9 Best Restaurants in Piedmont and the Valle d'Aosta, Italy

The well-spaced tables and the ancient brick vaulting in this small, bright space set the stage for game, meat, fish, and seafood dishes served with creative flair. The level of service is very high, even by demanding Turin standards.

Dominated by stone arches, this welcoming eatery off Courmayeur’s pedestrian strip, run by the Garin family of nearby Auberge de la Maison fame, serves up tons of atmosphere along with elevated takes on traditional Valdostan dishes. The large menu offers a choice of hearty tried-and-true plates such as grandma’s salad, with ham, eggs, Mont d’Or cheese, and boiled potatoes, along with lighter fare like salmon trout with savoy cabbage.

In a contemporary villa built entirely of wood on the outskirts of Asti, chef Enrico Pivieri uses a mix of local and international ingredients to create new takes on traditional dishes with a global flair. The Shaken Horse is especially strong in seafood—rare for meat-heavy Piedmont—with such creative plates as gnocchi with cuttlefish ink in miso broth with smoked sardines and fried Sicilian anchovies with giardiniera (pickled vegetables in vinegar).

Chef Massimo Camia's restaurant is in an elegant and modern space, with views of the Barolo vineyards that surround the Damilano winery; the service is impeccable and the food is divine. The restaurant is outside the town of La Morra, a 20-minute drive to the southwest of Alba.

Diners can ski or hike (or drive, if they wish) to this charming alpine cabin at the foot of Mount Cervino decorated with a whimsical mix of cowbells and modern art. Alpage specializes in typical Valle d’Aosta cuisine, such as pappardelle with deer ragù and wild boar stew with polenta, using ingredients from small producers, along with a wonderful selection of wines from both local and other Italian producers.

This local favorite has a bright contemporary setting, with green and cream-color walls and just 10 tables, and it stays open late for postmovie and -theater crowds. Specialties change with the seasons, and include risotto, fresh pasta, and a fine cheese selection.

Famous for freshly made seasonal pasta dishes since 1872, this shop serves a packed lunch crowd all week long, with outdoor seating in the summer. Secondi and dolci are also available, but pasta is the main event.

If you are hankering for something different from the usual meat-based Piedmontese cuisine, give this simple, extremely popular family-run spot a try. They serve only seafood, and they do it well.

Just outside the Porta Pretoria, this simple and unpretentious restaurant serves hearty local dishes, including homemade pastas and desserts. They're also well-known for their tasty gluten-free recipes.