Dinner at Tenuta La Fratta

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Debra Kolkka

I visited the delightful restaurant at the Agriturismo La Fratta in Fornoli for the first time recently. The setting is lovely. I look forward to going back during the day when we can sit outside. It will be a great warm weather venue. Right now is is very cosy indoors.

We arrived early so I was able to take photos before all the tables filled up.

The menu made me want to order everything on it.

My friend and I chose well. Every dish was delicious. All ingredients are sourced locally and the wine is their own production.

We met the charming chef, Nicola, when he came out to chat to guests.

The owners and hosts and our waiter all offered friendly service. It was an excellent evening.

We have driven past the sign on the road leading out of Fornoli, towards Garfagnana, for years, not knowing such a great restaurant was so close. The road up to Tenuta La Fratta is narrow and not well surfaced, but it is well worth the effort. I know we will be returning often.

Agriturismo Tenuta La Fratta

Open for aperitivo and dinner Thursday to Monday and Sunday lunch.

Phone and WhatsApp…348 2931199

Email…info@tenuta-lafratta.com

La Corte di Laura

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

La Corte di Laura is the restaurant in Granaiola that has taken the place of Biribisso. I went with friends a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed with the delightful service and the delicious food.

I wish I could show you more of the great food, but my friends and I all ordered the same things!

The first dish is the complimentary first taste.

Our first choice was a great success, a light pastry surrounding a wonderful chess filling with a drizzle of local honey.

This was followed by pork medallions and perfectly cooked new potatoes.

We were too full for dolce….next time.

La Corte di Laura is a great addition to the restaurant scene in Bagni di Lucca.

Chocolate in Lucca

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

There is a small chocolate festival in Lucca this weekend. It opened today so I dropped by to see the chocolate delights on offer. The stands are in Piazza San Frediano, in front of the magnificent church.

For those of you who like chocolate…and who doesn’t?…head to Lucca this weekend.

Dinner and magic at Villa Aurora

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

Ristorante Villa Aurora was the perfect setting last night for a delicious dinner and a fun magic show .

We all enjoyed Ferdinando’s well prepared food. I really need to come to Villa Aurora more often!

It was difficult to get good photos of magician Richard’s show, but it certainly was a lot of fun. His excellent helpers Christian and Monica did very well under Richard’s guidance. I think Christian might have a life on stage coming up, he is destined to be an entertainer. He is in the red shirt, waiting to be sawed in half….he managed to survive.

Thank you Richard for organising the evening and thank you Ferdinando for your hospitality and lovely local food.

Ristorante Villa Aurora…on the road towards Casabasciana

Phone…(39) 058385600

A new restaurant in Granaiola

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

It is excellent to hear of a new restaurant opening in Bagni di Lucca. La Corte di Laura will open in Granaiola on the site of Biribisso which closed a few years ago.

Dinner at Ristorante del Sonno

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Debra Kolkka

It is excellent to be able to join friends and sit down for dinner at our wonderful restaurants in Bagni di Lucca. Last night a friend and I enjoyed a delicious meal at Ristorante del Sonno in La Villa.
Ilario has made sure there is plenty of distance between tables and there is also outdoor dining. All precautions have been taken to make sure guests are safe.

We began with mussels and bruschetta.

Followed by grilled trout, roast potatoes and, for me, a stracchino and prosciutto pizza.

Let’s support our local businesses!

Circolo dei Forestieri is open

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Debra Kolkka

Circolo dei Forestieri in La Villa is open!

It is great that things are slowly opening here in Bagni di Lucca. I went with friends for dinner at Circolo dei Forestieri for dinner last night. It is so nice to be with friends and to eat something I didn’t have to cook for myself.

I know there was a happy, smiling face under that mask.

The tables are spread out and left unset until guests arrive. There are lots of outdoor tables as well. I hope the lovely terrace over the river will be open too.

We all ordered similar dishes, so I can’t show you variety, but everything was delicious.

Thank you Circolo for a lovely evening. It is great to see things opening up here in Bagni di Lucca. We need to support our local businesses!

I Macelli

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Debra Kolkka

I Macelli is a delightful restaurant in nearby Borgo a Mozzano. It is a bright yellow building behind the town. We visited on an autumn evening.

The decor is traditional. We were early, the first people there, but it soon filled up and by the time we left all tables were full.

The menu is typical of the area. All of our chosen dishes were well presented and delicious.

Antipasti…

A selection of salami and local choices.

Buffalo mozzarella with anchovies.

Secondi…

Bacala with polenta.

Tagliata di cinta sinese with cannellini and borlotti beans.

Grilled veal chop.

Tagliata di manzo with Gorgonzola and radicchio.

We were much too full together try one of the delicious desserts…next time.

I Macelli…Piazza I Macelli, Borgo a Mozzano.

Phone…0583 88700

Aperitivo at Eat Valley

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Debra Kolkka

We discovered a great new place to enjoy aperitivo not far from Bagni di Lucca, in Ghivizzano.

Eat Valley offers an excellent selection of wine and aperitivo delights. Everything was delicious. We decided to eat outside on a warm evening.

There are excellent tasting rooms inside.

There is also a well stocked shop selling a range of local products.

The restaurant specialises in grilled meats.

Thank you Vera and Ronaldo for a delightful evening.

Eat Valley

Viale Nazionale 193

(39) 370 3478099

Buy from the grower

Posted on June 15, 2019 by Debra Kolkka

Just past Fornoli on the road towards Barga is a small garden plot where you can buy produce directly from the grower. It doesn’t come much fresher than that!