. These are lavishly decorated with paintings. 🏛 Güzel bazalica.

Very beautiful basilica with a lot of history and very impressive architecture. The 3€ entrance cost per person is worth

This is one of almost 90 historical churches in the historical area of Lucca. It features an exterior mosaic. Interior is a mix of art and tributes to church priests over 1000 years old, while some structure is exposed as it is an example of appropriation of finishes to other locations over time. Lucca was a great excursion, a 30 minute motor coach ride from our cruise terminal.

Absolutely great! The food is awesome, the service is great (thanks for the advices), the wine is good. Do not miss the papardelle a la cinghale (pasta with wild boar) it's fabulous. Try the wild boar with polenta too! Very surprising was the dessert: spinach cake! Yes you read well! Delicious (not salty at all, very sweet).

We went to this place just because of the Google reviews. I can’t say that something was wrong, but we did expect the whole experience to be amazing, but it was just OK. We had a Florentine steak, that was OK, but not the best we had in Tuscany, and wild boar with polenta, which was OK, again nothing special. On the other hand, the desserts were delicious.

High and low. Ravioli was great, chicken salad was dry and boring. Pasta with tomato sauce was ok. So overall we had larger expectations based on other reviews. The atmosphere is decent but there are many others with higher charm factor in Lucca. The personal where kind and quick even though you could sense a underlying stress as they where very busy.

I celebrated my birthday dinner here a few nights ago and was made to feel very welcome. The staff were friendly, and the food was delicious. It was a wonderful evening. We especially loved the creamy lasagna and the recommendation for a tasty Tuscan wine.

This was the last stop on our 'eat & drink your way through Italy trip,' and we couldn't have been happier with our choice to go Da Rosolo. The restaurant is tucked down a quite little street away from the well worn tourist track and it was a really enjoyable atmosphere. The food was outstanding. I had the caprese burrata salad to start and my husband ordered the tartar- and we kept arguing about which one was better. To be honest, they were totally different and each a standout dish in their own right. For mains we ordered the lasanga and the traditional tortolini ravioli pasta. Both were divine, but I would probably say the lasagna won that round, but only by a hair! We finished our meal with ricotta cannalonis and custard profitta rolls with dessert wine. Don't judge - like I said it was our last Italian meal and we decided to go big! No regrets! The staff were all wonderful and they made us feel very welcome and didn't seem to mind that we were there for about 3 hours soaking it all up! You can't and shouldn't rush a meal like that! Bravo & thank you!

One of the nicest restaurants I've ever been to! A couple who owns the place and works there, so friendly and lovely, the food was amazing and the vibe of the location, everything, very very nice. Totally recommend!!

Wonderful little cafè with pleasant outdoor (and indoor) seating. I felt very comfortable and welcomed there as a solo female traveler. Great house wine. And a wonderful ravioli with walnut cream sauce. Delicious

I highly recommend trying this little spot. We came back the next day for more. The gnocchi with Gorgonzola and mint was melt in your mouth delicious. Panna cotta with pistachio for dessert! Amazing!

Da Rosolo was one of my favorite dinning experiences In Italy. Not only was the outside ambiance very nice, but the high quality service from the owner and our waiter Florian made this meal fantastic! The standout dishes for me were: the Spaghetti Carbonara, perfectly cheesy and delicious, my personal favorite the Maltlagiati dell Osteria (Delicious sea bass with nice spice) the Beef Liver, and lastly the Cheesecake ( cold and delicious cheesecake with a crunch.) The wine selection was very good and very fairly priced. I can’t recommend this spot enough!

It’s not an exaggeration to say this place is amazingly hospitable and welcoming (not in an intrusive way that makes you feel uncomfortable) - they truly take care of you and don’t forget about you during your dinner, bringing you a water, bringing an additional fork just in time, making sure to say goodbye to us at the end of the evening, etc - all these little touches and attention play such a role and eventually Pasquale and his Team left a very warm impression of our evening, thank you 🤍 Coming here we fell in love after having a starter dish. From then on, it was only getting better - the main dish tasted original, the beef was so soft and tasted amazing with the truffle cream, the frozen parfait dessert was a perfect finish to dinner. I’m also not sure how to live without their olive oil now, it’s so pleasantly bitter and gives a good taste to food. We were also happy that their portions of a starter + main dish + dessert per one person turned out to be a satisfyingly enough amount of food, it didn’t feel too much. And like many already mentioned, an advanced reservation is a must :)

Best meal so far. This restaurant is tucked away in a little side street and permanently booked up. We were told to come back at 21.00 when most people had finished and fortunately we got a table. The food was superb as was the service. If you are coming to Lucca book a table in advance. Wine was 6 euros for a large glass of a really nice wine. Don't miss out if you are visiting Lucca.

