Piedmont (Piemonte) is a large region in northwest Italy, ringed on three sides by the Alps and sloping down toward the Po Valley. Its capital, Turin, is a city of elegant arcades, royal palaces, and the landmark Mole Antonelliana. Beyond the city lie the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, home to Barolo and Barbaresco wines and Alba's prized white truffles, plus the serene shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. Piedmont is the birthplace of vermouth, gianduja chocolate, and the Slow Food movement.
Piedmont is one of Italy's great gastronomic regions, where the food culture is bound to the land, the seasons and the wine. From the hazelnut groves and white-truffle hills of the Langhe to the royal cafes of Turin, the cooking is rich, refined and unhurried. Signature ingredients include the prized white truffle of Alba (tartufo bianco), Castelmagno and Robiola cheeses, Carru's fassona beef eaten raw as battuta or vitello tonnato, Tonda Gentile hazelnuts, and a pantry of egg-rich tajarin pasta and stuffed agnolotti del plin. It is the birthplace of Slow Food (Bra) and of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Nebbiolo-based reds that anchor the region's tables, alongside Barbera, Dolcetto and the sparkling Moscato d'Asti. Turin adds its own layer of elegance with historic cafes, gianduiotto chocolate and the bicerin, the layered drink of coffee, chocolate and cream.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Piedmont.
Agnolotti del Plin
Small hand-pinched stuffed pasta filled with roast meats, classically served with butter and sage or in a meat reduction
Tajarin al Tartufo
Thin egg-yolk-rich ribbon pasta, traditionally served simply with butter and shaved white truffle in autumn
Vitello Tonnato
Cold sliced veal under a creamy tuna, caper and anchovy sauce, a Piedmontese antipasto staple
Carne Cruda all'Albese
Hand-chopped raw fassona veal dressed with olive oil, lemon and salt, often topped with truffle in season
Brasato al Barolo
Beef braised slowly in Barolo wine until tender, served with its dark, reduced sauce
Bagna Cauda
A warm communal dip of garlic, anchovies and olive oil for raw and cooked vegetables, eaten in the colder months
Bonet
A baked chocolate, amaretti and rum custard pudding, the classic Piedmontese dessert
Risotto al Barolo
Creamy risotto cooked with Barolo or Nebbiolo wine, often finished with Castelmagno cheese
Finanziera
An old Piedmontese ragout of cockscombs, sweetbreads and offal in a wine-and-vinegar sauce
Panna Cotta
Silky cooked-cream dessert that originated in Piedmont, served with caramel or berry sauce
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Del Cambio
Founded in 1757, this historic Turin restaurant facing Piazza Carignano blends gilded Baroque dining rooms with refined contemporary Piedmontese cooking. It holds a Michelin star and counts statesman Camillo Cavour among its past regulars.
Known for: Refined Piedmontese cuisine in a 1757 Baroque setting
Piazza Carignano 2, 10123 Torino TO, Italy
Combal.Zero
Davide Scabin's avant-garde restaurant sits within the Castello di Rivoli contemporary art museum just outside Turin. It is known for experimental, conceptual cooking that has long featured in international fine-dining rankings.
Known for: Avant-garde tasting menus inside a contemporary art museum
Piazza Mafalda di Savoia, Castello di Rivoli, 10098 Rivoli TO, Italy
Consorzio
A lively, market-driven osteria in central Turin championing small Piedmontese producers, natural wines and offal-forward traditional dishes. It is a favourite for an authentic, unfussy taste of the region's cucina.
Known for: Traditional Piedmontese dishes with natural wines
Via Monte di Pieta 23, 10122 Torino TO, Italy
Tre Galline
One of Turin's oldest restaurants, documented since the 18th century in the Quadrilatero Romano district. It serves classic Piedmontese cooking with a focus on bollito misto and historic recipes.
Known for: Historic Piedmontese cooking and bollito misto
Via Gian Francesco Bellezia 37, 10122 Torino TO, Italy
Porto di Savona
A bustling traditional trattoria under the porticoes of Piazza Vittorio Veneto, open since 1863. It is a reliable, atmospheric spot for hearty Piedmontese plates of pasta and meat.
Known for: Hearty traditional trattoria classics by Piazza Vittorio
Piazza Vittorio Veneto 2, 10124 Torino TO, Italy
Scannabue
A popular modern trattoria in Turin's San Salvario district known for generous, well-executed Piedmontese dishes and an extensive wine list. The carne cruda and fritto misto draw a steady local crowd.
Known for: Modern takes on Piedmontese classics in San Salvario
Largo Saluzzo 25/h, 10125 Torino TO, Italy
L'Birichin
Chef Nicola Batavia's elegant restaurant offering creative Piedmontese cooking with global touches in central Turin. It pairs a refined dining room with a well-curated wine selection.
Known for: Creative Piedmontese cuisine with international touches
Via Vincenzo Monti 4, 10126 Torino TO, Italy
Magorabin
A Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Marcello Trentini near Turin's Mole Antonelliana, serving inventive contemporary cuisine. The intimate black-toned room focuses on multi-course tasting menus.
Known for: Michelin-starred inventive tasting menus
Corso San Maurizio 61/b, 10124 Torino TO, Italy
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Piedmontese
Contemporary Piedmontese
Seafood
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Gianduiotto
Turin's ingot-shaped chocolate of cocoa and Piedmont hazelnuts, sold in cafes and chocolatiers across the city
Grissini
Crisp hand-stretched breadsticks (grissini torinesi) born in Turin, served at almost every table
Farinata di Ceci
Chickpea-flour flatbread, called bela cauda locally, baked in a wood oven and sold by the slice
Tramezzini
Soft triangular crustless sandwiches, a Turin cafe tradition perfected at Caffe Mulassano
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercato di Porta Palazzo
One of Europe's largest open-air markets, sprawling across Piazza della Repubblica with produce, cheese, meat and fish
Mercato Centrale Torino
Covered food hall inside the historic Porta Palazzo iron market with artisan stalls and regional specialities
Mercato di Alba
Saturday market in the heart of the Langhe truffle town, expanding into the famous truffle fair (Fiera del Tartufo) in autumn
Eataly Lingotto
The original Eataly megastore in a former Carpano vermouth factory, combining a market, food counters and restaurants
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch generally runs 12:30-2:30 PM and dinner from around 7:30-8 PM; many kitchens close between services
White-truffle season peaks October to early December, when Alba and the Langhe are busiest and prices climb sharply
Book Langhe and Michelin tables well ahead in autumn; weekday dinners are easier than weekend lunches in harvest season
A coperto (cover charge) of about EUR 2-4 (about $2-4) per person is normal and is not a tip; rounding up 5-10% for good service is appreciated
Order regional wine by the glass to match courses; most Langhe restaurants pour excellent Barbera and Dolcetto affordably
Many traditional osterie close on Sunday evening and Monday, and some Langhe spots shut for winter, so check ahead
- Vegetarian
- Reasonable options exist, especially antipasti, vegetable flans (sformati), peperoni, risotto and pasta with butter and cheese or truffle, though much classic Piedmontese cooking is meat-heavy
- Vegan
- More limited; ask for dishes without butter, cheese or egg-rich pasta. Larger Turin restaurants and Eataly cater better to vegans than rural osterie
- Gluten free
- Increasingly available in Turin and Alba; ask for 'senza glutine'. Note that egg pasta, breaded dishes and grissini contain gluten, while risotto and polenta dishes are naturally gluten-free
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | EUR 12-25 (about $13-27) per meal at a casual trattoria, cafe lunch or market food hall | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |