Why Turin Should Be Your Next Foodie Break

updated 1/11/2022

Turin is a food city and the hometown of Barbera and Barolo, as well as traditional Vermouth. It's the place to eat white truffles, load up on chocolate and discover authentic Piemonte cooking. Find out more in our foody guide to Turin. The information in this article is taken from The Rough Guide to Italy your essential guide for visiting Italy.

Breakfast is a grand affair

To really feel Turin's grand heritage find a fin-de-siècle café and order breakfast. For vintage Art Nouveau try small, yet opulent Caffè Mulassano on Piazza Castello. And if you want to stick with history, stay at Hotel Roma e Rocca Cavour, the oldest hotel in Turin.

Discover Turin's grandeur on Piazza San Carlo © Claudio Divizia/Shutterstock

Turin invented the choc ice

Once you've admired Piazza San Carlo, head east to visit Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano. Then take a Museo del Egizio guided tour and discover the world's second largest collection of Egyptian antiquities.

For history of another sort, drop in on Pepino gelataria and order a Pinguino. This is the original choc ice, first patented in Turin in 1939 and sold here ever since. Pepino also creates delectable artisanal gelato.

Caffè Pepino, try the original choc ice here in Turin © Stefano Chiacchiarini/Shutterstock

Fill up on traditional Piemontese cuisine

Turin is where to sample rich and hearty Piemonte cooking at its best. For true authenticity, try the enormous portions at Porto di Savona. Start with bagna caôda and don't miss the Raschera fondue or vitello con tonnato.

Porto di Savona sits on Piazza Vittoria Veneto and the restaurant is almost as historic as Piemonte cooking itself. If this part of the city appeals to you, think about staying at Il Tuo Angolo di Pace.

Try hearty Piemonte cooking in the heart of Turin © Piemonte Turismo

Eat your way around Eataly

Eataly is based in a converted Vermouth factory and it's gourmet heaven. A slow-food pioneer, this vast emporium is where to find the finest Italian products and an entire floor dedicated to regional beer and wine.

While you're in the area, visit Pinacoteca Agnelli to see the extraordinary Lambs Art Collection. And if Eataly doesn't entirely satisfy your hunger pangs, think about taking a gourmet tour of Turin with expert local guides.

Eat your way round Italy at Eataly in Turin © Piemonte Turismo

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Explore Turin's chocolate making heritage

Turin has produced chocolate for over 500 years and even Swiss chocolatiers train here. Book a private chocolate taste tour to find out more. Or go it alone with a tour of Guido Gobino and a visit to Caffè Al Bicerin, where hot chocolate was invented.

Turin's been making chocolate for over 500 years © RossHelen/Shutterstock

Where is Turin in the evening? Doing aperitivo

Turin created Vermouth in 1786 and also claims to have invented the Italy-wide tradition of aperitivo. Celebrate both with a Negroni or two between the hours of 6pm and 9pm most evenings in the city centre.

If you want a quiet aperitivo experience, head to Quadrilatero Romano. San Salvario is a much livelier district for drinks and good for cocktail bars. But for the liveliest aperitivo of all, head north to Piazza Vittorio Veneto.

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Turin invented Vermouth, celebrate with the city's legendary aperitivo /CC0

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