Best Local Hotspots in Turin

In a recent post I mentioned that I have a good friend from Turin. Not only is she smart, gorgeous, and athletic (a Ph.D in chemistry and a SCUBA instructor), she is out on the town often, and knows the best places to go out. So on my request, she and another Torinese friend sat down to put together a list of the best local hotspots in Turin, right now. See the map at the bottom for locations of all the hotspots.

Best Aperitivo

Turin, Milan, and Parma are famous for their before-dinner-drink-with-unlimited-free-food aka aperitivo tradition. Go to Zonk to sip a cocktail, fill your plate from the free buffet, and people-watch before dinner. Tip: aperitivo bars are perfect when you're jet-lagged and hungry, and not sure you can make it until the restaurants open at 7.30 pm.

Best Reasonably-Priced Restaurant

There are lots of options for eating without breaking the bank (as long as you don't do the currency conversion). Try pizza, sandwiches in a café, buying groceries at the supermarket and having a picnic, or a kebab (see below). Or try the restaurant Quattro Soldi, which also has pizza, in Corso Castelfidardo, 7. Make a reservation. Phone 011.5621290

Best Pub

Have a beer and hang out with friends at Six Nations Pub, on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, number 28.

Best Kebab

Don't be fooled by spartan surroundings: great kebabs (kebaps in Italian) are found at Damir, who on his website promises "fresh local meat prepared by a Turk".

Best Chocolate Café

Go to Guido Gobino (web site is only in Italian and Japanese, interestingly) for a hot chocolate, or to sample some of the famous locally-made gianduiotto chocolate. Ask for suggestions on liqueur pairings, if you're there for dessert. Tied for first place in this category, and with a great historic atmosphere, is Baratti & Milano.

Best Unique Dining Experience

If your visit coincides with the monthly tram dinner (link in Italian), book it: you'll enjoy a 2-hour guided tram tour of the city while dining on local specialties and listening to live music.

Best Gelateria

Never leave an Italian city without sampling its gelato, and in Turin the place to go is Fiorio.

Best Pizzeria

Choosing a pizzeria in Italy is a serious task, and you don't want to go wrong. So head to Pizzeria Regina Margherita in Via del Carmine, 2. Phone 011.4310287. Equally great is Pizzeria Cristina on Corso Palermo 101. Phone 011.2481706. Always try to make reservations.

Best places to go for a high-end Italian meal

This is a hard one, only because Turin has so many great restaurants. And really, if you just walk around the Quadrilatero Romano neighborhood, you can't go wrong. I have my personal favorite which is not as high-end as the following suggestions. To wow your guests, or just to experience an unforgettable meal, go to Del Cambio, one of the most famous restaurants in Turin. The building is on the country's official list of Historic Places, and the food is worth it if budget allows. For something with a more rustic atmosphere, the Tre Galline specializes in local food and has had good reviews for three centuries.

If you're into gastronomic eclecticism, it's worth heading to the town of Rivoli, just outside of Turin, to dine at the Michelin-starred Combal.Zero. With incredible food, and views to match, this restaurant scores consistently high in reviews.

Best Foreign Restaurant

If you'd like a break from Italian food, but are looking for something higher-end than a kebab, Wasabi is an excellent Japanese restaurant, particularly known for its sushi and sashimi. Address: Corso Ferrucci 72, Phone 011.4473812

Best Discoteca

That would be Cacao, open every night of the week except Mondays. Tied in first place for hip places to go dancing is also Banus. There's no point arriving before midnight.

View Hotspots in Turin, Italy in a larger map

If Milan is on your itinerary, check out my list of Local Hotspots in Milan.

Photo of dancing by Sabrina Campagna; Photo of hot chocolate by Heliosphan; Photo of pizza by Madeline

Let Italy Beyond the Obvious plan your trip: have a look at the sample itinerary, or learn more

Comments

[jessie voigts]

wow! you're sure making me hungry, from the chocolate and the pizza! i'll bookmark this - thanks for the great recs!

[marina k. villatoro]

My friend's last name is Turin and we always used to joke that he should move to Turin, Italy! However, by reading this post, it doesn't sound like such a bad idea:)

[Madeline]

Jessie - great to hear. Hot chocolate in Italy is the best, isn't it!

Marina - LOL. Turin is overlooked by a lot of tourists in Italy (there's a lot of competition after all!) but I wouldn't be surprised if it became one of the top destinations. Not only because it's such an international and vibrant city, but because the countryside around it is so spectacular, AND it's close to the sea. The food is great, the wine is great.... what more can you ask for?

Thanks for the StumbleUpon, too.

[holyland tours]

Italy is a wonderful country with endless resorts excellent food and magnificent beaches. Your post makes wont to book a flight right away :)