Il Piccolo Principe
Il Piccolo Principe is the two-Michelin-star flagship restaurant of the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte in Viareggio, the elegant Versilia resort town on the Tyrrhenian coast of Tuscany. Under executive chef Giuseppe Mancino, the kitchen interprets the seafood and market ingredients of the Versilia coast with meticulous contemporary technique, earning a place among Tuscany’s most celebrated dining destinations.
At a glance
- Type
- Fine-dining restaurant, two Michelin stars
- Period
- Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte opened 1922; restaurant in current fine-dining form from 2000s
- Style
- Contemporary Mediterranean-Versilia cuisine
- Location
- Piazza Puccini 1, 55049 Viareggio (LU), Tuscany
- Coordinates
- 43.8814° N, 10.2361° E
Overview
Il Piccolo Principe occupies the grand dining spaces of the Principe di Piemonte, a landmark Art Deco seafront hotel built in 1922 that has hosted artists, writers, and royalty throughout its century of operation. Viareggio is famous for its Liberty-style architecture along the seafront promenade and its historic carnival, the largest in Italy. The restaurant’s name references Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novella, nodding to an imaginative universe built on essential things made visible only with the heart.
History
The Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte was inaugurated in 1922 at the height of Viareggio’s Belle Époque splendour, when the Versilia Riviera attracted the Italian aristocracy and European cultural figures including Giacomo Puccini, whose villa at nearby Torre del Lago is now a museum. The hotel’s dining room evolved over the decades; chef Giuseppe Mancino joined and progressively elevated the kitchen to earn its first and second Michelin stars, placing Il Piccolo Principe in the front rank of Tuscan fine dining.
What you see
The dining room offers views across the Tyrrhenian seafront through tall windows, with décor that balances Art Deco grandeur with contemporary refinement. Tasting menus focus on fish and seafood from the Versilia coast — red mullet, cuttlefish, locally caught sea bass — alongside Garfagnana mountain ingredients such as farro, chestnuts, and aged local cheeses. A vegetarian tasting menu is also available. The cellar privileges Tuscan labels with strong international support, and the sommelier team provides expert pairing guidance.
Cultural significance
Il Piccolo Principe anchors Viareggio’s identity as a place where coastal leisure culture and artistic heritage converge with serious gastronomy. The Versilia coast carries the memory of Puccini, the Macchiaioli painters, and the early 20th-century Italian avant-garde, and the restaurant’s setting in one of the coast’s defining Liberty-era hotels connects each meal to that layered history. Chef Mancino’s consistent two-star recognition has also elevated visibility for Lucchesia and Versilian cuisine nationally.
Practical information
Il Piccolo Principe is open for dinner; lunch service may be available on request or during peak season. Reservations are essential and can be made through the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte website. The restaurant is open to non-resident guests. Smart dress is required. Check the official website for current seasonal hours and closures.
Getting there
Viareggio has its own railway station on the Pisa–La Spezia coastal line, with frequent trains from Pisa (15 minutes) and Lucca (30 minutes). From the station, the hotel is a 10-minute walk along the seafront promenade. By car, take the A11 motorway and exit at Viareggio or Pietrasanta, following signs for the lungomare. Pisa International Airport (PSA) is approximately 25 km south.