When the heat rises and the summer days increase in intensity, Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel in Fiesole is a stellar choice with its lush gardens and hilltop setting vaunting hopelessly romantic views over the cityscape. Indulge in this soothing location with dining options galore throughout the summer.
San Michele Grill by the Pool
Restyled for the summer, evening breezes are guaranteed at San Michele Grill by the Pool, which boasts a buzzy and laidback vibe at the highest point of the hotel sculpted into the hillside. Unwind beside the tantalizing pool while sipping on a studied cocktail based on the four elements. Whether your tipple is a Villeggiatura, made from Santa Maria Novella rose elixir, orange bitters and Champagne, or a refreshing Riedel glass filled with white wine from a local cantina, relaxation is ensured as you sink into the cast iron seats dotted with floral-design cushions. Vaunting poetic views over Florence, the San Michele Grill by the Pool serves curated dishes whose beauty lies in the simplicity of exceedingly good ingredients. Start with a grand selection of raw seafood for two or quinoa with amberjack and Tuscan shrimp. If carbs are a must after a long day in Florence, you can do no wrong with a quintessentially summer linguine with clams or order an utterly scrumptious Neapolitan-style pizza whose toppings are limitless and unforgettable. (We adore the Miranapoli dotted with yellow tomatoes, anchovies and capers.) What makes this redesign of the San Michele Grill + Pool Bar so special is the Officine Gullo outdoor kitchen, expertly handcrafted in Florence, which makes for an irresistible dining experience.
Open daily for lunch + dinner
Ristorante San Michele
Anticipate traditional flavourful Italian cuisine and a cosy welcome at Ristorante San Michele. As you take your seat overlooking the iconic Florentine skyline beneath the sixteenth-century loggia in the villa’s main building, the mindful experience commences at this authentic restaurant that ensures a restorative and indulgent escape in the company of friends and family.
The menu champions speciality foods from the Slow Food Foundation, as seen in starters such as Chianina beef tartare, pastas like fresh egg fettuccine with Tuscan boar, and mains featuring Viareggio-style catch of the day and Tuscan beef stew. Ristorante San Michele serves signature Tuscan cooking at its best with a laidback vibe.
Open daily for lunch + dinner
La Loggia
Dress to impress at La Loggia, Villa San Michele’s fine dining restaurant where Executive Chef Alessandro Cozzolino brings his reimagined Tuscan cuisine into focus with inspirational tasting menus. Separated from the more casual Ristorante San Michele by heavy drapes, just eight tables line the romantic arcades, all with incomparable vistas over the cityscape. A celebration of flavour and a feast of creativity, the ingredients are selected from sustainable sources, elevated with tastes from the chef’s childhood memories and international experiences. For 2023, the three degustation menus are Legami, inspired by the chef’s personal journey; the Florence-inspired Contrasti in the Medici Land; and Sensualità, a vegetarian experience that pays tribute to local producers. Honest and irresistible, with the occasional playful twist, La Loggia is an essential night-out for gourmets who adore beauty and quality in an historic location.
Tuesday-Sunday, dinner only
For reservations, call +39 055 5678200 or email.
