Eating Out

Lugano’s cuisine is ecstasy for European food lovers and offers a mix of German, Mediterranean, Austrian, Swiss, Italian and international fare. The fine gourmet main courses and side dishes ordered at most restaurants are a little pricey, although extremely appetizing. Few things in Lugano, other than Swiss chocolates of course, can compare with the pleasure of biting into a thoroughly continental meal.  Here is a guide to eating out in Lugano.

Botegone de Vino

If you can overlook their tongue twisting names and items on the menu, most restaurants in Lugano serve remarkable fare and Botegone de Vino is no exception. Housed at Magatti 3, in the heart of Lugano, the 40-seat eatery is packed with locals and tourists who swear by their wines and fresh artichokes. The modern wood interiors complement a traditional Italian ambiance and offer a nice, informal dining setting complete with classic Mediterranean paintings. Try the mouth-melting black-squid risotto and lamp chops with red onions. Botegone de Vino also prepares a fine-tasting tuna filet and an array of sinful desserts, the favorites being fig sorbet and strawberry cheesecake. The menu rotates daily, but a few signature dishes and house specialties are always available. A main course here costs around 35 Swiss francs.

La Tinera This is one of the few reasonably priced eateries in Lugano. Located off Piazza Riforma, the eatery is a good option to eat to your heart’s content in a highly relaxed and informal atmosphere. The restaurant serves large portions of regional cuisine and offers local wine served elegantly in carafes.  Try their freshly-tossed pastas and risottos along with an assortment of grilled meat.

Locango del Boschetto

This unassuming, no-frills décor restaurant, located around Boschetto 8, is simply adorned and has concentrated all its efforts on making its food delicious. And that’s a good thing because you get to enjoy flavorsome spaghetti with an array of sauces along with delicious grilled calf liver. The highlight of the eating experience here is watching an adept chef cook fish and meat over a live counter of coals.

Principe Leopoldo

This is the kind of award-winning gourmet restaurant that every city hopes for. Located at via Montalbano 5, Principe Leopoldo serves eclectic international cuisine in a luxurious setting. The Gorgonzola risottos and fresh lobster risottos are to die for. Other impressive, but more expensive, items on the menu  are rabbit saltimbocca with sun-dried mushrooms, bass filet with red onions and fresh tomatoes and Scottish lamb topped with herbs. Visitors can also try grilled duck breast flavored with lemon. A main course here should cost between 30 TO 40 Swiss francs.

Lugano is a paradise for continental fare lovers and mixes its flavors skillfully to create superb signature dishes and phenomenal gourmet meals.