Le Marche is a wonderful part of Italy to explore if you love Italian food and wine. There are some superb restaurants in the area, several with Michelin stars, and whether you are looking for the height of sophistication, or want a delicious and unusual pasta dish, there will be a restaurant nearby that can cater for your preferences.

A cook service is also available at Santo Stefano, and several of our guests have requested recipes for the dishes that they have enjoyed. These are now available from the site by clicking here, and will be added to over time, as new recipes are developed.

In addition to local restaurants, there are some excellent fish restaurants - many of which are situated right on the beach - less than an hour away. What better way to spend time during the hottest part of the day than eating a mouth watering lunch, and sampling some of the region's outstanding wines?. One of our favourites is Uliassi at Senigallia, with a well deserved Michelin star. Their Menù Sorpresa consists of about ten courses, but each one should be savoured. Closer to home, but still on the beach is the wonderful Il Saraghino.

But if you prefer to stay closer to home, the area around Santo Stefano boasts some first class restaurants, and at very reasonable prices. Our favourites include Il Casolare dei Segreti, around two kilometres from Santo Stefano, and Da Piero at San Severino (about 20 minutes away) - too small to have its own website, but with some of the most delicious pasta we have ever tasted, all made by hand every day by the owner's mother.

We are happy to make your restaurant bookings for you, and can normally recommend some of the best dishes - as we try them regularly!

But many of our guests prefer not to leave the villa - sometimes for the whole of their holiday! We can organise a high class chef for a special party, or an excellent local cook to prepare breakfasts, lunches or dinners throughout your stay. The cook shops and prepares the food, the maid prepares the table, serves the meal and clears away, so that all you have to do is turn up! We can even provide the wine, if you would like to taste some of the best that the region has to offer, all at vineyard prices.