Turin

This place will take you back in time. When you walk in from the street into the central courtyard, you're greeted with the exterior walls beautifully painted from the 16th and 17th centuries. People routinely come into the courtyard just to see the art. The rooms are simple and quiet, and the location is close to everything in central Turin.

It can be difficult to find a luxury hotel in Turin, but this one should be at the top of your list. It has a great central location - although it isn't in the main pedestrian area. There's surprisingly little traffic on the streets directly outside its doors, despite being near a bus route and walkable to everything. The breakfast is top notch, and the rooms are spacious for European standards. We highly recommend stay here.

Ristorante Consorzio is located in the Quadrilatero district. The food here is decadent. The ambience - cozy, artsy, a bit hipster even? Whatever you call it, it works. Start out with their modern takes on some classic aperitifs - Kelly had her favorite drink of the trip and she still talks about it to this day - an Americano Spritz! Then move on to their fantastic selection of primi, with our favorites being the agnolotti and the risotto alla bergese. Finish with their amazing selection of dolce - highly recommend the almond gelato. You won’t be disappointed.

This restaurant blew us away. Before you arrive at your table, you’ll know you’re in for something special. Once you settle in, you have the choice of three tasting menus - the classics, something more creative and modern, or a combination of both. When the dishes start coming, each is creative and delicious -  a blend of Italian and Spanish cuisine. We are from Texas and weren’t expecting to 1) be served an empanada and 2) that it be done in proper homage to Mexican culture. Once you finish the main courses, you are whisked away to a more relaxed area, with comfortable seating in an entirely different room. There isn’t a dessert menu per se, rather the staff will ask your preferences and match up what the pastry chef has prepared for the evening (ours had dry ice as part of the presentation). No matter what dolci come out, there will most likely be the famous “Lavazza coffee” served (being the restaurant is right next door the Lavazza headquarters). The entire experience was unique and highly recommended.

The Bruzzone brothers have a gem of a trattoria in Turin. The menu has a lot of the traditional dishes of the region; they just do an impeccable job of executing them at a very reasonable price point. We loved their award-winning agnolotti di plin. If they have more than one option on the menu, we recommend ordering both. Really, anything on the menu is great. We also really liked their panna cotta - truly one of the best we’ve ever had. The flavor was incredible. The restaurant has very limited seating - you’ll likely be out of luck if you don’t get a reservation ahead of time.

Lao is famous for their soup dumplings, which we recommend getting a variety of, and their biang biang noodles. We ordered the Xiao Long Bao, Hong You Huntun (a spicy wonton soup), Dan Dan Mian (so good!), and the Ang Rou Che Mian (Biang Biang Noodles). We also really enjoyed their tea selection, which paired perfectly with the food. They don’t take reservations so it’s first-come-first-serve. When we arrived at 7pm to grab a table, there were already several groups in front of us waiting for the doors to open (which we found shocking since we're usually the only ones eating early!). If you love authentic Chinese cuisine (or are tired of traditional Piemontese food), we highly recommend dining here!

This place is perfect if you’re looking for a snack or food on the go. Roberta takes pride in the focaccia she makes! We highly recommend trying the original focaccia along with whatever strikes your fancy from the more exotic choices.

Alberto's gelato is divine. His focus on simple, fresh ingredients makes his gelato some of the best we've ever had! He also has locations in Torino, Milano, and Alassio, so you can get your gelato fix in multiple cities nearby.

With multiple locations in Torino, be sure to stop here for specialty coffee, chocolate, or gelato! We grabbed some gelato and it was some of the best we've had in Italy. We opted for stracciatella with gianduia (the ultimate flavor combination!), pistacchio, and fondente (dark chocolate).

The Royal Palace of Turin is absolutely stunning and worth the visit. Walk through the rooms of the palace that offer views of the gardens and the Mole Antonelliana, make your way to the incredibly huge royal armory, and witness the breathtaking Chapel of the Holy Shroud. If the weather is nice, stroll through the magnificent gardens afterwards. We aren't always museum people, but we really enjoyed our time here.

For the view of the city, this is the spot. While people do walk here, we recommend taking the bus as far as you can. Even with the taking the bus, there's still a bit of a hike up to it. The church, which dates from the 16th century, is quaint but beautiful inside. It's worth a peek inside. Once you gather your breath, tour the church, and come back out, the views will prove to take away your breath again. You can even grab a bite to eat while enjoying the views at Al Monte Dei Cappuccini.