Fabulous food experience, four diners with very different tastes and everyone totally satisfied. Authentic and original Tuscan dishes, expertly presented. Pasquale really enjoys being a restauranteur and his enthusiasm carries the night. His wine selections for each individual dish were superb and instructive. Lovely service and special birthday attention too. Highly recommend this tucked away spot, phone reservations absolutely required.

You’ll need to book ahead, but being organised enough to get a table in this restaurant will be the highlight of your trip! We found this restaurant through food blogs and a direct recommendation from a colleague, and what a gem! The food is outstanding without pretension. Full of flavour and dazzlingly good quality ingredients plus some serious skill going on in the kitchen. We paced ourselves with a starter each (delicious tuna tartare and scallops), then shared a pasta and main. This was enough for us - and we were glad sharing meant we could try both a pasta and main course. To accompany the great food, this restaurant is also passionate about great wine, and there’s a huge variety to choose from! We met the owner at the end of the evening who clearly loves running this restaurant and is keen to keep it how it is: small and perfectly formed.

Absolutely delicious. Can't fault a thing. The service matched the incredible food. Just make sure you book early... They are often fully booked.

Pasquale provides a real nice and delicious food experience! Fresh products and amazing and friendly staff. Pasquale knows what great hospitality is, and his wine know-how and experience is huge. Best place in Lucca to combine delicious food and amazing wine! Ask for the orangecello (orange limoncello) for the dessert!

Great food, great environment, great wine! The owner managed to get us a table on short notice, very pleasant environment in a small courtyard. All the food was fantastic, had Gnocchi with clams, Burrata Caprese, Tenderloin and Cod. Asked for great wine to match it and the waiter nailed it! Super tasty Tiramisu for dessert (not on menu) and a dessert wine, which he nailed again. All served at very reasonable pricing. Top recommendation!

Very good food and frindly staff that made us feel like very welcome guests. Impressive selection of wine, just ask the owner for his recommendations. Whenever we will be back in Lucca, this is the place we will return to.

Very nice food, we enjoyed it very much. The service was good, though they put things on the bill that we hadn’t ordered.

This was the best meal we have ever had. I had the loin of veal with roasted potatoes and hubby had steak florentine. Service was on point. Dessert was amazing! Would highly recommend!

We enjoyed our evening here. Tasty amuse bouche, great wine recommendation, delicious food. Fiorentina steak was cooked perfectly, recommend this dish for 2–3 people. And the desserts were really tasty. I like that the restaurant is serving classic Italian dishes that are top-notch. We made a reservation a week in advance. The restaurant is dog-friendly.

Obscenely good experience. Would recommend to all including vegetarians (but maybe not vegans). Ambience: wonderful classical traditional feel, really enjoyable. Service: I have never been served as quickly as I have here. Service also just genuinely wonderful, with very pleasant servers. Food: very good. I am a vegetarian and had a very good slow cooked egg in goats cheese and truffle as a starter and one of the best pumpkin risottos I have ever had. Someone else at my table also had a truffle linguine, which I tasted and found very good. Dessert also very good. Price: roughly 50 per head for 3 courses and drinks without wine Overall: it is rare to go to a restaurant and leave feeling that "wow" factor, but this is definitely one such place.

This place is located in the historic center of Lucca, the rooms retain the warm and elegant atmosphere of the restaurants of the past. The menu presents a variety of dishes from the traditional cuisine of Lucca, prepared with care and wisdom. The macaroni with rabbit ragout was tasty but not fatty, the pork tenderloin soft and tasty, a real surprise was the desset with chestnut gelato, delicious. The service was kind and professional. Good value for money.

Great rabbit and exceptional caramelized fruit dessert! Very good dark bread (with salt in it!!!) Soup was authentically interesting. Wine was a gamble after sommelier was too busy to advise us, and we unfortunately threw a dart at Pergolaia, very tannic.

Came here on a Friday night in July. Very nice place that offers inside & outside dining. Didn’t make a reservation (but it’s encouraged). Place gets full very fast. 🦋Inside & outside dining available. Inside was fully booked, so we sat outside. 🦋what was very dissatisfying for me was that the server never asked us if we had any food allergens & such…(I don’t eat pork and in Luca it’s in a lot of their main dishes). 🦋champagne on the glass on the house. Their black bread on the house was so fresh and delicious. They gave us an appetizer on the house that were meat balls, I asked the server what type of meat it was ( it had beef & pork inside) he realized then I don’t eat pork and then said he’ll bring out a bruschetta for me ( never did). Another dissatisfaction moment. 🦋Great portion sizes. Me and my partner shared everything, so in photos I’ll post, you’ll see everything divided to half. 🦋we got a local wine. Truly delicious, it was the ludouico 2017. 🦋the ravioli was delicious! Definitely recommend 🦋the risotto with mushrooms was good, just nothing special… I’ve had one with truffles elsewhere and it was to die for with every bite. 🦋lastly, we wanted to try the lamb in Italy, so we asked the server what part of the lamb was served because I prefer lamb chops…he said most likely the chef would accommodate us based on our preference….but what was served was the shoulder & hip/butt of the lamb…. I wanted meat not skin & fat….I don’t recommend this at all. . . Overall very nice experience. I do recommend the place.

Very good food with sophisticated service. So good we wanted to book for Saturday Dinner but fully booked with locals. Fingers crossed there is a cancellation.

Great experience. Lovely Italian food, however very pricy for kids. Good service from the waiters. Great wine selection and amazing suggestion for wine. Overall good but expensive compared to average Italian restaurants.

Wonderful good, including and especially my gluten-free tordelli. Lovely outdoor eating area also. Really enjoyed it!

We had an wonderful evening. The food was very tasty and also the local ambiance , but the service was the worst we had in three weeks Italy vacation. Especially the young girl with dark hair. No kindness, no smile, no matter... No one was interested in us. Although we hat Florentine Steak, fish, bottle of wine, grappa, dessert... What a pitty!!!!!

Bad service and cafeteria style food in as far as the quality and taste. Way overpriced for what you get. Cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone!

Lovely dinner. The linchetto was earthy and beautiful. The filet with porcini was well cooked. The cinghiale with polenta was the best I’ve ever had. Beautiful people as well. Very good service.

Yummy local food with excellent service. Delicious traditional puddings as well. You shouldn't miss it if you visit Lucca.

Beautiful restaurant in the heart of Lucca serving great quality, authentic Lucchese cuisine. We were charmed by the characterful interior, with vaulted ceilings and beautiful brickwork. Meat based dishes are delicious.

We had the porcini risotto and the stuffed pasta with meat sauce and the grilled peppers and aubergine. It was good, especially the grilled pepper. But the stuffed pasta was way too salty. The location is pretty and waiters are really friendly.

Osteria Baralla is a historic traditional restaurant. The experience was perfect, the food was amazing, and the bill was absolutely fair. Located feet away from Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, it’s an amazing choice to get the real Lucca experience. What we got and loved: - Antipasto toscano - Élite di formaggi (cheese platter) - Pici senesi (pasta with melted cheese)

Wasn’t super impressed with their food. We tried the shrimp risotto, pesto pasta, local bean soup (Zuppa di farro lucchese), etc. We had high hopes as we got great reviews of the place. The risotto was bland and had very less flavor. The pasta was okay but again nothing great as we have had better at many places. The soup was the best dish out of lot, very hearty and full of flavors. Wouldn’t come here again just for the food. The service was good with one server knowing english and the ambience was very nice (very rustic and old school).

2021: Two years later, another trip to Luca, another visit to Osteria Baralla and I still stand by my previous note. Word for word. Prices are a bit on a high end for an Osteria with its (very much pleasant) simplicity but I guess this goes hand in hand with the location. 2019: This was our second time in Lucca and second time in Osteria Baralla, a trattoria with a very local look and feel and familiar (at least for us Mediterranean people) flavors and tastes. My luchesan pasta was awesome and the tiramisu was to die for. Special thanks to the waiters that kept bringing us Parmesan cheese and were very polite and also very quick to move us inside when it started raining out of the blue. That said, last year my experience in Osteria Baralla was completely different: the people were rude and almost bothered by us being their customers and the food was below average. Maybe it was a particularly bad day.

Decent food. We got pici cacio e Pepe and meat-filled ravioli with meat sauce (luccese). the meal was NOT hot. The food was underwhelming, not anything to write home about, which is what I look for in a place like this. Plus, it was a little bit pricey. However, the caprese salad was good. The setting was nice and the servers attended to us well.

Very good authentic Lucchese cuisine, but served by wait staff that looked exhausted and a grumpy owner without charm. Better service with food just as good is easily found in Lucca, including next door!

My boyfriend and I spent over one week in Italy, and this was one of our top favorite restaurants. The bolognese was incredible, and the pasta with marinated sea bass was so unique and spectacular. Our waitress Francesca was very sweet and welcoming. We loved Lucca and we will come back here the next time we visit!

