A Michelin-starred chef who leads the culinary team at Da Lorenzo – Al Giardino Segreto, known for blending Italian traditions with Japanese influences.
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Last updated: 4/28/2026, 2:23:43 PM
Key Information
Luca's by Paulo Airaudo is a high-end dining concept located within the refined setting of La Gemma Hotel in Florence. It celebrates Florentine flavors by blending innovation with authentic, timeless Italian elegance. The restaurant pays tribute to Luca Cecchi, the patriarch of the Cecchi family.
Customer Perception
Customers generally perceive Luca's as an impressive Michelin-starred experience, praising the perfectly executed, creative, and delicious dishes, often highlighting the tasting menus. The service is frequently described as outstanding, attentive, and well-coordinated, with thoughtful and exceptionally well-paired wine selections. While most reviews are highly positive, one customer found a pasta dish with white truffle to be greasy and boring, and another reported a disappointing service experience, including issues with allergy accommodation, forgotten items, interruptions, and abrupt ending of the meal.
The restaurant offers multi-course tasting menus, such as a 9-course option and a menu named 'Atto I', often with additional chef's dishes. Some tables offer a view overlooking the kitchen.
Accommodates some dietary preferences, though one review noted difficulty with a simple allergy request.
Best Times to Visit
No specific peak times or ideal days to visit were mentioned in the provided information, but it is a fine dining establishment likely best suited for dinner.
Awards & Recognition
MICHELIN Guide One Star • 2026
5
Elegant place with charming interior with main color being in deep green. Professional service.
Had Atto II menu and wine pairing from Atto I. The food was generally well made. My favourite dish was the tuna tartare topped with Oscietra caviar. What I was most impressed about, was however the wine pairing. The pairing of the taleggio filled pasta and the goat cheese flan with its wine was like magic. The dish was completely different with wine. This level of wine pairing is rare.
I thought 5 glasses wine was included in the wine pairing, but it could just have been some miscommunication. We received 4 glasses of wine, and did not feel that we lacked anything. All the food & wine went well together.
We had a great time at Luca’s. It is one of the best Michelin star restaurants I dined at. We truly enjoyed it.
The restaurant is stylish and very tastefully decorated. It is stylish but not pretentious.
The dishes are very fantastic. Each of them was perfectly executed and creative. They are delicious. They know how to cook without being too buttery, too salty, or too greasy.
The service was attentive and sweet.
The only thing I wish was better is the pasta dish with white truffle. I think it is over greasy. And it is boring in the way that it is just a pasta dish that was made just for people who want to eat white truffle. I wishes it could be more balanced.
But again, they are very very good. Much better than other Michelin star restaurants I dined at.
Luca's is a calm and elegant haven in the otherwise bustling center of Florence. Set inside the Hotel La Gemma, this is great option in the city of rich, heavy & hearty food. Luca's holds another kind of heart.
Food is effortlessly tasty and on point. There is selfconfidence in restraint. And the cooking here trusts in its produce, and it is liberating to see how far you can go with clear belief in that.
Every dish is simple yet very very refined, as the saying goes, "perfection is reached NOT when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away". Everything on the plate has purpose.
Dishes range from fingerlicking good to restrained elegance and purity.
Truly rare to find these days. The winelist is heavy on Tuscan wines, and it should be, but given the menu is fairly light - I am looking for more wines that lean into the food. To me ,the menu screamed for a white elegant Burgundy, Puligny or Chassagne - yet there is only one Burgundy AOC white on the list. There are plenty of good options from Italy for sure, but at this level, I'm missing that option if you're into it.
Service is relaxed and the room has a soft comfy vibe.
The kithen is open which gives a connection to guests without coming in the way.
Would definitely return.
Thank you for an amazing service!
A fine dining Italian Restaurant with exceptional service. Please remember they only have 2 options of Tasting Menus.We made a reservation and told them, that we are vegetarian and is it possible to curate something vegetarian.. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed that they prepared a special 7 course tasting Menu having absolutely mouth watering vegetarian dishes. Perfect presentation and taste to match.I couldn't decide what was the best dish..all preparations were excellent. They deserve more than five stars.
Would go there again whenever I visit Florence.
Everything was incredible. We opted for the 9-course menu, which ended up being more like 12, with the chefs additional dishes. Our table was overlooking the kitchen. I wonder if the restaurant can sustain itself by only offering tasting menus. For us to celebrate our arrival in Florence it was perfection.
