La lanterna Ristorante Pizzeria — Restaurant in Pisa

Had the good fortune of stopping here for lunch, and ended up going back again the following day: this is a wonderful family run restaurant in a great central location on the Via Santa Maria. Straight from the word go, a staff member (who turned out to be one of the family owners) was concerned that one of our seats was slightly in the sun. It turned out to be the first of many small considerations on the owner's part that set it apart even from the other excellent eateries in the area. The service, as well as the food, was of the first order (they even turned a blind eye to my amateurish attempts at speaking Italian!) On the first visit I had the tagliata da manza with mushrooms. This was cooked to perfection, medium rare. The beef was of a fine quality, and the tender mushrooms added a buttery contrast of flavour. Second time round, I opted for the ravioli with butter and sage. The pasta was fresh and delicious tasting, with a creamy spinach and ricotta filling. A highlight of everyone's meal was the cheesecake with wild berries to finish. This isn't a dessert found on every Italian menu, but we were told it was too good not to be there, which turned out to be true: a biscuit base with hints of brown sugar beneath a soft mascarpone body, drizzled with a very tart raspberry sauce. Just what we wanted as foreigners at an Italian lunch: a friendly atmosphere, excellent food and drink full of rich flavour, and good conversation. Grazie mille La Lanterna from Glasgow, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇹

This is what my teenage sister in law had to say about La Lanterna: If I could, I would want to eat here every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have been twice already, and I'm hoping to go a third time before I leave Pisa.

On the first night I had Margherita pizza - oh my Lord. The base on its own was so beautiful, it was perfectly well cooked and crispy. The cheese was sexy, and don't get me started on the tomato sauce - I could go on for days about how beautiful it was.

On the second day I had pappardelle with wild boar. This pasta was so fresh, light and fluffy, and I felt like I was on cloud nine eating it. I was silent throughout my whole meal, and might I add, I am a VERY talkative person! The wild boar was cooked to perfection - it was divine.

And now for the highlight of both visits (drumroll) ...the wild Berry cheesecake. I got recommended it by one of the family members, and I'm so glad I listened !! It was a perfect balance of the biscuit base, the cheese filling and the wild Berry sauce. The base was the perfect consistency, not too hard and not too soft. The cheese part was so fluffy and creamy not like the store bought ones which can be quite solid, this was a real homemade cheese cake. And don't even get me started on how beautiful and delicious the sauce was, it was tangy yet sweet. It perfectly complimented the gentle flavours of the cheesecake itself. If I could, I'd live off it and only it for the rest of my life.

The owners had such beautiful personalities. Always smiling, helping everyone, and one of the owners even sat and chatted with us during his own break and told us about the restaurant. On both of our visits, he went out of his way to make everything perfect.

I'm so happy I stopped by and I definitely will be there again in future. Thank you La Lanterna for making my trip to Pisa so memorable with your amazing food and lovely staff - one of the highlights of my trip for real...

During our recent trip to Italy, we stumbled upon this absolute gem of a restaurant tucked away in one of the charming streets near the Leaning Tower of Pisa — and what a find it was! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with warm smiles and genuine hospitality that immediately made us feel like locals. The ambiance was perfect — rustic, cozy, and authentically Italian, with soft music playing in the background and tables filled with both travelers and locals. The staff were incredibly attentive without being overbearing, offering thoughtful recommendations and taking time to explain the origins of their dishes and wine pairings. We started with a classic antipasto platter featuring locally cured meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables — everything was so fresh and full of flavor. For the main course, we had the homemade pappardelle with wild boar ragu and a seafood risotto that was out of this world. Every bite tasted like it had been crafted with love and tradition. The pasta was clearly made in-house and cooked to perfection. What truly stood out was the wine selection — all local Tuscan labels, reasonably priced, and expertly paired with our meal. Our server recommended a Chianti Classico that complemented the richness of the boar ragu beautifully. We ended the meal with the most divine tiramisu and a shot of house-made limoncello — the perfect finish to a flawless evening. Prices were very fair, especially considering the quality and portion sizes. You could tell this place takes pride not just in their food, but in offering a full, heartfelt experience. We left feeling full, happy, and already planning our next visit. Whether you're a foodie or just someone looking for a genuine taste of Tuscan cuisine, this restaurant is a must-visit in Pisa....

My brother and I were hesitating between two restaurants. Come to this one!

First things first, I’m not a robot, this is the most useful review you will see on here. If your looking for some pasta, this is the place. I’ve been to 5 Italian cities and this is the best pasta I’ve had so far. I ordered the “Ragu Toscano” (basically bolognese) and it was such amazing pasta. Although the quantity was not as much as I had hoped (almost full) the pasta itself was amazing (homemade I believe), the sauce was excellent, and the Parmesan cheese on top made it a 10/10. We also had the seafood pasta, and it was a life changing experience. In my biography there will be a big divide between before and after the pasta. The only thing that we did not like and that breaks my heart, was the pizza. We only had the 4 cheese pizza, it was very mid, literally what mid means. Nothing to write home about you will forget it. It’s not bad just disappointed. The outdoor area is very nice and cool, weather is not too hot today but was still nice place to relax next to the city. They have umbrellas and water sprinklers. Only reason not 5 stars for the outdoor area is because there was no wow factor. But I was completely satisfied with my outdoor experience. Service was unfortunately a bit slow, but the people are friendly and nice. Additional points: the bathroom door is cool.

Come eat here, Final grade: 4.5/5 or 9/10

Thank you La Lanterna, it was a...