Location: Cortona
Top Restaurants in Cortona
Province of Arezzo, Italy Food Guide: 10 Mediterranean food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Cortona
Find out what Mediterranean restaurants to try in Cortona. Perhaps best known these days as the setting for the book and movie “Under the Tuscan Sun,” gorgeous hillside Cortona has a long history dating back even before its time as an important Etruscan center. Top attractions include the Duomo (Cathedral), the small Museo Diocesano across the piazza with its superb art collection, and the fascinating Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca with its assembly of Etruscan and Roman era items. Cortona is also bursting with splendid churches spanning many periods.
Things to do in Cortona
10. Locanda al Pozzo Antico
Overall Ratings
4 based on 844 reviews
Reviewed By Bob Q
We had arrived in Cortona from Florence and after settling into our apartment on Via Nazionale I took a walk into the center of Cortona (Piazza Repubbulica) and started looking for a restaurant for dinner. I remembered a restaurant my wife and I went to in 2013 (Locanda al Pozzo Antico on via Ghini). So I took a walk to the restaurant and went into the courtyard and the owner and chef Paola welcomed me and asked if she could help me. I said I like to make reservations for 4 tonight at 8pm in the courtyard. She said no problem and we will be waiting for you. My wife and I, our daughter and her friend arrived at 8pm and she knew exactly where we wanted to be seated.My wife ordered Pici with rosemary in a tomato sauce and I ordered Pici in a wild boar sauce. My daughter ordered Maccheroncini in a tomato sauce and her friend had tagliatelle in a wild boar sauce. All dishes were outstanding. I ordered a bottle of Santa Christina wine from Cortona that I had the last time we were at this restaurant. Initially, they said they ran out of that wine but our waitress knowing I was disappointed went back and found the only bottle left. My Pici in wild boar sauce was so good I ordered a second dish. We then shared a Creme Brulee for dessert.We had a great Tuscan dinner in a wonderful setting with great service. After we finished our meal the owner and chef Paola came over to our table to make sure everything was okay and thanked us for coming.If you are in Cortona you should make Locanda al Pozzo Antico a high priority to visit for lunch or dinner. It is clearly one of the best restaurants in Cortona with exceptional service.
9. Bottega Baracchi
Overall Ratings
4 based on 391 reviews
Bottega Baracchi is a real concept shop halfway between restaurant, wine bar and store, an innovative space that has as primary essence, excellence, in all its various forms. Small, subtle fragments capable of giving color to our journey. A lunch, a cockt
Reviewed By roanie1969
If youâre looking for something a little different in Cortona, would recommend giving this place a try. Service was very good and the menu has many seafood options. I had the coconut prawns which were very good. For a main course I had the wild boar ravioli which was very good. The sauce was tangy and each ravioli was stuffed with flavorful boar meat. Overall we had a good experience. Dear Roanie1969la Bottega team thank you for the nice words you share describing your culinary experience with us!thanks!we hope to welcome you againhave a lovely weekendkind regradsLina Bartelli
8. Bar 500
Overall Ratings
4 based on 637 reviews
Reviewed By Simona D
We were trying to find a restaurant to have an early quick dinner in a restaurant because of our children. Unfortunately, everything in Cortona opens at 7 p.m. or later. We wanted to leave but we found this pleasant place opened where food was offered to us right after we put our heads in. We really appreciated the service and the food as well. They serve salads, pasta, pizza, panini etc. The food is offered throughout the day. I also liked the music played inside the bar.I really recommend it.
7. Ristorante Ambrosia
Overall Ratings
4 based on 384 reviews
In mythology, ambrosia is the food or the drink of the gods.From this I was inspired to give the name to my restaurant.I want my customers when eat the food cooked by me in a place with unique atmosphere and accompanied by the sound of running water behin
Reviewed By 997kevins
We were fortunate to get the opportunity to spend some time with di Matteo in his kitchen at this lovely restaurant. The setting is great with interesting architectural features around an old well in the rear of the building. The staff were friendly and welcoming and di Matteo was the ideal host. We were shown how to make one of the houses signature dishes and sauces and then to enjoy them with some well chosen wines. Well worth a visit.
