A charming little town, we adored Lucca even though we were only there for a few fleeting hours. I would definitely go back again for an extended visit. The beautiful streets, tree-lined city walls and charming piazzas have a number of gluten free goodies on offer including a 100% gluten free bakery.
I am sure there are many other gluten free Lucca spots to discover, but this guide should serve as a good starting point when you are on the hunt for coeliac-safe gluten free eats.
Gluten Free Lucca
Gluten Free On The Go
Starbene Senza Glutine
This 100% gluten free bakery is part of a chain that can be found across Tuscany and is a very reliable pit stop for hungry gluten free travellers. I loved their gluten free spinach ricotta foccacia slice as a quick lunch on the go and their nutella-filled gluten free croissants were such a treat.
However, the other gluten free cakes and the gluten free bread I tried were, I have to say, quite disappointing as they were fairly dry. I visited two different branches of Starbene and had the same views for each. Perhaps I caught them on an off day though as I have heard many other gluten free people raving about Starbene.
The chain is certainly worth a visit though as I will leave it to you to make up your own minds! They have a huge range of gluten free cakes, breads and products, making it a fantastic place for coeliacs to check out.
Bear in mind you may find some of the gluten free products much cheaper in mainstream supermarkets, so if you are hunting for gluten free staples save your money (see the supermarkets section of this guide, below).
I Gelati di Piero
This gelateria has a lovely section on their website explaining how they make their gluten free products completely seperately and ensure they have measures against cross contamination. Gluten free cones, ice creams and waffles, plus lots of great reviews stating people having a good experience here.
Granozero
A small fully gluten free supermarket with bakery counter. It’s slightly outside of the centre, probably not worth trekking too but worth investigating if you are passing by.
Restaurants
Trattoria Pizzeria Bar de Gherardo
A reader recommended this restaurant to me recently, saying they have a big gluten offering including pasta, pizzas and secondi. Google reviews are extremely positive too, stating that it is coeliac friendly.
Ristorante San Colombano
Excellent gluten free pizza. They also offer gluten free pasta and have gf bread available.
Cantine Bernardini
A highly rated restaurant with a good selection of gluten free options, marked on the menu.
Buca di Sant’Antonio
This restaurant offers a range of gluten free options for coeliacs, including fresh gluten free pasta and gluten free tiramisu for dessert. Accredited by the AIC (Italian Coeliac Society).
Lebowski
I love a good salad for lunch when it is hot and this little unassuming cafe had a make your own salad menu. Perfect for coeliacs as staff were very aware about cross contamination and there were no gluten-containing ingredients on the salad list when I visited. I had a lovely fresh bowlful on a very hot day! Note we visited in 2018, so processes may well have changed.
Ristorante Giglio
A rather fancy (Michelin starred) place with a number of gluten free dishes and bread and able to cater for coeliacs. This restaurant can even offer a gluten free option of their tasting menu if you book in advance.
Gli Orti di Via Elisa
An elegant restaurant with good gluten free options and able to cater safely for coeliacs. AIC (ITalian Coeliac Society) accredited.
Mara Meo San Francesco
This restaurant is accredited by the Italian coeliac society and offer a range of gluten free foods (including pasta and pizza). However, reviews are mixed – some people saying they have run out of the gluten free options when they’ve visited, whereas others are extremely positive saying they’ve a wonderful offering.
Löwengrube
On the off chance that you fancy German cuisine and beers while in Lucca, this is the spot for you! They are AIC accredited and have a selection of gluten free dishes and draught beers. They also have a childrens menu and play area.
Supermarkets
Mamey Senza Glutine
For a fully gluten free supermarket, visit Mamey Senza Glutine for all the gluten free supplies you could ever need! They sell a huge range of products, both fresh and packaged, from various Italian suppliers.
Pam
For picnics and self catering, I recommend the Lucca branch of Pam supermarket. The had a large selection of gluten free items when we visited and when I lived in Italy this supermarket chain was my supermarket of choice. They always have great products that are reasonably priced. You can usually find the Le Veneziane gluten free pasta here, which tastes divine and is excellent value.
Enjoy your time in Lucca and please do get in touch at mygfguide@gmail.com if you have any coeliac-safe additions for this gluten free Lucca guide. If you are visiting the wider Tuscany region, why not check out my other gluten free guides:
I love writing these gluten free guides to help other coeliac travellers and like to keep them free of charge for all. If you have found the guide useful and would like to buy me a virtual coffee as a tip, you can do so via my KoFi account: https://ko-fi.com/myglutenfreeguide.
Thank you and happy travels! Laura xxx
