Lucca Summer Festival: where to eat and have a glass of wine before the concert
In short. Every summer, the Lucca Summer Festival brings big open-air concerts to Lucca. Tomkat, a wine bar with a kitchen, is at Via Calderia 12, in the old town, a five-minute walk from Piazza Napoleone and about fifteen minutes from the concert area just outside the city walls, near Porta San Pietro. On concert days we open at 6 pm, Sundays included: you can start with a glass of wine or a tasting, then have a casual dinner with dishes to share, and walk to the concert. On concert nights, it’s worth booking early.
The 2027 concerts
The 2027 edition, which the festival calls its 30th-anniversary edition (it started in 1998), takes place entirely in the Area Mura Storiche, the lawn just outside the walls near Porta San Pietro and the train station. The concerts announced so far all start at 9 pm:
- Sunday, July 11: Mariah Carey
- Saturday, July 17: Muse
- Sunday, July 18: Santana
- Monday, July 19: Toto
- Tuesday, July 20: Take That
- Friday, July 30: Simply Red
Official dates, venues and tickets are on the festival website. We update this list as new names are announced.
Wine and dinner before the concert
The festival announces gate opening times on its website. If you want to be close to the stage, you’ll need to get in early; if you’d rather not rush, there’s plenty of time for a glass of wine and dinner. Here’s how the evening can go at Tomkat:
- From 6 pm, a glass of wine or a tasting. Tomkat’s Choice Tasting starts at 20 euros and can be booked for one person; our wine list has almost 200 labels from Italy and France, and every evening there’s a selection of wines by the glass. We only serve wine: no cocktails, Prosecco or beer. For a toast, there’s Champagne.
- Then a casual dinner. Our Kitchen and Pantry dishes are made for sharing: you can have a good meal without spending the whole evening at the table. The menu changes with the seasons: the current one is on the Menu page.
- Finally, walk to the concert. From Via Calderia, walk through Piazza San Michele and Piazza Napoleone and out through Porta San Pietro: about fifteen minutes to the concert area. There are lines at the gates and IDs are checked at big concerts, so it’s best to leave at least 45 minutes before the show.
How to book
- Online on OpenTable, from the Book page: you can see available tables right away.
- Tastings are booked and paid for online on the Tastings page.
- If you can’t find the time you want online, message us on WhatsApp or call +39 376 203 5395.
- For groups of 4 or more we ask for a card as a guarantee.
- Allergies and intolerances: please tell us when you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Lucca Summer Festival?
Every summer, mostly in July. In 2027 the concerts announced so far run from July 11 to July 30.
Where are the concerts held?
In 2027 every concert is in the Area Mura Storiche, the lawn just outside the walls near Porta San Pietro and the train station. In previous years, concerts were also held in Piazza Napoleone.
How far is Tomkat from the concerts?
The Area Mura Storiche, where the 2027 concerts are held, is about a fifteen-minute walk, out through Porta San Pietro. Piazza Napoleone is about 300 meters away, a five-minute walk.
Are you open on concert nights?
Yes. During the festival we open at 6 pm, Sundays included: in 2027 that means Sunday, July 11 (Mariah Carey) and Sunday, July 18 (Santana) too. The rest of the year we’re open Monday to Saturday from 6 pm.
The Tomkat team