La Guardiola Wine & Food

I arrived in Monticchiello on foot from the north. It was a sunny November day and the sun was slowly approaching the horizon. The path was lined with ploughed fields in the color of Tuscan ochre. Medlars and persimmons were ripening, red rose hips glowed on the branches, and fresh acorns lay in the undergrowth. The landscape shone with the full palette of Tuscan colors. In other words, the walk from Montepulciano was enchanting, yet long enough for me to reach La Guardiola with a proper appetite. I was lucky. Many restaurants were closed off-season, but La Guardiola offered me a splendid gourmet experience. The sun was already touching the horizon over the Val d’Orcia when I ordered my first glass of Orcia DOC red wine for €5. As a starter, a delightfully light bread with lardo arrived at my table. The slice of bread was toasted, and the lardo from the Italian Cinta Senese breed was thin, transparent, delicious, enticingly glossy, and sprinkled with a generous amount of strongly aromatic rosemary, which paired surprisingly well with the fat. And now for another completely needless digression: Did you know that the word for ‘pig’ sounds similar throughout Europe? In Italian suini, in German Schwein, in Norwegian svin, in Czech svině, in Polish świnia, in Urdu swuan? My second course was Florentine tripe (Trippa alla Fiorentina). An unusual ingredient, which I had known only from the Czechia, surprised me here. It was prepared with a tomato sauce. The dish’s flavor was emblematic. Because of their texture, tripe is a very animalistic and dynamic food. My personal theory says that tripe is preferred more by men, for the same reason that sausages and salamis are more popular with women. My taste buds barely resisted the urge to order another course at La Guardiola. I wouldn’t hesitate to compare this inner battle to the year 1555. Just as the armies of Siena held their last strongholds against the advancing Florentines, but ultimately had to surrender, I too had to surrender the desire to order a third course. Night had fallen, and it was time to head back.

Super quaint place to sit inside or out with gorgeous views. Like sitting in a garden! Friendly staff and good service. They also have a portable gelato stand outside. Only had drinks but it was a perfect place to stop after walking up to the castle.

We had the pleasure of dining here while watching one of the most spectacular sunsets we've ever seen the view alone is worth the visit. The atmosphere is peaceful and intimate, perfect for a relaxed evening away from the crowds. The food is thoughtfully prepared, and full of authentic flavors. The service is always warm and welcoming, adding to the charm of the place.

The food was outstanding, especially the pecorino cheese board – great selection and flavors! Our waiter was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, he made an experience even better!

Delicious food and impeccable, warm service is what brought us back two days in a row for our family dinners. Standout dishes must be the piglet stew (so tender and flavourful) and the ravioli. Don’t skip the desserts too, we polished the custard cake clean even after a full meal. We had such an enjoyable time here and would love to be back one day.

Perfect spot in Monticchello to have a glass of wine and relax! Friendly staff and helpful!

Never Happens to me all over the world. What Happens? After nice Dinner my girlfriend and me wanted to have some Drinks in La Guardiola. The Place has a nice view to the landscape and Seems to be a wonderful bar to have Drinks for the week we Stay here. 1/3 of the tables were free. But the waitress said „I cannot handle any more people“. I travelled a lot around the world but This Never Happens to me all my life. Super disappointing.

Very good food. We ate several times here so we tried from Tuscan soup to pastas. Everything tastes wonderful

The location is superb looking down on a Tuscan valley and hillside as far as you can see. We barely made it in before they closed their kitchen for lunch. In fact, a family came in just after we sat down, and they could not get any food except drinks and dessert. The mixed Tuscan crostini plate (photo) was very good with several Tuscan specialty meat and cheese, chicken pate, fresh ripe tomatoes...my wife said she had the best salad with tuna (photo) ever. I thought every ingredient was very fresh. With a Yelp check-in, you'll receive a complimentary glass of procecco (Italian sparkling wine) which was very nice. Overall a great dining experience here. If you're in the vicinity of Monticchiello, Italy, this is a must stop. There's a large free parking lot within a five-minute walk. Highly recommended.

Great place for a drink and antipasto. Fantastic views and great service as well as prices. I would highly recommend spending an evening here looking at the sunset. It is located across the street from osteria la porta. Park for free on the street or down the streets parking lot.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the meal. The service, the food, and the view were all exceptional.