If you want to try an inexpensive and attentive to everyone's requests in the historic center of Lucca, this is the place for you: the Antica Drogheria is a precious address obtained from the stables of Villa Bottini.
I'm sure that if I say "Tuscan city" Lucca it won't be the first that comes to your mind. In fact, it is, it is a city that is a race unto itself, in its slightly snobbish elegance. Different in history, traditions, political affiliation from the rest of the region. But a destination to be seriously considered, for the beauty of the historic center, intact in its majestic walls, the splendid churches, villas and museums. An elegant city, close to the sea, but not on the sea, close to the hills, but lying on the plain, close even to the inaccessible Apuan Alps. Lucca takes a bit of all this and makes it its own.
An elegant city
There is a different type of tourism in Lucca, still a bit of a niche that is slowly discovering it; and there are events that attract large masses of visitors among the ancient streets of the center, from Lucca Summer Festival with the big names in music who perform here, a Lucca Comics, the most important event in Italy for comics, animation and fantasy.
It is also the starting point for an interesting trek: The Via degli Acquedotti, which connects it to Pisa and which I have already described in a previous post.
It could therefore happen that you are in Lucca and walking through its beautiful center, near the Park of Villa Bottini, is the time for lunch or dinner.
Antica Drogheria in the center of Lucca
THEAntica Drogheria it is a precious address, a restaurant, bar, wine shop located in the stables of Villa Bottini, a place open for lunch and dinner, or even for a slice of cake and tea, in via Elisa. The look is just that of an old grocery store, with white painted cabinets and an elegant marble counter. There are glass jars for cookies and candies and backsplashes to display the cakes of the day (all homemade). The grocery has existed since 1895 and has hosted many illustrious people from Lucca.
In the adjacent room there is the restaurant, with long rows of tables next to each other, the sofas on the walls, the walls of ancient bricks. The menu is surprising for the richness of traditional Lucchese dishes, alternating with Tuscan classics (such as the Florentine steak) or pizza, much in demand by tourists.
I ate at Antica Drogheria for both lunch and dinner in November, greatly appreciating the specialties (typically autumn) that were on the menu at that time: from flan with porcini mushrooms to taglierini with truffles. The pasta is homemade and delicious; there are numerous meat dishes but also vegetarian and vegan alternatives.
Here you can explore the cuisine of Lucca, with its peculiarities: tordelli, farro soups, delicious homemade bread.
The meat specialties are many (but being a vegetarian I am not the best person to praise them!); there is no shortage of fish, both in the first and second courses, since Viareggio is a few kilometers away.
Antica Drogheria Lucca: beware of requests
One last note, important: one of the people who was with me had particular dietary needs at that precise moment, and at the Antica Drogheria they were very kind and ready to meet requests, however bizarre they seemed.
As for the price, it is a decidedly economical place both for the homemade pasta and for the more elaborate meat dishes. Antica Drogheria also offers a quick menu for workers at a low cost price.
