Category: TURIN FOOD
🕔 5 min. reading
✍️ Turin Why Not!
title article:
Where to Eat Traditional Food in Turin: Piole, Bagna Cauda & Historic Cafés
SUBTITLE:
Piedmontese cuisine is one of the richest, most comforting, and refined in Italy. From historic family-run “piole” (local trattorias) to elegant 19th-century cafés and modern restaurants reinventing tradition, Turin offers an unforgettable culinary journey. Here is your ultimate guide on what and where to eat for an authentic Torinese dining experience.
quick table of contents
📍In this article:
- Iconic Dishes of Traditional Piedmontese Cuisine
- Traditional “Piole”: The Authentic Soul of Torinese Dining
- 🍽️ Recommended Traditional Restaurant
- His Majesty Bagna Cauda and White Truffles
- Sweet Treats: Historic Cafés and the Bicerin Ritual
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. FIRST SECTION – Iconic Dishes of Traditional Piedmontese Cuisine
Before choosing where to sit down, it is essential to know the stars of the Piedmontese menu. The culinary experience starts with the Mixed Antipasti:
- Vitello Tonnato: Ultra-thin slices of cold roasted veal served with a velvety sauce made of tuna, capers, and eggs.
- Hand-Chopped Fassona Beef: Premium raw beef seasoned simply with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
- Insalata Russa: The local homemade vegetable salad bound with fresh mayonnaise.
For pasta lovers, Agnolotti del Plin (delicate handmade ravioli pinched and stuffed with three meats) and Tajarin (thin egg ribbons served with meat ragù or butter and sage) are absolute must-tries.
The tradition continues with robust and flavor-packed Main Courses (Secondi):
- Brasato al Barolo: Beef (often the “codone” cut) slowly braised in the renowned local red wine until it is extremely tender.
- Finanziaria: A historical and complex Savoy recipe made from noble offal and white meats cooked in a Marsala wine sauce.
Finally, you cannot conclude without the Typical Desserts of Savoyard pastry:
- Bonet: A traditional pudding made with cocoa, crushed amaretti cookies, and liquor (traditionally rum or Marsala).
- Panna Cotta: The original Piedmontese version of this creamy spoon-dessert, served with caramel or wild berry sauce.
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. SECOND SECTION – Traditional “Piole”: The Authentic Soul of Torinese Dining
A piola is Turin’s traditional neighborhood tavern. Originally created as a gathering spot for workers to enjoy a quarter-liter of wine and simple homemade food, today it represents genuine local flavor.
In the historic center as well as in vibrant districts like San Salvario and Vanchiglia, you will find authentic piole featuring checkered tablecloths, friendly atmospheres, and chalkboard menus changing with the seasons.
WHERE TO EAT
(SUGGEST BY TURIN WHY NOT!)
OSTERIA NUOVA
The mantra of the place is “Hospitality, Tradition, Territory”. Here, you can find simple dishes from the Piedmontese tradition, an experience to try for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the local culture!
MARCHESE RESTAURANT
The goal of the owner and the chef is to create a place that feels both familiar and elegant at the same time. A space where the customer feels pampered and well taken care of by the staff, and completely at ease!
. THIRD SECTION – His Majesty Bagna Cauda and White Truffles
During cooler months and autumn, Bagna Cauda is a true social ritual. This warm, rich dip made from garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and anchovies is served at the center of the table in a terracotta burner (fujot), accompanied by raw and cooked seasonal vegetables. If you want to try Bagna Cauda, I recommend “Antica Bruschetteria Pautasso” at Piazza Emanuele Filiberto 4, Turin.
If you visit in autumn, local restaurants also feature the unmistakable aroma of Alba White Truffle, shaved fresh over buttered tajarin or beef tartar.
. FOURTH SECTION – Sweet Treats: Historic Cafés and the Bicerin Ritual
In Turin, food culture continues into the afternoon. The city’s Historic Cafés, founded in the 19th century, are national treasures complete with carved woodwork, gilded mirrors, and marble counters.
Once political and literary salons for historical figures like Cavour and Alexandre Dumas, today they are the perfect place to enjoy a warm Bicerin paired with traditional pastries like Baci di Dama or Krumiri cookies.
Some historic cafés I recommend are “Caffè Mulassano” in Piazza Castello, “Caffè San Carlo” in Piazza San Carlo, and “Caffè Baratti & Milano” in Galleria Subalpina.