6. Birrificio Cortonese
Overall Ratings
4 based on 850 reviews
Craft beers, Beer Shop, Pizzeria. Just the place to sample the best craft beers, the brewery and many other Tuscan, Italian and foreign.
Reviewed By robert_brant
Been to this place many times..why? Massimo, Mikela and Nati are very welcoming and friendly. They brew 6 great beers that are excellent as well as serve very tasty local dishes and one or two international choices. They have good selection of inexpensive wine and even now serve traditional breakfast fare of pancakes, bacon eggs etc. If you havenât been then give it a whirl. I guarantee you will revisit. Friendly Atmosphere, food and beer. Highly recommend
5. Osteria del Teatro
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2722 reviews
Since 1994 Osteria del Teatro welcomes you with politeness and professionalism, offering typical Tuscan cuisine with a selection of tasty dishes. It is a restaurant in Cortona, Italy, charming and genuine, owned by Emiliano Rossi, experienced and friendly
Reviewed By 230jespers
We had a very tasty lunch in this beautiful and cosy restaurant. We first shared a plate with specialty from the region. All the specialities were warm and so delicious. Compliments to the kitchen. Then homemade pasta and a glass of quality wine. We will come again.
What to do and see in Cortona, Italy: The Best Places and Tips
4. Cortona Bistrot
Overall Ratings
4 based on 459 reviews
Reviewed By 484dang
We have been coming to Cortona for 20 years and decided to try a place other than our old favorites. We were sorely disappointed in the flavorless food and chaotic service Perhaps it is to your old favorites that our excellence is annoying, not being of the place and having had many consents.It is clear and evident, the Cortona Bistrot is under media attack. Too many negative reviews have been made in such a short time. Yet since we opened 5 years ago, nothing has changed. I'm in the room talking and serving customers and my wife in the kitchen preparing everything we serve. We are the only local in the area that has a fully-open kitchen and customers love to watch Anita prepare everything beforehand and cook when they order later. With the restaurant always full of customers and with a varied menu like ours, she manages to make everything come out perfectly and with perfect times.With us it is impossible that the food, so-called then in a too general way, has no taste. And all prepared from "0", fresh pasta, jams, sauces, desserts, sauces ... ..The service may be a bit chaotic maybe only when the place is completely full of customers.Hiring 45 seats in two people in the dining room, with excellent service and attention to the smallest details like ours, is sometimes not easy at all. But everyone can understand it.Unfortunately, many of our colleagues emotionally involve some customers in order to do reviews like that. New strategy to increase rankings and receive as many customers as possible. This happens to those who do not shine with their own light and must necessarily harm others to try to emerge.We are increasingly disappointed by the falsehood of many customers who smile during dinner, eat everything we serve up to make the shoe on the plate and then thank them heartily and make the following day, negative reviews, completely opposed by how they behaved instead in the room.We are increasingly disappointed that in this case, TripAdvisor does not protect us restaurant owners from certain premeditated attacks. It is not possible for anyone to write something just because they control the source ID.In spite of everything, we will always be full of customers because now they know us not only in the area. Our success has been determined by a powerful, constant and irrepressible "word of mouth" that has now reached even the large neighboring cities, from which more and more customers come. They come to Cortona to eat with us, they don't come to us because they are in Cortona.These reviews will only increase our notoriety, beyond a stupid classification easily modifiable for everyone's own interests.Thank you all.Forse è proprio ai vostri vecchi preferiti che la nostra eccellenza da fastidio, non essendo del posto ed avendo avuto numerosissimi consensi.Eâ chiaro ed evidente, il Cortona Bistrot è sotto attacco mediatico. Sono state fatte troppe recensioni negative in così poco tempo. Eppure da quando abbiamo aperto 5 anni fa, non è cambiato nulla. Io sono in sala a parlare e servire i clienti e mia moglie in cucina a preparare tutto ciò che serviamo. Siamo lâunico locale della zona che ha la cucina