Ristorante Catina Bernardini, tucked away in the historic heart of Lucca, Italy, offers a dining experience that not only caters to your culinary senses but also nourishes your soul. Its low-key underground dining area is a charmingly rustic nook capable of serving over 16 guests comfortably, making it the perfect venue for special gatherings or a memorable meal with dear friends and family. An evening at Catina Bernardini is an epicurean adventure steeped in authenticity and tradition. They truly live up to the phrase "slow food," encouraging you to savor the experience and take your time with your meal. For our party of 18, we leisurely enjoyed our feast over the span of about 3 hours, but every moment was delightful and never dull. The restaurant's wine selection is superb, boasting an array of top-notch Italian and international wines. Whether you're an oenophile or a casual wine enthusiast, their sommelier is there to guide you through the perfect pairings for your meal. As for the food, it's hard to find the right words to do it justice. Catering for dietary needs is handled seamlessly and respectfully, with an accommodating food allergy menu that didn't skimp on variety or flavor. The homemade gnocchi with tomato, basil, and buffalo mozzarella was a revelation. Each bite was like a warm embrace, the gnocchi's delicate texture paired exquisitely with the rich sauce. The tortellini au gratin, boasting a hearty Bolognese ragu and creamy besciamella sauce, was similarly impressive. Meanwhile, the roast beef of melino, served with a refreshing salad of potatoes and parsley, was cooked to perfection, tender and flavorful. Vegetarian options shine as well; the grilled eggplant millefeuille with carasau bread, feta cheese, and mint was an intriguing blend of textures and tastes that delighted the palate. Their desserts are another story altogether. The Panna "poco" cotta, adorned with fragole al balsamico, was creamy yet light, the balsamic strawberries providing a tangy counterpoint. The Sorbetti di frutta fresca di nostra produzione secondo mercato was the perfect palate cleanser, with its refreshing and vibrant fruit flavors. The meal culminated with an exquisite cappuccino. Perfectly balanced, the bitter notes of the coffee harmoniously blend with the sweetness of the frothed milk, serving as the ideal full stop to a gastronomic journey. In conclusion, dining at Ristorante Catina Bernardini is a delightful celebration of Italian cuisine. It's not just about the food but the overall experience. The atmosphere, the attentive service, the time taken to savor each course — it all contributes to a dining experience that you'll cherish. To those willing to take the time to enjoy a leisurely, well-crafted meal, I wholeheartedly recommend Catina Bernardini. Their commitment to quality is clear in every aspect, and it's a meal I look forward to reliving.

Had the crusted artichoke and rabbit pie to start. The Crusted Artichoke was a bit too mushy throughout, although the rabbit pie was pretty good. For mains, we had the fried sea food and the leek tart. The leek tart was good for the first 2 bites, but it was so sweet and overwhelming we simply couldn't continue eating it. The fried sea food was very similar - everything, including the veg, was covered in batter and there was no flavour variation. You were being hit with the same strong and overwhelming flavours on repeat. The problem with both dishes is they had nothing to balance them, no sides of any sort - we thought we may have ordered incorrectly (and missed ordering sides) but both dishes were recommended by the staff as-is. The restaurant itself created a very nice ambiance and the staff were very friendly, helpful and attentive. It's a real shame the food was such a let down.

peculiar menu, all good in a nice setting. service quite pro. interesting complimentary chickpea hummus the vernaccia by the glass was excellent. tagliatelle with white vela ragù very good, toast also the ragù tordelli (though I would cook them more al dente). enjoyed the stuffed zucchini appetizer fair price

We had a very nice evening. The food was amazing. The signature pasta was great. Nice atmosphere and great service - super kind and fast service. Not expensive for the quality of service and food. Extensive wine list.

Amazing food... Fantastic service... Family business... Friendly chatty staff... Speak several languages... Gastro delight !!! Ok seriously now I actually cried after I ate my sea bass spaghettoni as even after 15 years holidaying in Italy this was the nicest dish I've ever eaten... Anywhere !!!

We're quite picky when it comes to a good cuisine. I'm soo glad that the Google reviews helped us pick a place to eat. I didn't mind staying inside as we didn't book a table on a fairly small terrace. Interior has a nice upper class artsy vibe to it. Service is always a big part of a culinary experience. Each and every person who served us tonight was a professional - friendly attitude and ability to advise. The quality of food served was on a high level. Typical Tuscan rabbit cake, pasta with ragu and also wine. Everything did just simply fit...Hence I'm taking the time to post a review. Thanks to the whole team, we enjoyed every bit of this evening!