Citri Hortus: where citrus fruits meet Tuscan cuisine

A family restaurant that does things differently, and beautifully so.

If you are holidaying in northern Tuscany and looking for a dining experience a little off the beaten track, I wholeheartedly recommend Citri Hortus. This small, special restaurant brings together the two great passions of its founder Pietro: citrus fruits and Italian cooking.

Over a glass of wine, Pietro told me how it all began, the way things tend to go in Italy, unhurried and relaxed. Behind Citri Hortus is Agrumi Lenzi, the family business through which the Lenzi family has grown and sold citrus fruits for years. Pietro was looking for his own role within the company and almost by chance the idea took shape: start with tastings, then open a small, exclusive restaurant. In the summer of 2020, the planning, the concept work and the many preparations began.

More than three years passed before the doors opened, and not without difficulties along the way. But in December 2023 Citri Hortus finally made its debut, and the wait was absolutely worth it.

From the very first moment you feel transported into the world of the Lenzi family. Pietro is in the kitchen, while his father Maurizio, his mother Monica and his aunt Adriana take care of the dining room. The tables are surrounded by plants, flowers and of course citrus trees inside a beautiful greenhouse. The atmosphere is idyllic and full of warmth. The number of tables per evening is kept deliberately small, no rushing, no crowds, just an intimate and relaxed evening with time and space for every guest.

The menu changes with the seasons and is set in advance. On my visit there was fish, and all I can say is: wow. You can taste the care and effort that has gone into every dish. A wide variety of citrus fruits are woven into the food in a harmonious and considered way, lifting the flavours in a way that is entirely their own.

For anyone looking for a slightly different, deeply personal Italian evening out, Citri Hortus is a clear recommendation.

And if you want to bring a little piece of this world home with you: Agrumi Lenzi ships citrus plants directly to your door, a touch of Italy for your garden or conservatory.