Food

Some of our favourite restaurants/bars/food shops:

Alba

Bar La Braselera- Cosy modern bar on Piazza Savona with extensive outdoor seating to watch the world go by. Good selection of wines by the glass

Hasu- Japanese restaurant with beautiful decor set underground in a courtyard off Via Cavour with terrific set lunches. Great sushi and tempura.

La Birroteca “Terzo Tempo”- Beer shop and pub. take a break from the shopping for a beer. Dozens to choose from, from all over the world.

La Libera- stylish Piemontese cooking at its best

Osteria dell’Arco- Excellent Slow Food restaurant tucked away off Piazza Savona

Piazza Duomo- 2* Michelin experience with sensibly priced quality wine. 3 tasting menus (7, 9 and 12 courses)to €150. Worth the stars.

Vincafe- great selection of wines by the glass and incidentally good coffee in the main shopping thoroughfare

Barbaresco

Antinè – Michelin starred cuisine in the main street of this historic village

Rabaya - Homely piemontese cooking with one of the best outdoor terraces overlooking the vineyards and village

Barolo

La Cantinetta- Via Roma 33 (+39 0173 56198). Unpretentious place for lunch/dinner . Food a cut above. Try the egg yolk pasta.

Locanda nel Borgo Antico- classy air conditioned modern restaurant tucked away among the vineyards. Panoramic lounge

Ristorante Brezza- Homely, straightforward Piemontese restaurant with outside balcony dining with a fantastic view of the town

Rossobarolo- Excellent food and wine in the centre of Barolo

Benevello

Spaghettoteca Camplione- Loc. Manera (+39 529034). Aside from the traditional Piemontese fare, choose your type of pasta and then your sauce from a list of nearly 300!!! Creamy, spicy, signs of the Zodiac, 7 dwarfs etc

Bra

Osteria del Boccondivino- “Slow Food” at its best. SImple menu, delightful surroundings with wisteria covered balconies on 3 sides. Extensive, very well priced wine. Try the Cieck Erbaluce (dawn  light)

Giolito Cheese- Arguably the finest cheese shop in Italy run by the charming Fiorenzo (lock up your wives) Giolito

Calosso

Crota ‘d Calos-Via Cairoli 7 (+39 0141 853232). Good value Piemontese fare. Try the tasting menu and leave the wine choice to Sebastiano. Great views and covered outside dining.

Canale

Leon d’Oro secolare- Via Roma 12 (0173 979296) – Charming Piemontese family-run restaurant with Mama still overseeing the service. Excellent pasta and local specialities

Castagnito

Trattoria de Peso – Via Vezza 3 (0173 213148/3337 490666 – Great lunch venue with hearty Piemontese fare. Don’t ask for the menu there isn’t one. Only lunch, closed Mondays

Ostu di Djun – Via San Giuseppe (0173 213600 –  Quirky,  fun place for dinner. Luciano is the perfect host.

Castagnole delle Lanze

Osteria l’Oca Giuliva- Small typical menu but the steaks…..Tagliata, Costata, Fiorentina! Limited wine choice but tiny mark-up from cantina prices: try La Spinetta Cà di Pian or Malvira Langhe Arneis

Castiglione Falletto

La Terrazza- Lunch in typical Langhe style with a selection of antipasti  with wonderful views towards Serralunga

Locanda del Centro- don’t be put off by the unprepossessing exterior. The food is great

Ristorante Le Torri- sit on the terrace overlooking the Barolo vineyards. Unfussy quality

Cisterna d’Asti

Garibaldi- A step back in time. Wonderful atmosphere, service and traditional Piemontese cucina. Try the local wines: Enrico Vaudano “Marej” Barbera & “gaggìe” Arneis

Coazzolo

Ca ‘d Linet- 8 or 9 course traditional Piemontese experience. Outside terrace with great view. Weekends

Costigliole d’Asti

Ristorante Millenium- Corso Lange 22, Costigliole d’Asti (+39 0141 969359) . Decent chinese food if you’re craving something different. Tsingtao beer!

