We loved Cantine Bernardini. The day was very warm and CB was an oasis against the heat. The outdoor tables are located in the shade with a nice cross breeze. And Rebecca, our waitress, greeted us with a cool glass of Prosecco. And two small bowls of a wonderful puree of some vegetable or other soon followed. We split: -- rabbit terrine as an appetizer. -- Primo. Linguine scoglio. -- Segundo. Grilled sea bream. Plus of course wine and espresso. Rebecca was both helpful and very pleasant. She not only answered questions about the menu, but about the town as well. Lucca is beautiful and charming. But a day trip to Lucca with a great luncheon at Bernardini made for a memorable day. read more

Memorably fantastic food. Courteous, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable service. Fair pricing. Great ambiance. What more can one ask for?

Cantine Bernardini is a bit away from the direct center of Lucca and it turned out to be one of our favorite dinners on our 12 day vacation. They have a nice outdoor patio but it was cool and breezy that evening so we chose to sit inside. It is an old historic building and a cool place for dinner. We decided to share a Panzanella salad which was very good with sweet ripe tomatoes. We then each had a pasta, ravioli stuffed with beef with a Bolognese sauce was decadent and delicious. Black ink taglialini with cannelloni beans and mullet was the best pasta I had the entire trip, great balance of flavors. For main courses, one was tender roasted cod surrounded by tomatoes, potatoes, onions etc. other entree was local Mediterranean fish flaky and tender sitting on a small pool of tomato sauce. Both entrees were lovely to look at and even better to eat. We had a delicious Vermentino with dinner that our server recommended and she was right. Throughout the meal she checked to make sure all was Ok. She made an excellent dinner even better. If you are looking for a nice dining experience in Lucca, give Cantine Bernardini a try. read more

See all

Such a nice place where you can relax and enjoy good food. I really liked my meal in this restaurant; I was spending time with my father and I really suggest you to come here if you want to taste local food with a glass of wine. read more

We took a group of 21 students here. They opened on Tuesday for us and created a perfect set price 3 course meal. The location and food are amazing, but the staff were even better. A perfect lunch all around. read more

my girlfriend and i went eating there on my birthday. very very delicious food with very nice service and good wines! thats how italy should be! probably the best restaurant we've been eating out in Lucca and italy that i can remember! Food: the food was very delicious and for a reasonable price with this quality! and i have to tell you something; the gnocchi i had there WERE THE BEST I HAD IN MY WHOLE LIFE!!!! wooow.... those gnocchis felt like you'd eat clouds out of gods hands. i'm not kidding. if youre there; eat the gnocchis! Service: very nice and more likely young waiter and waitress. professional and always good for some jokes. we asked if they can go a little bit slower with the courses as we were already pretty full after the first two courses. they did very well! Wine: the wine was excellent and we even had one of the more expensive bottles (for around € 25.-; the price range of the normal bottles are around 14-18) Ambience: we ate outside; it is nicely situated and theres not a lot of going on as it is on a side-street and not on a piazza. in the inside it looks very nice; a little bit of hipster-style read more

See all

Went for appetizers & wine with 3 friends to the basement of this darling restaurant and can't wait to go back for dinner (soon)! The zucchini soufflé with pecorino fondue was amazing! The service provided by Fabricio was 5 star fabulous! We've been in Lucca for 3 weeks now and this was our very best dining experience! read more

Cantine Bernardini - Beautiful basement dining room - Italian Near Me - Lucca, LU

Okay, this is THE most amazing dinner we've had in our 2 week stay in Lucca! Not only is the food delicately prepared, it's a modern take on classic dishes - and it works! It really works!! The atmosphere was relaxed and yet professional and our waiter was passionate about the food and wine, superb service, in my opinion! The Cantine has a long and rich history but feels updated, upscale and modern. Very, very reasonably priced compared to other places, compares easily to the best ristorantes in Lucca. read more

This is not a high cuisine type of place, but it still gets four stars for the fresh pasta, fresh bread, and delicious food. We came for lunch on a day trip to Lucca. After rejecting the many, many tourist places, we wandered around and came upon this gem near the market that's being refurbished. We snagged an outdoor table, next to a guy and his dog, and a family with an adorable baby. So yes, if you want a sanitized experience this might not be for you. But since we are perfectly happy to coo over cute babies and dogs, it suited us fine. We had an antipasto plate, and pasta dishes. Mine was pappardelle with tiny red octopi; my husbands was fettuccini with asparagus and pancetta. So very, very delicious. My only regret is that I didn't have more of an appetite. They don't speak a lot of English, but it's enough to get buy, especially if you know a bit of Italian. Had a fair number of vegetarian options as well. read more

Nice atmosphere, good service, okay food, different vegetarian and vegan options, pretty expensive though.

Bernardini is a pleasantly surprising sweet spot in Lucca. The waiters are super congenial, whether they're singing along to Italian covers of American classics or bringing you their great homemade bread. Their outside seats are great, and the lower level inside part is super neat as well. We had their vegetarian goulash and mushroom risotto; both superb, aromatic and in perfect portion. On top of that, the place ran like a tight ship: the owner counted guests and visited tables as requested. All-around it was the perfect combination of perfect evening weather, sweet service, and impeccable experience. read more

We went there to celebrate the birthday of two great friends. The restaurant is cozy and very well decorated. As appetizer I got the fried Cecina and as a main dish roasted pork both delicious. We asked them to make the cakes and they prepared two cheese cakes one with chocolate and the other one with Vin Santo, which I found more sophisticated and yummy. Great service. Amazing wine. read more

A little off the beaten path from the rest of Lucca and so worth any wait. Friendly and fun staff, beautiful setting, best dinner within the walls. Would definitely go back. Loved the beef slices with tomato marmalade; unexpected show stopper! read more

The best place in Lucca! Staff speaks very good English, which helps with special requests like gluten-free. Servers know every meal and which wine pairs well. We went 2 nights in a row, and were extremely satisfied each time. read more

Great wine tasting spot. Our host did a great job explaining each of the wines and providing very nice accompaniments. Recommend for all in Lucca. read more

Cantine Bernardini - Wonderful spot - Italian Near Me - Lucca, LU

We had the most fabulous service for antipasti, wine, and dessert. We were given the full Italian experience of hospitality. Our server, Fabricio, couldn't have been nicer. read more

Cantine Bernardini - Ambiance - Italian Near Me - Lucca, LU

We had a fantastic meal here. We visited because it has several vegan options (including pudding). We were not disappointed. The food was fab. The staff were very friendly, and the service was quick. Highly recommended. read more

You will love this place! Friendly, fun staff and incredible food. The location and ambiance is exquisite! Like eating in an ancient wine cellar. Amazing but not at all stuffy or snooty. Go here for sure! read more