Duel · Restaurants · Montalcino · 3 addresses
Castello Banfi La Taverna, Pura Crocus ou Saloni ?
Three restaurants at Montalcino compared criterion by criterion with the editorial rating, the recorded price and the amenities. Verdict written by the code, based on the editorial team's justifications.
Castello Banfi La Taverna
Montalcino · €€€€ · Gastronomic
reliability high
≈ 70 € / pers.
9,3/10 travellers · 140 reviews
Pura Crocus
Montalcino · €€ · Mid-range
reliability high
≈ 30 € / pers.
9,2/10 travellers · 160 reviews
Saloni
Montalcino · €€€ · Upscale
reliability medium
≈ 50 € / pers.
9,7/10 travellers · 7 reviews
The verdict
Pura Crocus and Castello Banfi La Taverna neck and neck
8,0 versus 7,8: the gap is too small to separate them on the overall rating. The choice comes down to the criteria that matter to you, below.
Choose Castello Banfi La Taverna if…
- Tuscan table under the vaults of the former wine cellars of Castello Banfi, with wild boar pici, Maremma tortelli and Val d'Orcia pecorino
Its weak point in this head-to-head: rapport qualité/prix (6,8). €70 per person in the luxury range: mains at €34-40, bistecca at €115 for two. Named products and homemade pasta, but a high bill.
Choose Pura Crocus if…
- you prioritise rapport qualité/prix (8,2 vs 7,2) : Handmade pici at €16, mains from €19 to €25 and desserts at €8, with named products: gentle prices for careful cooking, with no supplement indicated.
- your budget matters: from €30 / pers., the lowest price in the head-to-head
Choose Saloni if…
- you trust travellers: 9,7/10 from 7 reviews, the best rating in the head-to-head
Its weak point in this head-to-head: typicité locale (6,9). A few named regional dishes (pinci with lamb ragù, bistecca alla fiorentina, battuta di chianina), but the menu remains mostly Mediterranean and creative.
Reliability high / medium : ratings based on the file of each listing and 7 to 160 traveller reviews, not on a stay by our team · Ratings of the 20 October 2026 · Our rating method
Criterion by criterion
The 5 criteria of the score
Why these ratings?
Castello Banfi La TavernaTraveler rating 9.2/10 from 140 reviews: within the top 42% of the catalogue.
Pura CrocusTraveler rating 9.3/10 from 160 reviews: within the top 35% of the catalogue.
SaloniTraveler rating 9.7/10 on 7 reviews: behind 88% of the catalog (too few reviews to weigh much: the score is pulled toward the average).
Why these ratings?
Castello Banfi La TavernaTraveler rating 9.2/10 from 140 reviews: within the top 40% of the catalogue.
Pura CrocusTraveler rating 9.4/10 from 160 reviews: within the top 26% of the catalogue.
SaloniTraveler rating 10.0/10 on 7 reviews: behind 86% of the catalog (too few reviews to weigh much: the score is pulled toward the average).
Why these ratings?
Castello Banfi La TavernaTraveler rating 9.6/10 from 140 reviews: within the top 16% of the catalogue.
Pura CrocusTraveler rating 8.7/10 from 160 reviews: behind 61% of the catalogue.
SaloniTraveler rating 9.4/10 on 7 reviews: behind 84% of the catalog (too few reviews to weigh much: the score is pulled toward the average).
Why these ratings?
Castello Banfi La Taverna€70 per person in the luxury range: mains at €34-40, bistecca at €115 for two. Named products and homemade pasta, but a high bill.
Pura CrocusHandmade pici at €16, mains from €19 to €25 and desserts at €8, with named products: gentle prices for careful cooking, with no supplement indicated.
SaloniPrices consistent with the menu: antipasti 18-24 €, primi 21-26 €, secondi 25-38 €, for named products (chianina, guinea fowl) and refined preparations.
Why these ratings?
Castello Banfi La TavernaVery regional menu: pici with wild boar, tortelli maremmani, ribollita, Val d'Orcia pecorino, Poggio alle Mura oil; few dishes outside the repertoire.
Pura CrocusRegional menu: handmade pici with aglione from Val di Chiana, chianina ragù, pecorino, Val d'Orcia cheeses, ham aged 22 months.
SaloniA few named regional dishes (pinci with lamb ragù, bistecca alla fiorentina, battuta di chianina), but the menu remains mostly Mediterranean and creative.
Features
Price, village, amenities
What is written on the listing. “Not specified” is not “no”.
| Criterion | Castello Banfi La Taverna | Pura Crocus | Saloni |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded price | ≈ 70 € / pers. | ≈ 30 € / pers. | ≈ 50 € / pers. |
| Village | Montalcino | Montalcino | Montalcino |
| Traveller rating | 9,3/10 · 140 reviews | 9,2/10 · 160 reviews | 9,7/10 · 7 reviews |
| Reliability of our score | high | high | medium |
| Cuisine | Tuscan cuisine | Italian cuisine | Italian cuisine |
| Price | €€€€ · Gastronomic | €€ · Mid-range | €€€ · High-end |
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