La Locanda di San Francesco

I just had a drink on the terrace with the most out of this world views - and, especially given how little I was spending with the prices of drinks astonishingly reasonable - was bowled over by the charm and warmth of the service. Everything about the hotel exudes class - and the staff are exemplary.

Staying at this hotel on the top of Montepulciano is a gift. It has only four rooms and feels like you are staying at a friends house - there is no formal checkin desk - you are led to your room directly, and you have your own key to the building. The rooms are spacious by Italian standards and ample by US ones - and clean and up to date. When you are tired of touring Montepulciano, including the grand piazza just up the hill or San Biagio just down below, you can have a wonderful Vino Nobile and dinner at E Lucevan Le Stelle - attached to the hotel through an inside passage. There, Victor and Lucca will take wonderful care of you, along with the rest of the staff. In the morning, enjoy breakfast in the dining room with four tables, one per room, and practice your Italian reading the travel books in the small library (many in English as well). I found Locanda San Francesco a home away from home and I will be back for both it and the magical town of Montepulciano!

This was a great place to stay in Montepulciano. Luca and Victor were both very helpful in getting us to the hotel and back and forth to the parking. Driving in Montepulciano is an experience - steep with switchbacks and stone walls and buildings on both sides. It is worth it, though. The views from the Locanda and from across the street were spectacular. Our room was lovely although the bathroom was very tiny. If either of us was a large person, I don't think we'd be able to get in the shower! Breakfast was delicious. Be sure to try the baked goods and the chocolate brioche, if they have it. Our first day, Luca was very helpful with suggestions of where to go. We had a wonderful time in Cortona on his suggestion. The second day he told us to call his good friend with a winery in Montalcino and we would be able to get in, but they were completely booked! Book in advance if you can. We ate at the enoteca one night and it was delicious. We did have a little communication mishap. I had emailed Luca a few months in advance and he offered to make our other dinner reservations while we were in Montepulciano. He confirmed these with us when we arrived, but when we went to Acquacheta for our reservation, the owner told us she had made a mistake and had sent a message to Luca a few days earlier saying they could not get us in. Luckily, she called several restaurants for us in the area and was able to get us in somewhere. Most restaurants were booked. If we had known when we arrived at Locanda, we could have easily made another reservation then.

A friend recommended this place. The location and website sold us but we could only book the one remaining room (we're traveling with another couple). Their receptionist referred us to Pallazzo del Mercante. So we booked them there. Our room was quaint (old creaky armoire, wooden shutters) but really there's no excuse for lines of mold around the tile grout in the shower. And then to be told by the owner (who offered us HIS room!) that what we're seeing is the "product" they use to get rid of the mold. Once we saw our friends newly renovated spot, a room the was 15% less than our mold spore, we realized we have to warn others. This venue also has a restaurant that serves breakfast. It wasn't much to speak of. An attempt was made to scrap off and clean it up a bit. But it was obvious bleach wasn't part of their toolkit. There are better places to stay here. Places that appreciate your business.

This was our third visit to Locanda San Francesco! If quintessential Tuscany is what you are looking for than this is the place! Just 10 km from Pienza and less than a half hour drive from Montalcino, you are truly in the heart of Tuscany. Montepulciano is the home of Vino Nobile and you will find the best selection of this wonderful wine here. We recommend walking up the hill to the fort where you can taste and purchase some fantastic examples. However, for the sangiovese purist, we highly, highly recommend you set up a Brunello wine tour to Montalcino with the proprietor! Also, the enoteca downstairs which is also run by the proprietor offers some delicious Tuscan eats! This is a small property so book early! One word of caution...this is a hilltop property and requires navigating up and down some fairly steep cobblestone streets. Not recommended for persons with mobility challenges.

Locando San Francesco was WONDERFUL! We stayed in the suite and friends joined us in 2 of the other rooms. All of us loved the small inn and great wine bar - including the view, the employees, the wine and the food. A delicious buffet breakfast was served each morning and at dinner we sat next to other travelers, plus locals. We are so happy we chose Locanda and appreciate others rave reviews before we booked.

I am on a business trip and wanted a comfortable, unique place to stay. Locanda San Francisco has been outstanding. They have good parking availability in front of the hotel (be sure to rent a small car, the streets are very tight). The owner met me at my car and helped with luggage. My room is very comfortable, plenty of room, well equipped with a great shower. The location is very good in the center of town, with great views of the countryside in both directions. Dinner last night was excellent, I had the most delicious ravioli dish I have ever tasted, they treated me to a variety of local wines and finished with a really nice dessert wine. Overall a great place to stay!

I had some difficulty finding the hotel but once I did everything was fantastic.

What an amazing spot. There are just four rooms so it feels more like staying at the beautiful, intimate home of your rich Tuscan friend than like staying a hotel. Our room (the Superior) was on the second floor, facing the square but with windows in both directions to catch sunset and sunrise each day. The room was giant, especially so by Italian standards. Breakfast was abundant and delicious, with espresso to order plus a huge spread of pastry, toast, salumi, cheese, yogurt, and fresh cakes. We barely ate lunch in Tuscany because breakfast was so good. The locanda's location is perfect, with nothing more than a ten-minute walk away. And again, those sunsets outside! But the real draw is Luca and his hospitality. When I told him we were interested in wine, he arranged for a private tour and tasting at a top winery for us that matched our preferences. He gave us great recommendations for other wineries and small towns to explore, and managed to secure us a last-minute reservation at an in-demand restaurant with a quick phone call to a friend (on a busy Saturday, no less!) Luca was warm and gracious, flexible with our changing travel schedule, and responsive to every question we had. He and his locanda were the highlights of our trip, hands down, and I wish we had more days in Montepulciano as a result. We'll be back ...