Dining

One of Cervinia’s best restaurant is the Hotel Hermitage (0166- 948998; photo left). It is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack when it comes to fine cuisine. But let’s face it, most of us would rather have a good typical meal in a traditional setting in the mountains. Here Cervinia has plenty to offer.

Maison de Saussure (0166-948259) gets rave reviews from the critics and even locals have to make advanced reservations to get a seat for a cozy traditional mountain meal. It only seats about 30 people, so, call before you get here.

After asking locals, several restaurants seemed to be mentioned time and again. We’ll start with three which are on the slopes but reachable with a van or jeep if you call ahead—Baita Cretaz (0166-949914), Les Clochards (0166-948273) and La Bricole (0166-948274), Baita Alpe Layet (333.3420657). La Nicchia (0166-949842) serves good local specialties along with a larger menu in a much more modern and elegant atmosphere. Try bagna cauda, vegetables covered with an anchovy sauce; tomino, a delicate riccota, normally covered with parsley or peppers; bresaola, smoked ham from the mountain regions; lardo d’Arnaz, a fatty bacon that has been cured in a secret mountain concoction.

We were also told that Le Blason-Da Mario (0166-940039) and Hotel Punta Maquignaz’s Ymeletrob Restaurant (0166-949145; photo above) serve excellent meals. Just off the slopes next to the Cielo Alto chairlift, Casse Croute (0166-948783) provides good basic fare either for a slopeside lunch or a dinner later in the evening.

Many of the hotels such as Hotel Fosson, Mignon, Breithorn, Bucaneve (photo left), and Excelsior Planet are open to the public and have excellent kitchens.

Other recommended inexpensive eateries are Le Vieux Grenier (0166-948287), Matterhorn (0166-948518), Pavia (0166-949010) and Copa Pan (0166.949140). These were recommended by plenty of tourists and several British tour guides for good cheap fare and lots of it.

On the slopes, everyone seems to agree that Chalet Etoile (0166.940220) is the place to have lunch. They serve a full meal in a rustic mountain atmosphere.