Our favorite restaurants in Chianti Classico

We already listed our favorite three restaurants located in Greve in Chianti. Now we want to share our top choices for the Chianti Classico territory!

Because we’re talking about such a large area, the dining options for a plate of soul-satisfying, delicious, authentic Tuscan cuisine will be pretty much endless. What we’ve listed here are our top choices from our personal experience. If you have suggestions of your own favorite locales in the area, fill in the comments below. We’d love to hear them!

Our 4 favorite restaurants in Chianti Classico

Ristoro di Lamole

Ristoro di Lamole is the closest to home on this list. Immersed in the green hills of Tuscany just a few minutes from the center of Greve in Chianti, the restaurant offers simple, elegant Tuscan cuisine, a large selection of labels from the wine bar, and a fantastic terrace view: look out over the hills of Chianti Classico, and the towers of San Gimignano are visible in the distance.

Ristoro di Lamole. Photo by senza senso, CC

They have simple and elegant cuisine made from good quality, local ingredients, and a menu full of outstanding appetizers and dishes. Their wine cellar has more than 300 labels. The wine selection is created by owners Filippo and Paolo, who follow their personal tastes and wine wisdom acquired in twenty years of catering. Filippo and Paolo’s love for their work is apparent in their attention given to guests and good taste in every moment of the dining experience.

Ristoro di Lamole
via di Lamole – 50022 Greve in Chianti (FI)
+39 055 8547050
ristorodilamole.it

Ristoro l’Antica Scuderia

Located just twenty minutes from the center of Greve in Chianti in Badia a Passignano, Ristoro l’Antica Scuderia is set within a tiny medieval village that is seemingly frozen in time in the hills of Chianti Classico. Its name recalls its origins: “scuderia” means stables. In the past, travelers came to rest their horses before continuing along the road Gardingo di Passignano.

Carpaccio. Photo by Susan Lucas Hoffman, CC

The restaurant serves traditional Tuscan cuisine in its warm and welcoming interior, while outside is a tranquil garden surrounded by green hills, vineyards, and cypress trees: the classic Tuscan countryside. Their homepage features a recipe taken from the menu every week. Also, they change their menu seasonally to highlight all the flavors and aromas of real Tuscan cooking, with a creative flair and personal touch from the chef.

Ristoro l’Antica Scuderia
via di Passignano 17 – 50028 – Tavarnelle Val di Pesa (FI)
+39 055 8071623 | +39 055 8071957
Open every day from 12:30-2:30 pm and 7:30-10:30 pm. Closed Tuesday
www.ristorolanticascuderia.it

Antica Macelleria Cecchini

The Antica Macelleria Cecchini is also located a quick twenty minutes away from Greve in Chianti. The butchery, or macelleria Cecchini is locally famous and internationally known. You can’t miss stopping by their kitchen and dining area. Not only that, but Cecchini hosts hands-on workshops and classes like “Butcher for a day” and “The whole cow philosophy.”

Bistecca alla fiorentina at Dario Cecchini’s. Photo by Gail, CC

Dario Cecchino is the man behind the butchery, born and raised in Panzano. As he notes on his site, “For the last 40 years I have been a butcher, seeking to better myself in my art, and to discover the best cutting and cooking methods for each piece of meat. My goal is to respect the animal by using every part in the best way possible.”

There are three options for eating. Family-style Officina della Bistecca, with a fixed-price €50 menu: “The Officina is not recommended for people of little appetite” (vegetarian options are always available); Solociccia, another family-style restaurant with several fixed-menu options, straight from the “butcher’s kitchen;” and Dario DOC, which is a la carte. Some have BYOW without a corkage fee. With hearty red meats of such high quality, we’d suggest staying local and choosing Prunaio Gran Selezione Chianti Classico DOCG!

The restaurants are all located in the same area (along Via XX Luglio in Panzano in Chianti), though in different locales. See their site for specific details on hours, menus, and more.

Antica Macelleria Cecchini
Via XX Luglio, 11 – 50022 Panzano in Chianti (FI)
tel. +39 055 852020 | fax +39 055 852700
Closed only December 25 (see their page for hours of each restaurant, butchery, and locale)
www.dariocecchini.com

Osteria Le Panzanelle

This Osteria, located a little over twenty minutes from Greve in Chianti in Panzano (località Lucarelli), opened in 2002. It’s managed by two young women, Nada and Silvia, and their companions, Paolo and Luigi. They each bring their experience from different backgrounds and make the comforting dishes of Tuscan tradition. The Osteria is stylish yet warm and accommodating, tastefully decorated with personal touches that make it feel exactly like a traditional osteria should.

Pappa al pomodoro. Photo from Osteria Le Panzanelle

Their menu changes about once a month, but expect to see the classic crostini, mixed salumi, seasonal soups, homemade pasta (with a special mention to ravioli and gnudi, or dumplings), and—of course—grilled meat: everything from the richest and best cuts to the “fifth quarter,” a Tuscan tradition that you only have to try once to become a fan! They serve their traditional Tuscan desserts alongside Vin Santo, and these also rotate according to the season. The wine list has 300 labels of red, white and sparkling wines, both of regional and national origin, as well as some foreign labels and a small selection of Italian craft beers.