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Chianti Road places to stop?

We will be picking up rental car in Florence then heading to Siena via Chianti Road. We plan to get car by 9/9:30- hoping to be on the road by 10/10:30-- and would like to arrive at our hotel in Siena by 2.
We really just want to take it sort of slow- get used to driving, enjoy the scenery- and stop for a quick lunch somewhere along the way.
Any suggestions for which town to stop along Chianti Road- Greve, Castellina? How is parking/access to town etc- any suggestions for lunch?

Posted by
16242 posts

Stop inGreve for sure, but also Castellina. Lots of good restaurants everywhere. Ask in whichever town you happen to be at lunch time. In Greve the Gallo Nero is good, but there are many good ones everywhere,
Just a warning: in Italy "Quick" and "lunch" are not two words that appear in the same sentence very often. So don't rush it. Also Italians consider it to be bad service when the waiter comes to you without you calling him because the expectation is that you are left alone to enjoy your food at the table the whole day and are not rushed out of a restaurant. So when you want to order your food, or when you want the waiter to bring you the check, make sure you raise your hand and call the attention of the waiter, otherwise he will never come to your table on his own and you will be waiting all day.

Posted by
7375 posts

Thank you once again Roberto- your responses are so appreciated and always so helpful!
When I said "quick lunch" I meant just grab a pizza or pannini- I don't think we'll want to take the time for a long Italian lunch this day- but you never know!

Posted by
1054 posts

You never know is right. I walked in a place for a "quick lunch" salami and roast pork sandwhich. 7 hours later we left stuff of meats and cheeses, wine, his homemade limoncello and even some grappa. Learned a lot about how their salami's are made, even helped make the spice rubs for some of the pork cuts. A great day learning about some italian food that was unplanned at all just from talking to the owner of a small little shop.