Caffè Santa Zita is a charming café with a terrace overlooking the San Frediano Basilica. It's the perfect place to start your day with a good cappuccino and a homemade cornetto.

Magalleno is effortlessly laid-back – exposed brick walls, eclectic antique furniture, a marble checkerboard floor and warm backlighting that frames an enormous bar; it's the kind of place you come for a meandering nightcap with close friends. Mixologist Lucca Belli does not come to play, crafting and muddling unique and unpredictable, yet perfectly balanced concoctions like one with chicory, mezcal and Granny Smith or his take on a whiskey old-fashioned, complete with a lapsang souchong ice ball. 

A cosy wine bar at the top of Via della Zecca in the heart of Lucca, Vinaiolo offers wine by the glass – including an interesting rosé Primitivo – and a great atmosphere late into the evening. It can get pretty full, so be sure to arrive in good time after dinner. Or grab an aperativo as you wander through the historic piazzas to your dinner reservation. 

The best pizza in Lucca. High-quality local ingredients, hand-thrown dough and a young, fun crowd. With a Michelin-backed chef, even the most traditional dishes have a special touch – the Pizza Amatriciana and creative white pizzas come highly recommended. Avoid missing out by booking ahead of time; it is often packed with tourists and locals alike, and live DJ sets on the weekends make it the place to be in the tranquil Lucchesian landscape.