completamente a vista e i clienti adorano osservare Anita preparare tutto prima e cucinare al momento dellâordine dopo. Con il locale sempre pieno di clienti e con un menù vario come il nostro, lei riesce a far uscire tutto perfettamente e con i tempi perfetti. Da noi è impossibile che il cibo, detto poi in maniera così troppo generica, non ha sapore. E tutto preparato da â0â, la pasta fresca, le marmellate, le salse, i dolci, i sughiâ¦.. Il servizio potrà risultare un pochino caotico forse solo quando il locale è completamente pieno di clienti. Sbrigare 45 posti in due persone in sala, con un servizio eccellente e attento ai minimi dettagli come il nostro, delle volte non è affatto semplice. Ma tutti riescono a capirlo. Purtroppo molti nostri colleghi coinvolgono emotivamente alcuni clienti al fine di fare recensioni del genere. Nuova strategia per salire di classifica e ricevere più clienti possibili. Questo accade a chi non brilla di luce propria e deve necessariamente danneggiare gli altri per tentare di emergere. Siamo sempre più delusi della falsità di molti clienti che durante la cena sorridono, mangiano tutto quello che serviamo fino a fare la scarpetta nel piatto per poi ringraziare di cuore e fare invece nei giorno seguenti, recensioni negative, completamente opposte da come invece si sono comportati nel locale. Siamo sempre più delusi del fatto che TripAdvisor non tutela in questo caso noi ristoratori a certi attacchi premeditati. Non è possibile che chiunque possa scrivere qualcosa solo perché loro controllano lâID di provenienza. Malgrado tutto, noi saremo sempre pieni di clienti perché ormai ci conoscono non solo in zona. Il nostro successo è stato determinato da un potente, costante ed irrefrenabile âpassaparolaâ che ora ha raggiunto anche le grandi città limitrofe, dalle quali provengono sempre più numerosi clienti. Vengono a Cortona per mangiare da noi, non vengono da noi perché si trovano a Cortona. Queste recensioni non faranno altro che aumentare la nostra notorietà , al di là di una stupida classifica facilmente modificabile per interessi propri da chiunque. Grazie a tutti.
3. Sartu
Overall Ratings
5 based on 163 reviews
Reviewed By jtssea
I can't figure this place out.Maybe we went on an off night?The place is charming...the service is sincere s d the wine list was nice. The food was all oddly on the salty side. Cinnamon beef was hideous and had to be sent back. ( salty, overcooked, dry, and the cinnamon was not fragrant nor flavorful. The smoking cinnamon stick in the middle of the dish was odd. The chef came out to tell me I may not be use to cinnamon. I did not correct her nor argue. I will mention here I know cinnamon well. I keep no less than 5 diff origins of cinnamon in my extensive spice cabinets. I reccomend she throw away her stale grocery store cinnamon and get some delightful ceylon cinnamon. The burning cinnamon stick.was very amateurish and the smoke added no needed nor complimentary element to the dish) The dish.seemed like a favorite of your grandma but granny got drunk that day or she was getting forgetful and overcooked, triple salted it, accidentally smoked a cinnamon stick as a cigarette and put it out into he dish which she thought was an ashtry. The lardo replacement dish was very nice. The.other dishes were nice. Ps..the white waiter gloves look like a cross between grill gloves and exfoliant body shower gloves. They were odd and off putting. We were all wide eyed when those were donned by our nice & quiet server. It was a memorable meal....but not for reasons we has expected. Thx for the Lardo dish.. Buongiorno, sono Michela Gallorano Chef del ristorante Sartù. Ridendo a denti stretti ,vorrei dirle che la cannella usata nel mio brasato arriva dal Madagascar ( mi scusi se non arriva dallo Sri Lanka ....o come dice lei Ceylon).Tutto è opinabile....anche la sua recensione , che non merita una replica.Ai posteri l'ardua sentenza!
2. Preludio
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1211 reviews
Reviewed By alexandrajcook
This restaurant is pure class - A beautiful setting, gorgeous plates, cutlery etc. Glass of prosecco on arrival.Beautiful food - generous servings.A wonderful evening.
Where to eat European food in Cortona: The Best Restaurants and Bars
1. La Bucaccia da Romano
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4148 reviews
Reviewed By 926lindsayd
A fun Italian restaurant in the middle of Cortona. Food was good. Atmosphere was a lot of fun, as the owner was quite visible, engaging and entertaining.
Most Popular Seafood food in Cortona, Province of Arezzo, Italy
