When visiting Turin, be sure to try the city's renowned Piedmontese cuisine, which features a range of rich and flavorful dishes made with local ingredients such as truffles, cheese, and chocolate.
Quick Facts
Food Culture Overview
Turin's cuisine is deeply rooted in the city's history and culture, with a focus on using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients to create rich and flavorful dishes. The city's location in the Piedmont region of Italy means that it has been influenced by French, Italian, and Swiss cuisine, resulting in a unique and delicious fusion of flavors. One of the key influences on Turin's cuisine is the city's history as a royal capital, which has resulted in a range of sophisticated and elegant dishes. The city is also known for its Slow Food movement, which emphasizes the importance of using locally sourced, organic ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
The cuisine in Turin is also characterized by its use of truffles, which are a type of fungi that are highly prized for their unique and intense flavor. Truffles are often used in dishes such as Tajarin al Tartufo, a type of hand-cut pasta served with truffle sauce, and Risotto con Tartufo, a creamy risotto dish made with truffles and cheese. The city is also known for its chocolate, which is made using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients. Visitors to Turin can sample a range of chocolate-based dishes and drinks, including Gianduja, a type of chocolate-hazelnut spread that is a specialty of the city.
In addition to its rich and flavorful cuisine, Turin is also known for its beautiful cafe culture, with many elegant and historic cafes throughout the city. These cafes are the perfect place to relax and enjoy a coffee or snack, and many of them offer a range of delicious pastries and cakes. Visitors to Turin can also sample a range of local wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco, which are made in the surrounding Piedmont region.
Must-Try Dishes
| Dish | Type | Description | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tajarin al Tartufo | Pasta | Hand-cut pasta served with truffle sauce | Del Cambio, a historic restaurant in the city center |
| Risotto con Tartufo | Risotto | Creamy risotto dish made with truffles and cheese | Ristorante La Credenza, a Michelin-starred restaurant |
| Vitello Tonnato | Meat | Thinly sliced veal served with a tuna and caper sauce | Consorzio, a restaurant in the city center |
| Agnolotti del Plin | Pasta | Stuffed pasta filled with meat and served with a light sauce | La Taverna, a cozy restaurant in the city center |
| Castelmagno Cheese | Cheese | A type of blue cheese made in the surrounding mountains | Enoteca La Vigna, a wine bar and shop |
| Gianduja | Dessert | A type of chocolate-hazelnut spread that is a specialty of the city | Pasticceria Giorio, a historic pastry shop |
| Bollito Misto | Meat | A mixed boiled meat dish served with a variety of sauces | Ristorante La Baita, a restaurant in the city center |
| Fritto Misto | Fried Food | A mixed fry of vegetables and meat | Fritto Misto, a street food stall in the city center |
Street Food & Snacks
- Focaccia di Recco: a type of flatbread filled with cheese and ham, typically priced at $5-7 USD
- Panino con il Lampredotto: a sandwich made with lampredotto, a type of cow stomach, typically priced at $8-10 USD
- Crocette: a type of fried dough ball filled with meat or cheese, typically priced at $3-5 USD
- Fritto Misto: a mixed fry of vegetables and meat, typically priced at $10-12 USD
- Supplì: a type of fried risotto ball filled with mozzarella, typically priced at $5-7 USD
- Gelato: a type of Italian ice cream, typically priced at $5-7 USD per scoop
Drinks
- Coffee: a strong and rich coffee that is a staple of Italian culture, typically priced at $2-3 USD per cup
- Barolo: a type of red wine made in the surrounding Piedmont region, typically priced at $10-15 USD per glass
- Barbaresco: a type of red wine made in the surrounding Piedmont region, typically priced at $12-18 USD per glass
- Gianduja Latte: a type of hot chocolate made with gianduja, a type of chocolate-hazelnut spread, typically priced at $5-7 USD per cup
- Limonata: a type of lemonade made with fresh lemons and sugar, typically priced at $3-5 USD per glass
Dining Customs
- Mealtimes: meals are typically eaten at 7:30-10:00 am for breakfast, 12:30-2:30 pm for lunch, and 7:30-10:00 pm for dinner
- Tipping: it is customary to tip 5-10% of the total bill at restaurants and cafes
- Reservations: it is a good idea to make reservations at popular restaurants, especially during peak travel season
- Dress code: the dress code is typically formal, especially at finer restaurants
- Table manners: it is customary to keep your hands visible on the table and to not leave the table until everyone is finished eating
Where to Eat
- Del Cambio: a historic restaurant in the city center that serves traditional Piedmontese cuisine
- Ristorante La Credenza: a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves creative and delicious dishes
- La Taverna: a cozy restaurant in the city center that serves a range of traditional dishes
- Enoteca La Vigna: a wine bar and shop that offers a range of local wines and small plates
- Pasticceria Giorio: a historic pastry shop that serves a range of delicious pastries and cakes
Food Markets & Food Experiences
- Porta Palazzo Market: a large market that takes place every Saturday morning, offering a range of fresh produce, meats, and cheeses
- Mercato di San Salvario: a smaller market that takes place every day, offering a range of fresh produce, meats, and cheeses
- Turin Chocolate Festival: a festival that takes place every year, offering a range of chocolate-based dishes and drinks
- Piedmont Wine Festival: a festival that takes place every year, offering a range of local wines and small plates
- Cooking Class: a cooking class that offers visitors the chance to learn how to make traditional Piedmontese dishes, such as Tajarin al Tartufo and Risotto con Tartufo.