Il Palagio

Tucked inside Four Seasons Hotel Firenze's restored 15th-century palazzo, Il Palagio pairs frescoed ceilings with a kitchen that treats Tuscan staples, ribollita, bistecca, pappa al pomodoro, as starting points rather than fixed recipes. Executive Chef Paolo Lavezzini draws on seasonal ingredients from Tuscany and the Tyrrhenian sea, some picked directly from the Gherardesca Garden.

In warmer months the tables spill onto the loggia overlooking the hotel's private garden, the largest in the city, which makes the tasting menu feel less like a formal event and more like dinner at a very well-run villa. Every Sunday the restaurant transforms into a gourmet buffet inside the historic Palazzo della Gherardesca.

Staying at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze? Book your stay with me for preferred-partner perks, then reserve a table here as part of your trip.