Where to eat in Arezzo: bistecca, acquacotta and authentic Tuscan flavors
Arezzo food guide: from Chianina steak to acquacotta, the best trattorias in the center, historic osterias and tips for authentic Tuscan eating.
Foto: Andrewrabbott (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons
Arezzo: Tuscany you can eat without Florence prices
Arezzo is one of the great cities of gastronomic Tuscany, with the enormous advantage of not having prices inflated by mass tourism. Here you eat real Tuscan cooking: that of farmers and woodcutters, made from humble ingredients transformed into extraordinary dishes. The Valdichiana supplies Chianina beef, the hills provide oil and wine, the forest brings mushrooms and truffles.
Must-try dishes
- Chianina bistecca: the real fiorentina comes from Arezzo's Valdichiana. At least 4 cm thick, rare
- Acquacotta: peasant soup with stale bread, egg, wild greens and pecorino
- Pici with duck ragù: thick handmade pasta, irregular, with slow-cooked ragù
- Scottiglia: mixed meat stew with tomato, the charcoal burners' dish
- Crostini neri: chicken liver on toasted bread, the quintessential Tuscan antipasto
- Baldino: Arezzo's castagnaccio, autumn dessert of chestnut flour with rosemary and pine nuts
Best areas for eating
Historic center and Piazza Grande
Trattorias around Piazza Grande and Via Cavour are the city's gastronomic heart. Under the Vasarian loggias you eat looking at the medieval square. Alleys between Corso Italia and Via Guido Monaco hide osterias with few tables and daily menus.
San Francesco and university area
The area around San Francesco Basilica has trattorias frequented by students and workers, with lower prices and generous portions. Here you'll find the best daily menus.
Station area and southern outskirts
Venues outside the center are frequented almost exclusively by locals. Less medieval atmosphere but authentic cooking and light bills.
Types of eateries
Tuscan trattorias
The classic format: tables with checkered cloths, flask of red wine, menu on the blackboard. Cooking is seasonal and uncompromising. Average bill: €22-35 per person.
Osterias and wine bars
Arezzo has a tradition of osterias where wine is the protagonist. Accompanied by boards of local cured meats and cheeses, crostini and soups. Ideal for a light but satisfying meal.
Rosticcerie and delis
The rosticceria is an Aretine institution: spit-roasted chicken, porchetta, arista, cooked sides. Perfect for a quick €8-12 lunch with home-style food.
Territory restaurants
Some venues have elevated Aretine cuisine to gourmet level while keeping peasant roots. Tasting menus €40-60 with local wine pairings.
Tips for saving money
- Center rosticcerie offer the best value in Tuscany
- The daily menu at trattorias (first + second + water) costs €12-18
- The Antiques Fair (first Sunday monthly) is a chance for a piazza lunch at temporary trattorias
- Bulk wine at osterias costs €3-5 per quarter liter and is often excellent
- University canteens are open to outsiders at lunch (€6-8)
Unique food experiences
- Fair lunch: during the Antiques Fair trattorias prepare special menus and the atmosphere is unique
- Chianina tasting: historic butchers organize evenings with cutting and cooking in front of clients
- Truffle in Valdichiana: November to March, restaurants offer white and black truffle menus
- Harvest in the hills: Arezzo Chianti wineries (Bucine, Monte San Savino) open for autumn tastings
- Logge del Grano market: Saturday mornings you buy directly from producers
Discover more
Practical info
What's the best time of year to visit Arezzo?
April, May, June, September and October is ideal: those are the months with less tourist traffic.
Is Arezzo a crowded tourist spot?
Compared to the more touristy destinations, Arezzo is very quiet.
What area is Arezzo in?
Arezzo lies in Tuscany, Italy.
Suggested as an alternative to
If you're looking for crowd-free destinations like this one, also see:
Part of the complete guide
How to get there
- ✈️ Nearest airport: Aeroporto Internazionale dell'Umbria - Perugia "San Francesco d'Assisi" PEG ~65 km as the crow flies
Nearest points as the crow flies (source OpenStreetMap): actual times depend on the roads, often mountain ones.
