12 Best Restaurants in Ticino, Switzerland

The oldest of the city's castles boasts a chic, modern restaurant that offers a serious experience, with daringly cool, postmodern decor, sophisticated cuisine from chef Cyrille Kamerzin, and a wine list that includes more than 70 Ticino Merlots. Downstairs, the more casual Grotto restaurant has a lighter atmosphere, and its stunning summer terrace is a great spot to soak up views and sunshine.

This absolutely authentic, no-frills place pulls in a local crowd for a good bottle of Ticinese wine and a satisfying, contemporary spin on old favorites like homemade pasta, roasted meat, and fresh fish. The dedicated owners pride themselves on high-quality ingredients with absolutely no additives. In summer, patrons can dine on the terrace under the shade of centuries-old sycamore trees.

Across from the waterfront east of the town center, this unashamedly nouvelle restaurant serves innovative Franco-Italian cuisine that's absolutely top quality. You can have an aperitif on the lakefront terrace before sitting down to a meal in a chic environment with warm terra-cotta tiles and dark-wood furniture. There are meal plans to suit every wallet, from the moderately priced business lunch to the lavish five-course menu de dégustation (sampling menu). 

Shaded by a grove of plane trees, this eatery's superb terrace is one of the most romantic in town, and chef Domenico Rezza pursues nuova cucina (contemporary Italian cuisine) with ambition and flair, proving he has real culinary dazzle. Casual yet sophisticated cuisine reigns, with regional Italian dishes as well as local favorites like freshly caught lake fish all subtly featuring unusual flavor combinations.

The politics lean left at this town classic, where the sprawling terrace spills out onto the square, and the crowds come more for the ambience than the food. Among the Italian favorites, the amazingly delicate piccata alla Milanese (veal cutlets pounded thin, coated in egg, and sautéed) is a standout. Also popular are the spicy penne all'arrabbiata (pasta with a spicy tomato sauce) or any of the 20 varieties of pizza. Red-checkered tablecloths and occasional appearances by local politicos round it all out.

Extraordinary art in all forms is the trademark of this Michelin-starred location at the atmospheric Villa Castagnola, where paintings and sculptures from a variety of artists line the walls and halls and exhibitions change twice yearly. Chef Frank Oerthle has a way with seafood: specialties change seasonally but can include steamed oysters with caramelized spring onion and wasabi-infused scallops. But be sure to save room for the desserts, whose deliberated presentation bring new meaning to the term culinary art.

The tables of this bustling restaurant spread onto the piazza overlooking the lake, while inside rough wooden ceilings, marble-top tables, chandeliers, and a hodgepodge of photos and posters add to its charm. Look for the spaghetti with porcini, bacon, and cream, along with daily and seasonal specials. If you haven't met your weekly pizza quota, try the simple Margherita—a crispy classic that never goes out of style. The wine list, with more than 100 Italian and Swiss vintages, deserves consideration.

From the heights of the ancient Castello di Sasso Corbaro, this atmospheric restaurant serves meals inside a beautifully restored hall, and in the summer you can dine alfresco at sturdy granite tables in the shady, walled-in courtyard. The cooking, Mediterranean with French touches, includes fresh seafood, good local wines round out the experience, and the 45-minute walk up from the rail station is a virtuous prelude to indulging in desserts like creamy panna cotta and homemade tiramisu.

Tucked down an alley off Via Pessina, this cozy basement taverna squeezes loyal locals and tourists onto hard wooden chairs and benches for authentic regional specialties, hearty meats, and pastas. Ticinese wines are served in traditional ceramic bowls—try a strong red to cut through the thick polenta taragna, made of cornmeal and buckwheat (once you try it, you will never eat the bland yellow version again), served with luganighe, cumin-flavored local sausages. End your meal with strong espresso matched with light, melt-in-your-mouth tiramisu.

The grill is the first thing you see in this grotto-style eatery specializing in pure and simple seafood alla griglia (grilled). Homemade pasta is another specialty, and when the two are combined, as in the house favorite—linguine allo scoglio (with shellfish)—plates are left cleaner than whistles. The decor is a study in refined linen and rustic wood, and the service is helpful and down-to-earth. The restaurant is at the end of a cul-de-sac in a residential neighborhood, not far from the Lugano South exit on the autostrada.

Snow-white tablecloths and chairs stand out against shiny, dark hardwood floors in this open, minimalist restaurant. The attentive staff and personable owner are quick to bring you modern Italian dishes and a fine selection of fresh fish, as well as vegetarian-pleasing delights like balsamic-marinated tofu with grilled vegetables. They also retreat to let you linger over coffee. Favored by locals, it's one of the few greats in town, with few or no tourists in sight.

The Seven Group has taken over little Ascona, with several locations spanning the promenade, including an upscale gastronomic restaurant, a dedicated seafood offering, an Asian-inspired sushi joint, and a casual bistro. If you're not in the mood for fine dining, head to the more relaxed Seven Easy, which serves tasty pizza and lighter fare. On Friday and Saturday night, this is the place to see and be seen in the area. Although many restaurants close in the winter, Seven Easy is open all year.