Food Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make in Siena
The dinner decisions tourists regret in Siena — and what to do instead.
# Food Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make in Siena
Every traveler we've talked to has the same few regrets about eating in Siena. Here they are, with the better version of each choice.
The ranking
Mistake 1. Eating on Piazza del Campo by default
Move 3 minutes off-square — quality jumps, price drops.
Mistake 2. Assuming 'pizza in Tuscany' is bad
It's mostly bad, but La Napoletana 2.0 is genuinely excellent — 50 Top Pizza-listed, wood-fired Neapolitan, €25 a meal. Worth the 10-minute walk from the center.
Mistake 3. Walking in at 20:30 expecting a table
Reserve. Even 'simple' trattorias fill.
Mistake 4. Ordering carbonara or lasagna
Not Tuscan. Order pici, ribollita, pappa al pomodoro.
Mistake 5. Skipping the wine list
Tuscan house wines are excellent. Even €18 bottles are honest.
Local tip
Two rules cover 80% of bad Sienese meals: reserve, and step away from the Campo.
Related guides
Final word
We update these rankings every season after re-visiting. Spotted something out of date, or have a place we should try? Write us at redazione@visitsienaguide.it — we read every email.
Keep reading
Browse by category →
Restaurants
Restaurants in Siena: when to choose a pizzeria instead of the usual restaurant
Restaurants
Where to Eat in Siena for €20 a Person? A Pizzeria Outside the Center That's Drawing a Crowd
Restaurants
La Taverna di San Giuseppe in Siena: Tuscan Cuisine in the Heart of the City
Restaurants
Locanda dell'Oste in Siena: Tuscan cuisine, hill views, and quality meats
Restaurants
Osteria La Sosta di Violante: one of Siena's most loved osterias
Restaurants