There aren’t many mountain restaurants on the slopes of Passo Tonale and its linked resort of Ponte di Legno. This means people who spend most of their time on the local Passo Tonale slopes in particular go back to the village for lunch, where there are plenty of bars that serve food and a few unpretentious restaurants.
Many places include local specialities on their menu – such as canerdeli (a type of bread dumping), pizzoccheri (a flat ribbon-like pasta) and sciatt (cheese-filled buckwheat fritters), as well as more conventional Italian dishes.
For further Passo Tonale inspiration, see our guides to the resort’s best accommodation and après ski.
On the mountain
Rifugio Petitpierre Corno d’Aola
An atmospheric hut built on the ruins of an old first world war fort, Rifugio Petitpierre Corno d’Aola is near the top of Corno d’Aola chairlift above Ponte di Legno, with an (easy) black run the only way down. There are fabulous views from the terrace. Great-value food includes pasta dishes, a huge mixed grill that’s enough to share and a very tasty gorgonzola pie. There’s also a hatch on the balcony that serves sandwiches and snacks.
Price: £
Contact: rifugiocornodaola.it
Rifugio Petitpierre Corno d’Aola serves a delicious gorgonzola pie
Credit: Socha
Capanna Valbione
The rustic Capanna Valbione chalet is at the top of the Valbione chairlift from Ponte di Legno, in a beautiful position overlooking a small lake and the mountains beyond. The ground floor is self-service and renowned for its excellent pizzas. Book upstairs for more sophisticated table-service food such as gnocchi with wild boar sauce, local speciality canerdeli, venison carpaccio and delicious desserts.
Price: ££
Contact: capannavalbione.com
Capanna Valbione sits in a beautiful position overlooking a small lake and mountains beyond
Il Faita
An old stone building that is also a hotel near the bottom of the Guiliana piste, Il Faita is almost underneath and near the top of the return Ponte di Legno-Tonale gondola. It has a big terrace and a simply furnished interior with wooden tables, chairs and benches. Top notch food includes local dishes such as pizzoccheri and pork shank with polenta, as well as better-known pasta dishes such as lasagne, tagliatelle with venison ragù and spaghetti carbonara, plus soups and burgers.
Price: £££
Contact: ilfaita.it
Though simply furnished, Il Faita has top quality food such as pork shank with polenta
In resort
Pizzeria Bar Alpi
The simple, family-friendly Pizzeria Bar Alpi has an extensive pizza menu including bacon with delicious chanterelle mushrooms, sausage, spicy Mexican-style and vegetarian options. Good soups and pastas too. Selection of craft beers as well as draught.
Price: £
Contact: 00 39 0 36 49 03 850; facebook.com/Pizzeria-Bar-Alpi/
Pizzeria Bar Alpi is straightforward enough offering an extensive pizza menu alongside some good soups and pastas
Il Focolare
Small, friendly and family-run, Il Focolare has pretty table settings and decor. There are lots of local specialities on the menu, such as canederli, pizzoccheri and a variety of stews with polenta. Delicious home pastas and sauces too and the tiramisu is to die for. Unsurprisingly, it is popular with locals and booking is essential.
Price: ££
Contact: 00 39 335 608 2713; facebook.com/Ristorante-Il-Focolare
Il Focolare serves canederli, a type of bread dumpling typical to the region
Credit: Manudri
Kro
Housed in a lovely old wooden building in Temù (just beyond Ponte di Legno), Kro is set in a courtyard, where diners may be greeted with mulled wine and canapés. The interior is very woody and atmospheric, with a stone cellar. The food served here earns Kro a mention in the Michelin guide, and beautifully presented dishes may include some unusual ones such as local speciality sciatt as a starter, drunken tagliolini with slightly spicy vegetable carbonara as a pasta and liquorice mousse as a dessert. There are plenty of more traditional options too, such as ravioli stuffed with game and mushrooms, black truffle risotto, slow cooked pork cheek in red wine and fabulous mandarin ice cream. Good home-made breads and excellent wine list.
Price: £££
Contact: 00 39 036 490 6411; facebook.com/kro.ristorante