Eating & Drinking

This is an intensely foodie area, with Tuscan cuisine and local vintages taken very seriously, from Brunello di Montalcino to Rosso di Montalcino. Hearty peasant dishes are popular, such as pappa al Pomodoro, a bread, tomato and garlic soup, and crostini misti. Homemade pici pasta is often served with cacio e pepe (sheep's milk cheese and pepper) or sugo di anatra (duck sauce). Rich dishes made with wild boar or rabbit are also prized. Wine lists tend to be heavily Tuscan-based but most are excellent, even basic wines, as Tuscans wouldn’t expect anything less. Also see Eating and Dining in Montepulciano, Pienza, Val d’Orcia and their satelite villages. 

This welcoming, rustic, mid-priced inn is in the historic centre, close to the Fortezza. Simple, seasonal, regional cooking is on the menu, from the stubby pasta with breadcrumbs (pici con le briciole) to pasta with porcini mushrooms, or a bread, tomato and garlic soup (pappa al pomodoro).
Try the roast rabbit or the polenta with wild boar sauce, a regional speciality. Desserts are staples, from tiramisu to panna cotta and crème caramel.

Address: 9, vl. della Liberta', 53024 Montalcino (SI)
Tel: +39 0577 847196

This popular inn is set on an equally sought-after wine estate 4kms outside Montalcino, on the Grosseto road. Diners generally combine a meal with a wine-tasting and visit to the adjoining wine estate. The welcoming restaurant has sweeping views of the hamlet of Sant’Angelo in Colle. Menus are varied, with a creative twist on Tuscan food but can range from tasting menus to vegetarian-friendly fare. 


Address: Localita di Poggio Antico 53024 Montalcino (SI)
Tel: +39 0577 848044
Web: www.poggioantico.com

If you succumb to the magic of Banfi (see Things to Do), consider dining under a vaulted ceiling in the elegant-rustic La Taverna or in the formal Sala dei Grappoli. Both restaurants are above average prices because you’re paying for sophisticated ambience, matched by an equally smooth sommelier. La Taverna feels far more Tuscan in menu and mood while Sala dei Grappoli is made for splashing out on creative cuisine and vintages such as Poggio alle Mura Riserva Brunello 2011.


Address: Castello di Poggio alle Mura, 53024 Montalcino (SI)
Tel: +39 0577 877700
Web: www.castellobanfi.com

This is a cosy, well-run inn with a rustic atmosphere and welcoming service, as well as an array of fine Montalcino red wines. Typical dishes include filling soups, rabbit dishes and pasta with porcini mushrooms. The owner prides himself on his wine list and particular prized vintages can be bought to take away. Desserts range from ricotta and honey to lemon tart and chocolate soufflé. 


Address: Scale di Via Moglio 1, 53024 Montalcino (SI)
Tel: +39 0577 847150
Web: www.grappoloblu.it