Some of our favourite restaurants/bars/food shops:
Alba
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– 3* Michelin experience with sensibly priced quality wine. 3 tasting menus (7, 9 and 12 courses). Worth the stars.
Pizzeria La Ducchessa- Via Ospedale 5 (+39 0173 441346). Straightforward pizza house, and other Piemontese cucina.
Ryogin– amazing fixed priced Japanese lunch menu
Vincafe– great selection of wines by the glass and incidentally good coffee in the main shopping thoroughfare
Voglia di Vino– cosy wine bar tucked away behind via Maestra. Excellent selection of wines and good simple food.
Acqui Terme
I Caffi – Worth the detour for this family-run stylish Michelin starred restaurant. Also Brasserie for steaks in the evening
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.
La vite turchese– best bar in Barolo with extensive selection of local wines and from other areas and countries
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
Borgomale
Cascina Pistone- Via Alba 14 (+39 0173 529285). Silvio Pistone makes the most incredible traditional cheese from raw sheep milk: a unique local Langhe breed . Make sure that you book several days in advance for a €25 lunch tour and tasting.
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
Villa Tiboldi – sensational views, surrounded by the Malvirà vineyards. And the food’s good.
Canelli
Ristorante San Marco – with a Michelin star for 25 years they certainly know how to do it. Outstanding service and Piemontese Cucina.
Canove di Govone
Pizzeria Le Fate- Via Alcide De’ Gasperi 81 (0173 621636). Great family restaurant serving super pizza; large and thin with some different toppings e.g. mexican. As well as a full menu
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
Le vigne e i falò– friendly family restaurant and wine (Massucco) overlooking the vineyards. Excellent, imaginative fixed price menus
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
Wine Story – Charming vineria/enoteca/ristorante in the old centre. Follow on Facebook to hear about themed evenings.
Castellinaldo
Osteria delle Aie- Via Roma 29, Castellinaldo (+39 0173 213 098). Wonderful venue for a long, relaxing Sunday lunch but not just that . Excellent wines served in magnums.
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
Ristorante L’Argaj– contemporary interior, outside terrace with great views. Super fixed menus especially the Chef’s choice
Cherasco
Da Francesco– elegant Michelin starred restaurant with affordable fixed price menus
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
Costa dei Tigli – typical agriturismo serving excellent lunches
La Barbera – choice of elegant and rustic settings in the castle which houses an international cooking and enoteca training school
Ristorante Collavini – Like an English country pub, using fresh local ingredients for top Piemontese cucina.
Ristorante Millenium- Corso Lange 22, Costigliole d’Asti (+39 0141 969359) . Half 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
Isola d’Asti
Il Cascinale Nuovo– One of the best restaurants around. Deservedly Michelin starred and now a firm favourite
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.
Magliano Alfieri
Stefano Paganini- Alla Corte Degli Alfieri – a gem in beautiful surroundings (the castle). Stefano is a young, passionate, talented chef, ably assisted by his charming wife in front of house.
Mango
Az.Ag. Brusalino– Piemontese cucina and house wines with great views over the Barbaresco zone
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 selling all manner of local delicacies. Luca and Michaela (& Graziella) are super hosts.
Birrificio Citabiunda – buzzy microbrewery with an interesting selection of beers and pub food
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.
Degusto – yet another super friendly restaurant wine bar serving quality food and local wine. Spectacular terrace good weather. Front of house Andrea is smiley and quirky
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) , Excellent lunch menu and restaurant/Pizzeria in the evening. Dario regularly shares Sardinian specialities.
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 Torre del Monastero– Via Santa Maria del Piano, 14 (+39 339 7953482). Fantastic local restaurant/wine bar run by Eugenio & Caterinà with excellent local cucina. greatl selection of local wine; often frequented by local producers. Try the tagliata or costata
Porta San Rocco– cosy family-run wine bar offering their own all organic wines i.e.Massimo Rivetti
Ristorante Donna Selvatica– welcome classy addition to Neive dining. Outside terrace with superb views over the vineyards towards Barbaresco
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
Locanda San Giorgio– Spectacular setting inside and out. Good Piemontese cucina with twists.
Lo Sprin– Excellent traditional Piemontese cucina in this super friendly family restaurant. Good local wines.
Poirino
Trattoria del circolo di Favari- Piazza Don Fasino 7, Fraz. Favari, Poirino (+39 0119453066, +39 339 8884228). Sensational Eel and Tench specialities “in carpione”
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.
San Rocco Seno d’Elvio
Osteria d’Italia (+39 0173 286942). Excellent local fare in the smallest Barbaresco commune. Try the fried porcini and the lamb cutlets and share your pasta.
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.
Trezzo Tinnela
Tres– charming local cuisine with a twist and interesting wine list
Verduno
Trattoria dai Bercau– excellent inexpensive trattoria, ideal for eating out in the summer with a children’s playground attached