Farola – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

Farola’s food menu is an absolute joy. There’s a la carte, but also an Italian Tapas-y style menu, and you can mix and match from both. The dishes on offer change seasonally, but the stuffed courgette flowers are *chef’s kiss* . And those perfectly crispy croquettes? My mouth’s watering just at the thought. The place is small and intimate and filled with lively chatter, and the vibe is relaxed. Each wooden table and chair is unique , so in between mouthfuls of tasty morsels, we usually find ourselves marveling at the craftmanship that’s gone into the decor. A little pricier than your average Sauze restaurant, but still incredibly reasonable in ski-resort terms. Also, if you want a fancier breakfast than espresso and croissant, Farola is the place to go.

Reservations: +39 366 5068221
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farolasauze/

L’Assietta – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

The outdoor area is always packed on a sunny day – it gets every ray of sunlight until the moment it sets. The modern mountain vibe means its a great place for a classy morning coffee and pastry, and they do a lovely little pasta and panini menu at lunchtime. It’s one of our favourite spots for a late lunch if we come down from the mountain early, and if you manage to nab an outdoor table, no doubt you’ll stay put until the time for that famous aperitivo we’ve already mentioned, rolls around. Evening meals in the ‘Stube’ restaurant are hearty, tasty and full of flavour. Think gnocci, raclette and wild boar ragu, or something from the pizza overn paired with a glass or two from the local regions.

Menu link: https://www.albergoassietta.it/bar-restaurant/

L’Ortiche – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

You wouldn’t find L’Ortiche if you weren’t looking for it, but if you aren’t looking for it, you’re missing out! Top-notch, innovative takes on traditional dishes. There’s some great flair in the kitchen here, and a carefully selected wine menu to match.The flavourss are balanced,the presentation is on point and the ambience is perfect – it feels like a special night out, but you don’t need to worry about dressing up to the nines. It’s tucked just behind Derby Bar, by the way.

Village Cafè – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

Not only do they do a great aperitivo, the dinner menu is everything you want and more. I usually get stuck on the starters, and can’t stop myself from ordering the goat’s cheese, the local platter, and the focaccia with lardo. Once you get inside, you’ll find it’s surprisingly spacious, so great if you’re on holiday with a big group, but it’s such a cosy vibe it still feels intimate. Once dinner service ends and the plates are cleared away on Mondays & Wednesdays, a live DJ set will mean you won’t want to leave. And on Tuesday you’re in for a treat, because can you really say you’ve had a big night out in Sauze, if you have done karaoke? Every time I hear Purple Rain I’m taken back to December 2019 and want to return to Sauze immediately. You’ll find Village just on the other side of the road from the bottom of the Clotes piste.

MAX BAR – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

Max Bar is always a favourite amongst British tourists and the locals alike. Serving the best English breakfast in Sauze d’Oulx as well as burgers, sandwiches, chicken curry and more. It’s a super friendly place that always has an awesome rock music playlist in the background and some truly impressive rock music memorabilia displayed. You’ll even be able to find a pint of Guiness here and 6 other great beers on tap.

Pizza House

Ok – so this isn’t actually a ‘restaurant’… But, it would be a sin for us not to mention it. Pizza by the slice doesn’t come much better than this. Seriously, everyone raves about it. Maybe it’s because we usually grab a slice on the way home, after one or two glasses of wine (they’re open til midnight most nights), but you’ll smell the deliciousness of Pizza House before you see it. Get in line, select your slice, get change back from a €5 note. Thank us later.

Sugo’s Spahetti House

When a group of mates come to town, we always take them for dinner here at least once. All the pasta is made fresh, so each dish has to be ordered for two or more to share. Between four, we’ll typically go for two different pasta dishes, two different plates of bruschetta and a litre of the phenomenally good (and ridiculously cheap) house wine. And, if I’m being honest, we probably order a second litre as we devour the dessert menu, too. The design of the menu really suits larger groups, as you can sample a variety of different dishes. Not so good if you’re couple who can never agree on shared orders.

Reservations: +39 01228 50861

Il Cantun del Barbabuc

Another hidden gem, this time tucked away in the old town, the menu is a more refined take on traditional dishes. It’s meat heavy here, so maybe not a great choice if you’ve got veggies or vegans in the group, but if you’re a meat eater, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The slow cooked pork is delicious. Word to the wise, though, leave some room for dessert, because every single sweet thing on the menu is a delight. This place gets bonus points for the intimate and cosy vibe – you might just have to knock on the big, wooden door to get let in, making it feel even more like one of the town’s best kept secrets.

Menu link: https://www.facebook.com/ilcantundelbarbabucsauzedoulx/

Chaberton Lodge

With a more relaxed lunch area and outdoor terrace, the possibility for private dining spaces, and a very exclusive space for small groups to sample a tasting menu and paired wines, Chaberton Lodge is the place to go for a special occasion. What used to be the Grand Hotel Besson has had a revamp. Floor to ceiling, double-height windows look out onto the Chaberton Mountain and they’ve got a modern, mainly Italian, menu to match the sumptuous surroundings. The steak tartar is delicious, but I’d also recommend visiting for a really fancy breakfast, if you want a more relaxed start to the day than the usual ski lift line.

Etoiles Des Neiges

If you’re staying in Jovenceaux, you’re in for a treat. Consistently rated as one of the best restaurants in Sauze, Etoiles des Neiges embodies traditional, authentic, Italian charm. They pride themselves on using 0km local produce, and grow many of the ingredients themselves. You get a hell of a lot for your euro here, not only in terms of taste, but also portion size. If you’re staying in Sauze, the 15 minute walk back up to town is well worth it for such a great evening.

Ciao Pais – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

We mentioned already that you can get a skidoo ride up to this mountain restaurant. For that, alone, Ciao Pais is worth a visit, but even if I had to hike up the piste to get there, I would. For properly warm and welcoming mountain vibes and properly big, steaming bowls of local cuisine, Ciao Pais is always the best choice. The menu remains the same throughout the day and night, so if you don’t manage to get a reservation for the evening, get yourself down Red Run 2000 during the day for the best lunch you’ll find on the mountain. Just don’t tell everyone, or I’ll never get a table again!

Reservations – 0039 335 180 1752 (You can also send a WhatsApp message to this number in English)

Capanna Kind – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

This self-service restaurant serves pizza, pasta and (to quote my nephew) ‘the best lasagne in the world’. Cheap, fast and great quality, Capanna Kind ticks all the boxes for a lunchtime stop on the mountain. Word to the wise, get in before the ski schools break for lunch, if you want to get a table indoors. Outdoors, they play absolute bangers: 90s RnB and pop classics. From 3pm you’ll often find a DJ up here, so not only is it a great spot throughout the day for food & drinks, you can apres until last lifts, and hop on the Sportinia chairlift to get back down, if you’ve had one too many.