Swiss Alps, Switzerland Food Guide: 10 Swiss food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Lugano

February 29, 2020 Harland Bartelt

Find out what Swiss restaurants to try in Lugano. Perfectly positioned on a lake with the Alps at its back, lucky Lugano has a little bit of everything. Ride a cable car up Monte San Salvatore or Monte Bre for sunny panoramas of lake, rivers, mountains and red-roofed buildings. Explore the town's churches, cathedrals and the expressive and colorful Piazza della Riforma. Sample some slow-cooked Ticinese cuisine, explore the lake on a boat or spend the day at the lido with its Olympic-sized pool.
Things to do in Lugano

10. Canvetto Luganese

via Rinaldo Simen 14B, Lugano 6900 Switzerland Italian, Swiss, Mediterranean, European Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service, Outdoor Seating +41 91 910 18 90 http://canvettoluganese.ch
Food
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 132 reviews

Canvetto Luganese

Reviewed By Philip P

Strong points: quiet place; quite good service; very good food; changing (photos this time) art exhibition; social purpose (they work with some personnel that needs some social and so support).To be improved: for Italian norms we had antipasto and risotto, no main course - but here the risotto is the main course, so no meat or fish. Quite impersonal interior; 1 km from the city centre = nice walk ... if good weather.

9. Osteria Trani

via Cattedrale 12, Lugano 6900 Switzerland Swiss, Italian Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +41 91 922 05 05 http://www.trani.ch
Food
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4 based on 422 reviews

Osteria Trani

Reviewed By Shch25

Cozy ambience and really good food! The octopus appetizer was cooked perfectly - tender on the inside with a crispy outside and full of flavor. The burrata ravioli was flavored really well and the ingredients seemed fresh. Extensive wine menu and the tiramisu was also really good. Service was attentive. Definitely recommend this place! Good morning,thank you so much for sharing your experience at Osteria Trani Lugano. We focus on quality for our ingredients. The wine list referred more than 800 wines from all around the world. We hope to see you soon again.Best regards,F. Donati

8. Grotto Castagneto

via Nevaca 20 Ampio Parcheggio, Lugano 6979 Switzerland Swiss, Italian Dinner Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Free Off-Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Table Service, Accepts Credit Cards [email protected] +41 91 971 06 97 http://www.grottocastagneto.ch
Food
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4 based on 106 reviews

Grotto Castagneto

Reviewed By Za036

On the way down to Lugano we found this grotto.Charming really and a nice choice on the menu. Vegetarian options too.Service very friendly

7. Motto del Gallo

via Bicentenario 16 Taverne, Lugano 6807 Switzerland Italian, Mediterranean, Swiss, European Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Validated Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Parki [email protected] +41 91 945 28 71 http://www.mottodelgallo.ch
Food
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4 based on 262 reviews

Motto del Gallo

Reviewed By n0rbert07

Situated in a quiet corner of the Ticino, this place is special. Inside it is divided in several smaller beautiful decorated rooms; and in summer you can enjoy a "grotto-style" romantic terrace. The dishes are traditional mediterannean on the "modern" side. Wonderful. Very friendly service staff.

6. Locanda Gandriese

Via alla Chiesa 3, Gandria, Lugano 6978 Switzerland Italian, Swiss, Mediterranean, European Lunch, Dinner Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Reservations, Buffet, Digital Payments, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Free Wifi [email protected] +41 91 971 41 81 http://www.locandagandriese.com/
Food
Service
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4 based on 268 reviews

Locanda Gandriese

The restaurant & guest house is located in the historic center of Gandria, overlooking the Ceresio lake. From the interior terrace you can enjoy a spectacular view of the landscape in which it's located the village, one of the ten most beautiful of Switze

Reviewed By alohatripper

May 9I knew this resto would be a highlight. Our only Swiss lunch at a tiny locanda owned by Davide Crobe, originally from Sardinia, who has personally made his mark in a village overshadowed by Lugano. He stopped by to greet us.As we were the first diners, we could have any table including the few on the terrazza overlooking Lake Lugano, but rain threatened. The fresh persico fillets were outstanding while my wife had the ravioli. The food was delicious but the price was dear at 64E, but this locale seemed exceptional.

5. Grotto del Pep

via Arbostora 18, Lugano 6913 Switzerland Swiss, Barbecue Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Validated Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Cash Only, Accepts Credit Cards, Table [email protected] +41 91 994 43 36 http://www.grottodelpep.ch
Food
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4 based on 639 reviews

La cucina vera ticinese, è questo che vi possiamo offrire. La cucina tipica dal Ticino. Cucina calda dalle 12:00 alle 14:00, e dalle 18:30 alle 21:30.La storia del "Grotto del Pep", non si puo raccontare. Venite a viverla personalmente. A pochi passi dal

Reviewed By Avi P

Nice Cozy place for meat dinners. We had a nice carpaccio and local meats plate for starters, then ribs and steak for main. beers are nice (bottled), local Merlot wine is not as good as the Barbera.Local made deserts (chocolate muss, Tiramisu) were very good. Service is nice though on the slow side.Summary: nice cozy place for meat dinner. nice atmosphere. food is good not fine dining but very good. price is fair.