Gavi

Ristorante “La Canonica”- Vico Bassani, Gavi (+39 0143 643261). Simple, great value in a spacious cellar

Il Girasole - charming restaurant and hotel serving typical local food from a fixed price menu. Extensive local wine list

Grinzane Cavour

Ristorante al Castello- elegant dining with beautiful views. The Castle also houses the regional Enoteca and a Museum of the Langhe

Guarene

Io e Luna- Exceptional cuisine in a relaxed setting with al fresco dining overlooking the Langhe hills

La Morra

L’Osteria del Vignaiolo- S. Maria, La Morra (+39 0173 50335, osteriavignaiolo@libero.it). Cosy little restaurant with excellent Piemontese cooking and some outside dining. Closed Wednesday & Thursday.

Monforte d’Alba

La Salita- decent Piemontese cuisine served in unusual, arty surroundings. Good wine list.

Le Case della Saracca- contemporary meets medieval. Extraordinary setting for dinner or just a glass. Exceptional wine list and imaginative food

Osteria dei Càtari- Piemontese favourites served stylishly; tucked away off the narrow streets of the old town

Neive

Aromatario – best bar view in Neive. Since it changed hands it is a great place to sit with a glass of Fontanabianca, simple food and watch the world

Al Nido della Cinciallegra- Via Giachino 21 (+39 0173 67367) friendly, cosy bar and Enoteca in the historic centre

Carlin Carlota- Enjoy the stunning view of Barbaresco from the terrace drinking the Voghera family wine from the vineyard below. Limited choice but excellent home cooked Piemontese dishes.

Il Camino- best pizza, fish specialities and home made desserts. Good local wine list and house wine

I due regni- Corso R. Scagliola 13 (+39 3403948592). Friendly bar (open all day) and Pizzeria in the evening

Fiore di Pesco- Via Moniprandi 2, Bricco di Neive (+39 0173 67360). The charming Cinzia Bordino provides no menu or choice, just simple home-made fare  in eye-watering quantities washed down by her own wine. Weekends

La Contea- elegant dining in the historic centre with wine from their own vineyards. Their enoteca is across the piazza.

La Luna nel Pozzo- small intimate restaurant tucked away off the main street in the historic centre. Imaginative Piemontese cooking

La Torre del Monastero- Via Santa Maria del Piano, 14 (+39 339 7953482). Fantastic local wine bar with straightforward food. Wonderful selection of local wine; often frequented by local producers

Neviglie

First’s Filet- Via Trezzo Tinella 10, Neviglie (+39 338 2061490). The most amazing cured pork fillets in Barolo, Grappa (Levy) and herbs, and salamis and dried sausage. Primo (Montaldo) is a food hero

San Donato di Mango

Osteria della Posta (+39 0141 89112). Good straightforward Piemontese cucina. Large garden with stupendous views for summer Al Fresco dining.

Santo Stefano Belbo

Ristorante Stazione- Unexpected pleasure in an out of the way location. Interesting decor with hearty pasta and local cuisine

Serralunga d’Alba

Vinoteca Centro Storico- Via Roma 6 (+39 0173 613203). Great local wine selection, Barolo, and surprisingly, Champagnes! Simple, quality, local dishes in the shadow of the old castle.

Torino

Curry Zone – Top authentic Indian and Pakistani curry house in the centre of the city.

San Quintino 6 Wine Bar- Via San Quintino 6, Torino. Just the place for an aperitivo and their fantastic nibbles in the centre of town.

Shizen – Excellent Japanese restaurant for another ethnic fix. Just across the Po from the centre. Also runs cooking classes every month.

Treiso

La Ciau del Tornavento- Probably our favourite local restaurant. Everything you expect of a Michelin starred restaurant. Beautiful view from the terrace, super food, unobtrusive service and at a decent price. Fabulous wine cellar (50,000 bottles)

Trattoria Risorgimento- Viale Rimembranza 14 (+39 0173 638195). Quintessential family-run Italian Trattoria serving Piemontese fare and local wine.

Verduno

Trattoria dai Bercau- excellent inexpensive trattoria, ideal for eating out in the summer with a children’s playground attached