Villas in Italy within walking distance of restaurants

Dinner within a stroll of your villa

Few things beat walking out of your villa in the early evening, joining the passeggiata through the piazza and settling into a trattoria without anyone needing to stay sober to drive. This collection gathers villas and apartments within walking distance of a restaurant, so it suits food lovers, couples, groups of friends and families who want an easy evening out after a day by the pool.

Italian eating places vary. An osteria or trattoria tends to serve simple regional dishes, a pizzeria is often the most relaxed choice with children, and an agriturismo usually cooks with produce from its own farm. Italians generally eat later than British diners, so restaurants often fill up later in the evening than you might expect.

Questions worth asking

Ask how long the walk takes and what the route is like. A short downhill stroll to dinner can be a stiff climb home, and country lanes are often unlit, so a torch is useful on the way back.

Find out whether the nearest restaurant opens all year, as many in seaside resorts close for the winter, and which day of the week it closes, since many Italian restaurants take one day off. If you are travelling around the Ferragosto holiday in mid-August, popular places get very busy, so booking a table ahead is sensible.

It is also worth asking whether there is a village shop or bakery nearby, so breakfast and lunch at the villa are just as easy as dinner out.

Where food and walking go together

In Tuscany, Chianti villages such as Greve, Radda and Castellina pair simple dishes like ribollita and pici with the local Chianti Classico. In Umbria, Montefalco is known for its Sagrantino red wine, Norcia for its cured pork and the hills for black truffles in season.

Down in Puglia, an evening walk through the whitewashed lanes of Ostuni or Locorotondo can end with orecchiette, burrata and a glass of Primitivo. Each region has its own dishes, so ask the waiter what is local and seasonal.

Browse the villas listed below to find one with a good table just a short walk from the door.