Hotel Ristorante da Carlos

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about Hotel Ristorante da Carlos? It’s actually tucked away in Santa Maria del Giudice – which, honestly, most people haven’t heard of – but that’s exactly what makes it special. I mean, you’re literally five minutes from Lucca’s walls, but you’re staying in this quiet little frazione where locals still wave from their kitchen windows. The Via Nuova per Pisa might sound like a busy road (and technically it is the main route), but the hotel sits back from the street enough that you’re not dealing with constant traffic noise. When I pulled up, there was this immediate sense of “oh, this is family-run” – Carlos himself was out front chatting with someone in rapid Italian, gesturing wildly about something that seemed incredibly important and probably wasn’t.

The building itself has that slightly worn elegance that I’ve learned to love in Italian hotels – not Instagram-perfect, but real. The restaurant downstairs is where things get interesting, actually. It’s not just hotel food; locals drive over from Lucca for Sunday lunch, which tells you everything you need to know. I watched the same couple at the corner table two nights in a row, clearly regulars, and the way the staff fussed over them made me oddly homesick. The rooms are comfortable in that unpretentious way – good linens, windows that actually open (thank god), and bathrooms that work properly. Nothing fancy, but honestly, after a day wandering around Lucca’s medieval streets or dealing with Pisa’s tourist chaos, you just want a place that feels like someone’s paying attention to details.

What really sold me on this place was the morning routine. Breakfast happens in the restaurant, and while you’re drinking proper Italian coffee – not that hotel machine nonsense – you can watch the town wake up through the windows. There’s something about being slightly outside the main tourist circuit that changes the whole rhythm of your trip. You’re close enough to zip into Lucca for dinner (seriously, it’s a quick drive or bike ride), but far enough out that you feel like you’re actually staying in Italy, not just visiting it. The staff genuinely seems to care whether you find that little osteria they recommended or whether you need an umbrella because it looks like rain. It’s got that 8.6 rating for a reason – not because it’s trying to be the fanciest place around, but because it does exactly what it promises without any pretense. If you’re the type who needs to be in the thick of things, this might feel too quiet. But if you want to experience what it’s like to stay somewhere that locals would actually choose, da Carlos gets it right.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $102. Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $102. Triple Room with 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $102. Double Room with Balcony with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $112. Triple Room with Balcony with 1 single bed, 1 large double bed and 3 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $112. Twin Room with Balcony with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $83. Single Room with 1 single bed for Max persons: 1
• Estimated price from: $92. Single Room with Balcony with 1 single bed and 1 double bed for Max persons: 1
• Estimated price from: $95. Twin Room with 2 single beds for Max persons: 1

Reviews

• Nice hotel with an amazing restaurant – Péter from Hungary – 24 June 2025 (10/10)

  The restaurant is outstanding. The food is unbelievably good. I would highly suggest to try the restaurant. Simple but very nice seafood with extremely fresh ingredients. The flat fish was amazing.
  
  What could be improved: I liked everything

• Superb – Tarin from Slovenia – 28 April 2025 (9/10)

  Very good dinner and breakfast. Nice room.

• Great stay – Ana from United Kingdom – 29 July 2024 (10/10)

  Facilities, location, comfy beds, very clean, modern bathroom, very helpful staff.

• Exceptional – Marta from United Kingdom – 20 July 2024 (10/10)

  Good value of money
  Clean room
  We had breakfast included
  Friendly staff
  
  What could be improved: My husband ordered beef steak at the restaurant was really tasty but very small compare to price for it.

• Pretty, location and comfortable hotel! – Nicki from Ireland – 14 June 2024 (9/10)

  Breakfast was a typical Italian offering, mostly sweet (cake, pastries etc) Great coffee!
  
  What could be improved: Everything was very comfortable, clean and the host Carlos was very friendly and helpful.

• Superb – Paolo from Netherlands – 3 June 2024 (9/10)

  We arrived quite late but they waited for our check-in even if outside the standard time. Restaurant open till late so we were able to have a dinner also quite late.

• Exceptional – Tamara from Slovenia – 29 April 2024 (10/10)

  very friendly staff, amazing breakfast with true italian spirit.

• Very nice staff – Beatriz from United Kingdom – 3 April 2024 (10/10)

  The place is very good with easy access
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Exceptional – Azam from Qatar – 4 October 2023 (10/10)

  beat host best hotel best service
  very helpful

• Exceptional – Martin from Czech Republic – 29 September 2023 (10/10)

  Everything
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities