Lugano
This Michelin-starred restaurant at the exclusive lakefront Villa Castagnola is Lugano’s culinary star. Chef Frank Oerthle does remarkable things with…
Must-see restaurants in Ticino
-
Ticino
Super-chic Ecco flaunts two Michelin stars and dining here is an event. Chef Rolf Fliegauf runs the stove and works wonders with carefully selected…
-
Lugano
One for special occasions, Metamorphosis is housed in Lugano's futuristic Palazzo Mantegazza, right by the lakeshore. Chef Luca Bellanca walks the…
-
Ticino
Slip up a cobblestone side street to find this cracking little trattoria, brimming with warmth and bonhomie. The brick-vaulted interior is inviting for…
-
Locarno
Hidden up a flight of steps, Osteria Chiara has all the cosy feel of a grotto (rustic Ticino-style inn or restaurant). Sit at granite tables beneath the…
-
Lugano
Huddled down a backstreet near Piazza della Riforma, this convivial, rustic restaurant rolls out extremely tasty Ticinese home cooking. You might begin,…
-
Locarno
Elegant rusticity sums up this smart restaurant, with its beamed ceiling, crisp white tablecloths and open fire, as well as a smattering of pavement…
-
Locarno
Down by the lake, this is a top culinary address, turning out creative fusion dishes like pigeon served two ways with green curry and lime, and panna…
-
Lugano
Bold artworks grace this contemporary gourmet haunt, while Francis plies you with such season-infused taste sensations as scallops and caviar on a bed of…
-
Ticino
Seasonality is the name of the game at this Michelin-starred temple to good food, housed in a slickly converted palazzo in the old town. Creations such as…
-
Ticino
Spilling onto a flower-strewn garden in summer and with a log fire blazing in winter, this grotto (rustic Ticino-style inn or restaurant) is an…
-
Lugano
Follow the cobbled steps down from Via Cattedrale to this enticing little osteria. The candlelit, brick-vaulted interior is a wonderfully intimate setting…
-
Ticino
Luca Braghelli takes pride in local sourcing and makes the most of whatever is in season at this smart, intimate osteria. Be it homemade pasta or autumn…
-
Lugano
Doing pretty much what it says on the tin, this cute little place near Cattedrale di San Lorenzo has a pocket-size terrace for digging into fresh home…
-
Lugano
Favoured by Lugano's downtown banking brigade, this place has a season-driven menu, with ever-changing lunch and dinner options scrawled on the blackboard…
-
Lugano
With an atmosphere that's both refined and relaxed and attentive service, this sweet little restaurant opposite Lugano's lakefront serves up classic…
-
Grottino Ticinese di Bellinzona
Ticino
It's worth going the extra mile to experience convivial Ticinese-style dining in a grotto. This one is the real deal, with a tree-shaded terrace, warm…
-
Ticino
Sizzling and stirring since 1685, this restaurant stays true to the best of Ticinese traditions, with a rustic, vaulted interior and a large terrace for…
-
Locarno
One for oenophiles, this bottle-lined wine bar and bistro has a convivial vibe and simple but spot-on dishes such as asparagus salad with parmesan, steak…
-
Ticino
Taking pride in local sourcing and keeping things as seasonal as possible, this buzzy bistro is a good option close to the train station. Besides pizza,…
-
Ticino
With a cracking view of Foroglio's wispy falls from its terrace, this osteria is simply lovely. Sit at one of five timber tables by the fireside for…
-
Ticino
Fresh produce from Alpine cheeses to fresh bread, salumi and fruit is sold at the Saturday morning market in the lanes of the historic centre on and…
-
Ticino
If you're craving the rustic warmth and simplicity of a Ticinese grotto, this is your place. There's an attractive garden for summer day dining and a menu…
-
Lugano
In the best of grotto traditions, this cheery place up on a hill has a huge terrace shaded by trees and chipper staff. Go for the house specialities like…
-
Ticino
Giardino attracts a faithful local following for its pizza – thin, crisp and delicious. The house special B'zona comes with parmesan, cured meat, tomatoes…
-
Ticino
At off-the-beaten-track Grotto Val d’Ambra in Personico, try brasato (beef braised in red wine) with home-produced wine in the chestnut-shaded garden…
-
Ticino
From the terrace you can look out to a waterfall darting over a wooded cliff face at this delightful little grotto. The polenta and costine (spare ribs)…
-
Ticino
It’s not often you get the chance to eat inside a Unesco World Heritage Site. The medieval castle setting alone is enough to bewitch. Seasonal…
-
Ticino
For the best view of Bellinzona’s illuminated castles, book a table on the vine-strewn terrace of this atmospheric vaulted cellar for dishes such as…
-
Lugano
Set back from Lugano’s sailing club, this is the place for local fish and Ticinese dishes like polenta crostini with porcini. The terrace overlooking the…
-
Locarno
This classy, light-filled cafe is right at home in Locarno's old town with some outdoor tables on the lane, free wi-fi and a small but light menu that…
-
Lugano
Up the steps on Via Cattedrale, this hole-in-the-wall gelateria is a great place to grab a cone, with flavours ranging from classic strawberry to chilli…
-
Lugano
With a prime people-watching terrace on Piazza della Riforma, Vanini is a firm favourite among locals for its quality gelato. Grab a cone to go or take a…
-
Locarno
Even locals rave about the crisp, flavoursome takeaway pizza at this hole-in-the-wall snack spot. Delizioso!
