Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eating
Being a university town, Pisa has a good range of eating places, especially around Borgo
Stretto, the university on cafe-ringed Piazza Dante Alighieri - always packed with stu-
dents - and south of the river in the trendy San Martino quarter.
Local specialities include fresh
pecorino
(sheep's milk cheese) from San Rossore,
zuppe di cavolo
(cabbage soup),
pan ficato
(fig cake) and
castagnaccio
(chestnut-flour
cake enriched by nuts).
Il Montino
MAP
PIZZERIA
€
GOOGLE MAP
(Vicolo del Monte 1; pizzas €3-6.50; 10.30am-3pm & 5-10pm Mon-Sat)
There is nothing flash or
fancy about this down-to-earth pizzeria, an icon among Pisans, student or sophisticate
alike. Take away or order at the bar then grab a table, inside or out, and munch on house
specialities such as
cecina
(chickpea pizza),
castagnaccio
and
spuma
(sweet, nonalcoholic
drink). Or go for a
focaccine
(small flat roll) filled with salami, pancetta or
porchetta
(suckling pig).
Hidden in a back alley, the quickest way to find Il Montino is to head west along Via
Ulisse Dini from the northern end of Borgo Stretto (opposite the Lo Sfizio cafe at Borgo
Stretto 54) to Piazza San Felice where it is easy to spot, on your left, a telling blue neon
'Pizzeria' sign.
Il Crudo
MAP
SANDWICHES
€
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.ilcrudopisa.it
; Piazza Cairoli 7; panini €4.50-6; 11am-3.30pm & 5pm-1am Mon-Thu, to 2am Fri,
11am-2am Sat, 11am-1am Sun)
Grab a well-filled
panini
to munch on the move or enjoy one
alfresco with a glass of wine at this pocket-sized
panineria
(sandwich shop) and
vineria
(wine bar) strung with ham legs. Find it by the river on one of Pisa's prettiest squares.
Osteria Bernardo
MAP
MODERN TUSCAN
€€
GOOGLE MAP
( 05 057 52 16;
www.osteriabernardo.it
; Piazza San Paolo all'Orto 1; meals €30; lunch & dinner
Tue-Sun)
This small
osteria
(tavern) on one of Pisa's loveliest squares, well away from the
madding Leaning Tower crowd, is the perfect fusion of easy dining and gourmet excel-
