10 best restaurants not to be missed in Piedmont in 2023

Cinzia and Antonino Cannavacciuolo's Turin bistrot, a few steps from the Neoclassic Chiesa della Gran Madre, is more than a mere spin-off of Villa Crespi, chef Antonino's sumptuous three-starred restaurant on Lake Orta. This two-storey venue equipped with a scenic outdoor area boasts a super chic and refined ambience. Anyway, don't be put off by the extra sophisticated environment, because a cool staff and a reassuring feng shui-inspired set-up make its atmosphere cosy and casual. So, what can you expect from Cannavacciuolo Bistrot? A clear culinary format synthesised in the mouth-watering menus by Emin Haziri, the young chef at the helm of the Michelin-starred Bistrot. All the dishes are a well-combined explosion of northern and southern Italy flavours. The wine list is among the most interesting in town.

Among the best restaurants in Piedmont, Anna Ghisolfi's in Tortona stands out for its lively concept and menu. You'll find it in the central Via Giulia in a spacious, bright, crazy location: the ancient Oratorio del Crocefisso, a deconsecrated church from the 16th century. Amidst the wrought-iron tables spread out along the nave, the eclectic chef prepares dishes with a flash of originality and great passion. Watch her at work in the open kitchen positioned in the ancient apse: a true altar of taste. Seasonality with a focus on the vegetable element marks the menu. A careful choice of wines and an all-female brigade complete the mosaic. You'll definitely enjoy your meal. 

A fresh, young restaurant where traditional Piemontese cuisine combines with just the right amount of creativity. Il Trittico Osteria is located in the centre of Alba and promises journeys of taste in a comfortable atmosphere. For us, it's one of the best restaurants in Piemonte for 2023. We love it for the attention to raw materials, the minimal chic mise en place, and the delicate and sparkling ambience designed by Chiara, Andrea and chef Mirko, friends and creators of the project. Well-harmonised flavours and a few exciting twists depict dishes to eat with a glass of Langhe-Roero wine (Il Trittico boasts a wide choice of divine bottles).

If you are not familiar with Piemontese cuisine, this is the right place to meet the region's most typical dishes. La Taverna dei Mercanti is a simple and cosy spot with a feel-like-home atmosphere that will make you want to come back. You'll really feel the warmth of a familiar place while having a meal in its intimate and rustic setting surrounded by a friendly and never-intrusive staff. Don't miss it if you are in Turin because it's one of the best restaurants in Piedmont. We loved its classic, simple menu with a good choice of vegetarian options, appreciated the quality of ingredients and final dishes, and admired its 'al bacio' portions.

We move to Ivrea, the city of Adriano Olivetti's concrete utopia and one of the capitals of Italian carnival celebrations. In Rione San Maurizio you'll find one of the best restaurants in Piemonte: Diego and Cinzia's cosy osteria. The menu rounds up traditional dishes revisited with no risk of blasphemy. The experience of Diego Mancin, a chef with a long list of collaborations with European cuisine's great names (like Gordon Ramsay and Gualtiero Marchesi), is all in his preparations, changing season after season. The mouth-watering tip: try the seared scallops. The bonus: a well-stocked wine cellar with an attractive selection of labels.

Seasonality and zero-kilometre products are the best features of this quaint restaurant in green Val d'Ossola. It really tantalises sight and palate! Find it in a small 17th-century hamlet soaked up in the woods of Domodossola. La Tensa is one of the best restaurants in Piemonte and is part of an incredible estate which is a spectacle in itself. Staying here, you can take advantage of the many cultural activities and sporting opportunities the area offers. As for food, we must declare: La Tensa has won us over. Its simple, contemporary, well-thought-out culinary concept and dishes prepared with the skilful use of high-quality raw materials produced locally are a must-try.  

Barbaresco is a small town in the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato UNESCO World Heritage area. Famous for producing the eponymous wine, this pretty village near Cuneo is an attractive destination for food and drink lovers. Here you can eat in one of the best restaurants in Piemonte: the lovely Bistrot Antinè. Fresh and modern, chef Manuel Bouchard's restaurant proposes brilliant cuisine that brings out the flavours and aromas of a jewel of an area. A well-chosen minimalist menu, a fine wine selection, and a sober and elegant ambience warmed by an attentive and amiable staff makes Bistrot Antinè a must-recommended. Even for an audience of young gourmets.

What happens when you put together an avant-garde chef, an Oscar winner and a superstar architect? Find the answer in a former power station home to the surprising groundbreaking corner of the Torinese gastronomic scene: Condividere. A Micheline star spot, this surreal, informal, extravagant and pop restaurant saw the light thanks to the collaboration between Ferran Adrià, Dante Ferretti and Cino Zucchi. The name betrays a concept open to conviviality and cheerfulness typical of Mediterranean-style eating and is devoted to a surprisingly fun and accessible idea of alta cucina. Chef Federico Zanasi's courses are a festival of flavours paying homage to Italy and Spain. Obviously, one of the best restaurants in Piemonte.

Marco Sacco's two-Michelin-starred restaurant on Lake Mergozzo is immersed in the Piemontese landscape with taste, harmony and a certain amount of theatricality. The same characteristics are put in a menu that is innovative and lovingly designed according to the pillars of the house: research and contamination. Of worlds and flavours. The unforgettable experience is at the chef's table, an exciting front row facing the (exceptionally beautiful) kitchen. A privileged position where you can watch the preparation of an ad hoc culinary journey with no limits of courses.

Fre, the culinary outpost of the exclusive Réva Resort in Monforte D'Alba, promises emotions for the heart and palate. A Michelin star crowns this breathtakingly located restaurant guided by the mastery of executive chef Francesco Marchese. Amidst the Langhe vineyards and hills, you can enjoy a highly respectable menu inspired by the territory and compiled with the flair of renowned chef Yannick Alléno. Local ingredients and not too whispered references to French (haute) cuisine make Fre one of the best restaurants in Piedmont. Also, take notice of the stylish bistro where you can try the star-studded experience in a smart, informal format.