4. Grotto Morchino

via Carona 1, Lugano 6912 Switzerland Italian, Swiss, Mediterranean, Barbecue Lunch, Dinner Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Reservations, Validated Parking, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +41 91 994 60 44 http://www.morchino.ch
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4 based on 473 reviews

Grotto Morchino

A few steps away from Lugano a real, traditional, local grotto inside the green forest.Grotto Morchino at Pazzallo.The Grotto Morchino is a typical local restaurant, it has a cozy room inside with an open fire place and outside a cool, covered terrace. In

Reviewed By IhorM

Decent place for a dinner with very friendly service, but I wouldn't go out of my way to dine there again. We had Antipasti Morchino, grilled rabbit and luganighetta sausage. Cheese and most of the cold cuts were very good and I also enjoyed their sausage. I wasn't impressed with the rabbit though. The meat wasn't as juicy and flavorful as I expected. Also, I doubt that our dishes were done on actual grill. At least, I didn't see it outside, but it may be different during warmer time of a year. Also, keep in mind that they have menu only in Italian, so may want to check their English menu online.Hi IhorM,Thanks for your review.I'm glad that you enjoyed our specialities.As for the rabbit, I’ve to mention that’s usually not cooked on the grill in our area.We prepare it stewed served with its sauce and polenta.The meat of the rabbit is however a fairly dry meat without fat and therefore we prefer to prepare it stewed.The grill is located at the end on our summer terrace and from there all the grilled meats arrive, taken care of our “chef”.Ours is a typical place where we want to maintain its “typicality” by leaving the menu in our Italian language.For translations we have our website and the staff can explain the menu in English, French, German for those who do not speak Italian.Best regardsPierluigi Olgiati

What to do and see in Lugano, Switzerland: The Best Places and Tips

3. Osteria Calprino

Via Carona 28 6900 Lugano-Paradiso, Lugano 6900 Switzerland Italian, Swiss, Mediterranean, European, Central European Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Tabl [email protected] +41 78 240 33 33 http://www.osteriacalprinoghiotticlub.ch
Food
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Value
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4 based on 179 reviews

Osteria Calprino

Egregi signori, vi scrivo perché volevo pubblicare sulla home page la chiusura del ristorante per ferie dal 04/08 al 25/08. In attesa di una vostra risposta porgo distinti saluti

Reviewed By sgec1105

This small restaurant, with just 1 waitress and delicious food, is definitely worth a stop on your visit to Lugano/Paradiso. We enjoyed a delicious and very reasonably priced meal here. This is a cosy restaurant with the feel of a country inn, there are a few tables in each room, so do call ahead for a reservation. We had the grilled lambchops and there were mouth wateringly delicious!!!!

Top 10 restaurants in Lugano, Switzerland

2. Ristorante Galleria Arte al Lago

piazza Emilio Bossi 7, Lugano 6900 Switzerland Mediterranean, Italian, Swiss, Seafood, European Lunch, Dinner, Drinks Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +41 91 973 48 00 http://www.villacastagnola.com/en/gastronomy/restaurant-art%C3%A9-al-lago
Food
Service
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4 based on 396 reviews

Ristorante Galleria Arte al Lago

Restaurant Gallery Arté is the only 1 Michelin Starred Restaurant in Lugano. A theme restaurant inside an art gallery, it offers a magnificent and unique view over the gulf of Lugano as well as a dainty cuisine. Signature dishes of our Executive Chef Fran

Reviewed By gourmetwashington

First, this restaurant is needlessly pretentious. Second, the two other guests at my table ordered the tasting menu. I did not like all the options on the tasting menu, so I told the waiter, that I would order the same amount of courses and if he could please pair wine as well. He agreed. That is not what happened. While I was the only female at the table, I was given one glass of wine and treated with an air of snotty contempt. The food was just ho hum. It was not creative. It was mathematical in its presentation. Safe but what you can get at a multitude of other restaurants. I will say that the view is wonderful. But for almost $700 for 3 people, save your money. It is totally not worth it. They are very sadly resting on their one michelin star.Dear Guest, We would like to thank you for taking the time and effort to write this review.We are sincerely sorry to read that you were disappointed about your experience with us and that we did not meet your expectations on this night and we would like to apologise for that. We are sincerely sorry to read that you felt treated with an air of snotty contempt. Kindly note that it was not the waiters intention to make you feel that way and that they were sincerely sorry to read, in your review, that your experienced some discomfort during your dinner with us.We will discuss your comment about the Mathematical prensentation of the food and the non creativity of it with the Chef and his staff to improve.Sincerely

Most Popular Fusion food in Lugano, Swiss Alps, Switzerland

1. Vitti Laboratorio & Cucina

via Pretorio 2 Via Pretorio 2, Lugano 6900 Switzerland Fusion, Italian, Swiss, Pizza, European Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner, Drinks Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Table Service [email protected] +41 91 605 61 61 http://www.vitti.ch
Food
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3 based on 52 reviews

Vitti Laboratorio & Cucina

Vitti Restaurant is a Swiss an Italian Restaurant in the heart of Lugano. High level cuisine, cocktail Bar and cafè.

Reviewed By Kaichen88

We tried to find a nice spot in the city for lunch but left 2 other establishments because of no service. Came across Vitti and immediately liked the ambience. The lady serving us was extremely friendly and very helpful to assist in compiling a vegan friendly lunch menu. The food was very good but the standout was the service.Dear kaichen88, Thank you for choosing Vitti and for your recent visit in Our lovely lugano. We are very grateful for the time you have dedicated us, leaving a review on it. We really appreciate that your stay, that our staff, our facilities and our services have responded to your expectations. We Wait to give you a special welcome back soon. Best regards Vitti

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