Recently, we took a drive through the Tuscan countryside outside our town to San Pancrazio, a pretty hamlet overlooking the Ambra Valley along the road leading to the great medieval city Siena. Our stop was Palazzo Tiglio, an upscale restaurant, recently opened, situated on the ground floor of an historic palace perched on the edge of the village that's been lovingly restored down to the smallest detail. Down the small stone pathway, one steps out onto an large stone terrace with a pretty vista and ringed with aromatics. To the right, French doors open into the dining room – actually several light-filled, airy rooms sprinkled with contemporary art and large-scale photographs depicting nature. Rather than the five-course tasting menu, my dining companions and I opted for the à la carte menu, just the right quantity of tempting dishes to please an array of different palates and preferences. A refreshing sparkling wine enjoyed with a trio of small bites – I especially loved the sweet-savory burst of a creamy paté encased in a dark chocolate shell – was a welcome preview to the next courses. As a starter, I chose the the scallops in beurre blanc, zucchine, edamame and samphire, an aromatic plant within the parsely family. Delicious bites that were creamy, buttery balanced with the saltiness and the scallops' retro sweetness. Their pillowy texture coupled with the edamames' pleasant crunchiness was so perfect and flavorful, it left me wanting for more. But, the main course awaited. Most opted for the Beef Wellington (for two). The meat was soft, tasty, and beautifully presented at table. Two of us chose the turbot, a European flatfish, that was juicy and perfectly cooked . The fish's crispy outer skin played nicely against the pillow of rich and creamy mashed potatoes (one of my preferred foods that I would take with me on a deserted island) flecked with chives.The just-right portions meant dessert was to be a shared experience. I took a few bites of a praline feuillantine, white chocolate Namelaka, in Japanese the term means extra creamy, topped with lemon gel dollops and a sprinkle of rosemary leaves. In a few words: perfectly scrumptious, and I appreciated that the dessert's creaminess continued as a theme, at least for me, that evening. Naturally, wine was consumed, one of which was from Palazzo Tiglio's carefully curated wine cellar, a Nuits-Saint-Georges 2018, made with Pinot Noir grapes from Domaine Defouleur. Delicious and perfect accompaniment for our late summer repast. Make no mistake: this is an elevated experience, one to savor and linger over – from the beautifully appointed table settings, Emily Post would be proud, set against crisp white tablecloths to the minimalist décor and ample room between tables for intimate conversation. High compliments to restaurateur John Werich who had a vision for an elevated dining experience in this corner of Tuscany, and to Palazzo Tiglio's inventive executive chef, Mattia Parlanti who is creating some exciting dishes that delight the palate and the eye. At this level of innovation, warm hospitality, presentation, and taste, my thought is that Palazzo Tiglio will become a favorite among locals and visitors alike to this lovely hillside village that now boasts one of the best restaurants in this corner of Tuscany. Highly...
   Read moreMy husband and I spent 4 nights there and really enjoyed our stay. Prior to arrival, I corresponded with John and Roberta who both assisted to arrange a lot of activities, such as wine tasting, restaurant reservations and spa reservations at Terme San Giovanni. They responded quickly and everything was flawless and communicated clearly upon arrival. Their list of recommendations around the area (restaurants, wineries, activities) were excellent! ||The hotel is located in a very small town on a hill, where it is a 6km drive up a narrow and windy road that takes about 10-15 minutes. However, once you arrive, the view from the top is worth the effort and the quaintness of the town and the hotel makes the stay special.||We reserved a Deluxe Room which was located above the restaurant. You enter in a shared living room area, but the room itself is private. Pictures on the website felt accurate. The room wasn’t super large, but it didn’t feel small either. It was thoughtfully and elegantly designed and really fit the area. The only complaint I had was floor insulation could be better as the guests staying above us would be walking around and talking and it was quite noisy.||Breakfast was included and a nice assortment of pastries, baked goods, cold cuts, etc. We also had dinner twice and thought the food was excellent quality! There’s only 1 other restaurant nearby, otherwise, you have to make the drive down the windy road for other restaurants. ||Within the hotel, there is a bar/cafe with a little market, Across from the bar is a small museum and a quaint garden to explore. There is a pool (not heated) and a small church used to house a small art exhibit. Otherwise, the town is mostly residential. It is super quaint and you can easily see everything in about an hour. I really liked feeling like we were a local getting an authentic (but luxurious) experience. ||As noted above, this hotel may not be for you if you are prone to carsickness as the 6km of winding roads will make you nauseous. It is also a downside if you want to be within a quick drive to restaurants and sightseeing. However, Google Maps timing is accurate and if you allow a little more time (10-15 minutes) to get to where you want to go, it wasn’t too much of a hassle. The hospitality from Roberta and the other staff we encountered really made the stay very memorable and I would definitely stay...
   Read moreAbsolutely stunning little hotel!! We thoroughly enjoyed our eight day stay. John and his staff were so welcoming and extremely helpful. If you are looking for a peaceful 5* stay in a lovely little village, then Palazzo Tiglio is definitely one to book. Our suite was so beautiful from the fresco paintings on the ceilings to the luxurious bedding and unique furnishing. The amount of thought that has gone in to creating a wonderful experience for each guest. The views from the windows across the Tuscan countryside are wonderful. The food at the restaurant is exceptional, the dessert was truly melt in the mouth with an explosion of flavour. I wish we hadn't left it to the last night to dine at the hotel. The gardens were so pretty and well designed with fountains, rose bushes and herbs which the chef made use of. The fragrance and peaceful surroundings are truly so relaxing. Albeit, we encountered some heavy rain whilst in San Pancrazio, it did not matter as we enjoyed our stay so much. We are really looking forward to returning to this gem. Big thanks to John, Serena, Claudia and all the...
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