Ristorante Aurora & Trattoria Cave di Maiano
Fiesole and its immediate surroundings punch well above their weight for food: Ristorante Aurora on Piazza Mino has been feeding locals since 1860, while Trattoria Cave di Maiano — tucked into a former stone quarry a kilometre below town — is the kind of Florentine Sunday-lunch institution that books out weeks in advance. Both serve the real Tuscan canon without concession to tourist menus.
Ristorante Aurora: Piazza-Side Classics
Aurora's kitchen anchors itself to Florentine tradition: ribollita (the thick bread-and-cavolo-nero soup), pappardelle with wild boar ragù and a bistecca alla Fiorentina sourced from Chianina cattle. The terrace tables overlook the piazza and the Duomo di San Romolo — eating lunch here while the market packs up around you is a particular pleasure.
The wine list leans heavily on Chianti Classico producers from the hills between Florence and Siena. Ask the waiter for a half-bottle of something local; they are genuinely proud of the selection and will not steer you wrong.
Trattoria Cave di Maiano: The Quarry Table
Set in the grounds of a 15th-century stone quarry that supplied pietra serena sandstone for Brunelleschi's buildings, Cave di Maiano feels like eating inside a piece of Florentine history. The garden terrace is shaded by wisteria and old oaks; in winter, log fires burn in the stone-vaulted dining room.
The menu changes with the season but always includes a superb tagliatelle al tartufo when truffles are in season (November–January) and a wood-roasted lamb that is among the best in the province. Reservations are essential at weekends; call at least a week ahead on +39 055 59133.
More of Fiesole
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Fiesole →
