There are plenty of good bars and restaurants throughout the Monterosa ski area serving good food with
splendid mountain views, fine Italian espressos and cappuccinos everywhere and lots of local grappa
including ‘Mother-in-laws milk’ which tastes better than it sounds.
Most menus will include dishes based around polenta, vegetable soup, pasta, local sausages, and Fontina cheese, but will also include sandwiches, salads, burgers, hot dogs and chips.
There’s a lot of authentic cooking to be found, though some places don’t have capacity to cope with weekend crowds. The following bars and restaurants are definitely worth trying:
Champagnerie (Alp Betta 2,180m) Enjoy a glass of champagne whilst admiring the stunning local scenery!
Lo Retsignon (Ciarcerio - 1,992m) A good quality restaurant and snack bar at the bottom of the Alpe Mandria chairlift
Campo Base (Mont Ros - 2,457m) Superb views and good food, with an Oriental twist.
Rifugio Guglielmina (Col d’Olen 2880m) Great food and wines with fabulous views and authentic mountain ambience. Try the polenta (even if you don’t think you like it) with lots of cheese, and ham or mushroom. This is also the best place in the region to try the Zuppe Valdostane – a very solid cabbage based dish that’s a soup only in name.
Alpen Stop (Pianalunga) A cosy restaurant and snack bar with outdoor seating area, conveniently located at the top of the gondola from Alagna.