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Honeymoon - Restaurant Reservations in Venice, Florence, and Siena?

Posted by (USA) on

Hi all,

I have posted a few questions already about our upcoming honeymoon in September/October - We greatly appreciate all of the feedback that you have provided. We have finalized most of the trip, but are now thinking about restaurants. We will be in Venice for 3 nights, Florence for 3 nights, and Siena for 2 nights amongst other places over a 2 1/2 week trip. We were hoping to do at least one nice meal out in each of the above referenced places and were hoping for some input from all. Generally in the US, a nice meal out for us runs anywhere from $100-$200 US, including cocktails, apps, entrees, dessert, and a bottle (or two) of wine. Obviously, price is not always indicative of quality, and we would totally love to find great places at more affordable prices. We would like to go to places that serve the local dishes and represent the style of the regions. Any place with an awesome view, ambiance, special setting, etc is an added bonus. Ideally we would like to be able to make a reservation in advance.

Please let me know if you have any advice or opinions. Also if you just have general suggestions for casual places to eat dinner or lunch, that would be fantastic as well. Thanks so much in advance.

Thanks

Posted by
8371 posts

Trip after trip, I've spent time researching all the good restaurants--only to find their menu's not to my taste or the prices too high. I finally quit trying to line up restaurants ahead of time and just depend on locals, including hotel personnel, to guide me to the really good places to eat.
Let me tell you something about the really good Italian restaurants: They have so many courses and throw so much food on the table that I cannot put a dent into their meals. And the wines simply cannot be beat--especially south of Florence. And I'm 6'3", 235 lbs. and a big eater by most standards.
Maybe Roberto will chime in here about the best of Florence.

Posted by
11851 posts

You might read this thread from the other day about Venice. The last two on my list, LA Zucca and Ai Artisti, are celebration worthy. Also this list from The Guardian has some excellent options including the two I singled out.

In Rome, for fine dining, Armando al Pantheon inevitably comes up. I have never been because they are closed Saturday night and that's traditionally our "date night." We don't do high-end here at home much, but you might check out the La Pergola at the Cavalieri Hilton. It has an outstanding reputation.

Posted by
396 posts

In Siena: Expensive: Cane e Gatto at via Paglearesi 6. Dinner only, reservations necessary.
Expensive: Antica Osteria Da Divo at via Franciosa 29.
Budget: Kopa Kabana for good gelato and food at via dei Rossi 54 and via San Pietro 20.
Nannini at Bancho di Sopra 22.

Enjoy Siena. One of my favorite cities in Italy.

Posted by
1225 posts

Had probably the best meal of our 3-week trip in Siena at the Rick-recommended Antica Osteria Da Divo. Absolutely incredible food, gracious and attentive service, and (although "expensive" for us) we spent well less than $100, total, though we didn't buy a bottle of wine. Also: showing our "Italy" book (actually the travel-cover with the torn pages inside) got us the choice of either a coffee or a liqueur, and a sampling of great truffles and tiny pastries, gratis. And the ambiance: We were in the lowest level of the restaurant, which is in a (supposed) Etruscan tomb, carved out of the tufa. Very cool, both literally and metaphorically.

Posted by
7 posts

Harry's Bar in Venice - kind of fun just for a cocktail (wouldn't spend the extra $$$ to eat there). There are so many choices - I would really recommend the experience of walking around and talking to some of the locals to get the best recommendations!

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