Luca's by Paulo Airaudo
Contemporary · Centro Storico, Florence
Restaurant in Florence, Italy
Book with PearlThe Read
Hotel Dining Reframed
Price
$150–200per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Luca's by Paulo Airaudo holds one MICHELIN star, newly awarded in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026. The restaurant occupies the first floor of Hotel La Gemma in Florence's historic centre. Its tasting menu interprets Florentine and Tuscan cuisine with seasonal ingredients and international influences.
About Luca's by Paulo Airaudo
Verdict
Luca's by Paulo Airaudo offers contemporary fine dining in Florence.
Portrait
Luca's by Paulo Airaudo sits on the first floor of La Gemma hotel on Via dei Cavalieri, a short walk from the Piazza della Repubblica in the centre of Florence.
Paulo Airaudo directs the culinary project, while resident chef Vittorio De Palma runs the kitchen day to day. Signature dishes include scampi in champagne sauce with foie gras; risotto with parsley, kumquats and red prawns; and goat tagliolini with anchovies, lemon and caviar.
For context on how this fits the broader contemporary Italian scene, restaurants like Osteria Francescana in Modena, Le Calandre in Rubano, and Piazza Duomo in Alba represent the top tier of Italian creative fine dining. Luca's interprets Florentine and Tuscan cuisine with seasonal ingredients and international influences. For international comparisons, consider César in New York City and Jungsik in Seoul.
Service and Value
At €€€€ pricing, the service philosophy matters as much as the food. A hotel restaurant at this price point can go two ways: attentive and personalised, or stiff and transactional.
Reservations are essential.
Who Should Book
For other fine-dining options in Florence, consider Enoteca Pinchiorri or Santa Elisabetta. For group dining or a more social, convivial setting, Locale or Cuculia may be more appropriate. For something with a neighbourhood feel and less formality, Nugolo is worth considering. For a wider picture of Italy's serious creative dining rooms, Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico, Dal Pescatore in Runate, and Enrico Bartolini in Milan are the reference points worth knowing before you decide where Luca's sits in your travel priorities.
Key Details at a Glance
- Cuisine: Contemporary Italian
- Address: Via dei Cavalieri, 2c, Florence (first floor, La Gemma hotel)
- Price range: €€€€
- Awards: One MICHELIN star, newly awarded in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026
- Booking difficulty: Reservations are essential
- Leading for: Couples, food-focused travellers, special occasion dinners
- Request: A tasting-menu reservation
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 7:30–10 PM
- Location
- Via dei Cavalieri, 2c, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
- Reservations
- Book on SevenRooms
- Website
- lagemmahotel.com/lucas-restaurant
- Phone
- +39 055 010 5200
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Luca's by Paulo Airaudo occupies a purposeful niche: a hotel dining room that reads like an independent fine-dining address. The dining room is on the first floor of Hotel La Gemma. Luca's holds one MICHELIN star, newly awarded in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026. The restaurant is in Florence's historic centre, near Piazza della Repubblica.
Best For
This is a place to reserve for a measured evening rather than a quick meal. Luca's holds one MICHELIN star, newly awarded in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026, and serves a tasting menu. The dining room is calibrated for occasion (suitable for date nights, special occasions and business dinners) while the hotel's central location makes it an attractive choice for visitors who want fine dining within easy walking distance of Florence's major cultural sights.
Ordering Tips
Book ahead and plan for a full dinner rather than a brief stop: the restaurant's price point and presentation reward time and attention. The dress code is smart casual. Signature dishes include scampi in champagne sauce with foie gras; risotto with parsley, kumquats and red prawns; and goat tagliolini with anchovies, lemon and caviar.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dim lighting, enveloping ceilings, Art Deco elegance with velvet, brass, and geometric designs creating a refined 1920s atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Formal
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- Tasting menu
- Private Dining
- Available
Signature Dishes
- scampi in champagne sauce and foie gras
- risotto with parsley kumquats and red prawns
- goat tagliolini with anchovies lemon and caviar
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- Via dei Cavalieri, 2c, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 7:30–10 PM
- Wednesday
- 7:30–10 PM
- Thursday
- 7:30–10 PM
- Friday
- 7:30–10 PM
- Saturday
- 7:30–10 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Location
Via dei Cavalieri, 2c, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Enoteca Pinchiorri: Italian - French, Italian Contemporary, €€€€
- Santa Elisabetta: Italian, Creative, €€€€
- Borgo San Jacopo: Italian, Modern Cuisine, €€€€
- Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura: Modern Italian, Italian Contemporary, €€€€
- Il Palagio: Italian Contemporary, €€€€
Restaurant context
How It Compares
Compare Luca's with Enoteca Pinchiorri and Santa Elisabetta when planning dinner in Florence. Luca's holds one MICHELIN star, newly awarded in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026.
Other Florence dining options include Borgo San Jacopo and Il Palagio. If the food itself is the reason you are spending at this level, Luca's kitchen direction, goat tagliolini with caviar, pigeon cappelletti, shows more culinary ambition than either. Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura occupies its own niche: the Bottura name and the brand association make it a harder reservation and a more scene-driven experience.
Reservations at Luca's are essential. For a broader view of what Florence has to offer at every level, Pearl's full Florence restaurants guide covers the complete field.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Luca's by Paulo Airaudo guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Luca's by Paulo Airaudo
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luca's by Paulo Airaudo | Contemporary | 2026 Michelin 1 Star2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | Easy |
| Enoteca Pinchiorri | Italian - French, Italian Contemporary | 2026 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #73Star Wine Lists 20262026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #942025 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 La Liste Top Restaurants | Unknown |
| Santa Elisabetta | Italian, Creative | 2026 Falstaff Restaurant Guide2026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #2002025 Michelin 2 Stars2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2024 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #2552024 Michelin 2 Stars2023 OAD Classical in Europe Recommended | Unknown |
| Borgo San Jacopo | Italian, Modern Cuisine | Michelin Guide Italy 20262026 Falstaff Restaurant Guide2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #3362025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #2492024 Michelin 1 Star2023 OAD Classical in Europe Recommended | Unknown |
| Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura | Modern Italian, Italian Contemporary | No published awards | Unknown |
| Il Palagio | Italian Contemporary | Star Wine Lists 20262026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2026 Michelin 1 Star2026 Falstaff Restaurant Guide2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #4832025 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star | Unknown |
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Comparing your options in Florence for this tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tasting menu worth it at Luca's by Paulo Airaudo?
The tasting menu offers a contemporary interpretation of Florentine and Tuscan cuisine. Paulo Airaudo directs the culinary project, and resident chef Vittorio De Palma runs the kitchen day to day. Skip the tasting menu only if you prefer à la carte flexibility.
Is Luca's by Paulo Airaudo worth the price?
Allow about $155 per person. Luca's holds one MICHELIN star, newly awarded in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026. If you want contemporary Italian that moves beyond tourist-facing menus, it justifies the spend. Enoteca Pinchiorri is another Florence restaurant to consider.
What should I wear to Luca's by Paulo Airaudo?
The venue is on the first floor of La Gemma hotel in central Florence and positions itself as an elegant setting. The dress code is smart casual.
What should I order at Luca's by Paulo Airaudo?
Signature dishes include scampi in champagne sauce with foie gras; risotto with parsley, kumquats and red prawns; and goat tagliolini with anchovies, lemon and caviar.
What should a first-timer know about Luca's by Paulo Airaudo?
Luca's opened in 2023 at Via dei Cavalieri 2/c. Reservations are essential for the tasting menu.
