"Three young chefs' modern Tuscan cooking in a frescoed palazzo on Piazza del Giglio — book it for the most romantic first date inside the walls."
About Ristorante Giglio
Ristorante Giglio occupies the piano nobile of an eighteenth-century palazzo on Piazza del Giglio, one of Lucca's prettiest small squares, directly across from the Teatro del Giglio. The dining rooms keep their original frescoed ceilings, oak floors and high windows over the square. The kitchen is run jointly by three young chefs — Lorenzo Stefanini, Stefano Terigi and Benedetto Rullo — who earned a Michelin star within a few years, then voluntarily returned it in 2024 to cook with more freedom and a touch of anarchy.
The Kitchen
The cooking is modern Tuscan in the best sense: the classical Lucchese repertoire — farro, Sorano beans, wild boar, chestnut — is intelligently revisited rather than dismantled, and the kitchen is unusually serious about vegetables. The format runs an à la carte plus two tasting menus, a shorter five-course at €85 and a longer eight-course at around €135; the dedicated vegetarian tasting is exceptional. The wine list runs to about seven hundred labels with a strong Tuscan backbone. This is a top-of-range Lucca dinner ($$$$).
The Room
The room takes around forty covers across two interconnected salons in the palazzo, frescoes overhead and the square below. Service is professional, warm and clearly run by people who care about the project — closer to a serious restaurant with a sense of fun than a hushed temple. Sound stays easy, the pace is unhurried, and the setting does a great deal of romantic work on its own.
Best for a romantic first date
For a first date, an anniversary or a proposal inside the city walls, Giglio is Lucca's most romantic table: a frescoed palazzo, a pretty square and three chefs who clearly enjoy the work. A natural anniversary and proposal table.
Not for
Not for diners chasing a current Michelin star or a quick, cheap plate — Giglio returned its star in 2024 to cook freely, and dinner is a top-of-range affair.
Frequently Asked
Who are the chefs at Ristorante Giglio in Lucca?
Ristorante Giglio is run jointly by three young chefs — Lorenzo Stefanini, Stefano Terigi and Benedetto Rullo — who cook a modern Tuscan menu from an 18th-century palazzo on Piazza del Giglio.
Does Ristorante Giglio have a Michelin star?
Giglio earned a Michelin star within a few years of opening, but in 2024 the three chefs voluntarily returned it, choosing to cook with more freedom and improvise menus around the best ingredients of the day.
What should I order at Ristorante Giglio?
Order from the modern Tuscan menu built on the Lucchese repertoire — farro, Sorano beans, wild boar and chestnut — or take a tasting menu. The dedicated vegetarian tasting is exceptional.
How much do the tasting menus cost at Giglio?
There is an à la carte plus two tasting menus: a shorter five-course at €85 and a longer eight-course at around €135, with a wine list of about seven hundred labels.
Do I need to book at Ristorante Giglio?
Yes. Reservations are recommended, and you should book around three weeks ahead for a Saturday evening. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.
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Practical Information
AddressPiazza del Giglio 2, 55100 Lucca, Italy
NeighbourhoodPiazza del Giglio, inside the city walls
CuisineModern Tuscan, Italian
PriceModern Tuscan; à la carte plus tastings at €85 and around €135 ($$$$)
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingTwo frescoed salons on the piano nobile, about forty covers
ReservationReservations recommended; book three weeks ahead for Saturday evening; closed Wednesday