Turin’s architecture is truly impressive, with unique influences that set it apart from many other Italian cities. While Bologna holds the title for the most porticoes, Turin’s covered walkways along streets like Via Po and Via Roma are perfect for shopping and people-watching. Both streets lead to Piazza Castello, a lively square that’s absolutely worth exploring for its history and stunning sights.

We admit - we haven't actually gone inside or up Mole Antonelliana, but maybe the best way to see it is around town. It is iconic; and surprising that it doesn't have more recognition around the world. It is a stunning piece of architecture and gives Turin a striking skyline. If you have Netflix, check out the series The Law According to Lidia Poet, set in the late 1800s, and you'll notice it being built in many scenes! We happened to be in Turin during Eurovision and it was lit up for the occasion!

Parco del Valentino is a picturesque park, located on the west bank of the Po River. When we were last in Turin, the park was set up for Eurovision! It has a ton of walking/biking trails, the Borgo Medievale (although it looks like a medieval castle) was built in 1884, and the Promotrice delle Belle Arti (used for temporary exhibitions). A great place very close to the city center to get away from the hustle and bustle to enjoy a break.

Gianduja is a blend of chocolate and hazelnuts; the same base ingredients as Nutella. We admit - we were never the biggest fans of Nutella, which is made in Alba, only about an hour's drive south of Turin. We were even a little bit cautious on whether or not to try Gianduja, based on these irrational fears. But once we tried it, we became obsessed (and I mean obsessed). With all of the chocolate producers in Turin, we found a ton of amazing options at many of the local stores. We always order dessert at any restaurant that has it on the menu (and sometimes they make it look like a gianduiotto!).

If you are in the area between October through January (maybe!), you might luck out and be able to try the Piedmont White Truffle. Only available in this area of the world, and only found in the wild, it’s a rare delicacy. The best way to eat it is over a dish with not overpowering flavors, and to have the truffle grated directly over the dish in front of you. A true gem!

A specialty pasta that is made with a higher ratio of egg yolks than normal. It is traditionally made with butter, salt, and pepper. It pairs very well with Piedmont White Truffle!

Agnolotti di Plin is a small, delicate pasta that has filling, typically a combination of meats. ‘Plin’ translates to pinch, and is evident in the way the pasta is shaped. Much like tajarin, it can be served in a variety of ways. Oftentimes we’ll order two different styles to share in the same meal. Our favorite preparation is with butter and sage, but we’re always willing to try the house specialty.

The world’s best breadstick. Yes, you can buy these elsewhere. However, there is something magical about getting them directly from a baker in town or as part of your opening bread at dinner. When they’re made fresh, they are delectable and addicting. It’ll be hard not to eat all of them they bring you - try your best to hold back and not spoil your meal.

Local to the region, Fassona cattle are raised both for their beef and their milk - which is used for a variety of regional cheeses like Castelmagno. The cattle have special genetics that make their meat very lean and full of great nutrients. We find the taste to be very mild, which is a fantastic quality in dry-aged steaks and in tartare preparations. You’ll find plenty of restaurants that have a selection of dry-aged cuts or a carpaccio on their selection of starters. If you are a meat eater, try out this unique beef you can’t find elsewhere!

Nebbiolo is grown throughout the Piedmont region, in all directions from Alba, and is used to make incredible wines. Perhaps the most well-known (and pricey) are the Barolo and Barbaresco, which we adore. Each micro region has their own take on how they use the versatile Nebbiolo grapes. Branch out and explore - find one that matches your palette!

Turin is the birthplace of Vermouth. You may know Vermouth, a fortified wine, as it is used in many fancy cocktails like the Martini and the Manhattan. It can be used in many different ways, from neat, to the main ingredient in a cocktail, to a complementary flavor enhancer. Our favorite is a vermouth spritz - a simply sweet or dry vermouth paired with sparkling wine (usually Prosecco), soda water, and a garnish like orange or lemon!

Trust us - this is something worth seeking out. A three-layered drink consisting of espresso, hot chocolate, and whipped cream, Bicerin is an experience all in itself. It is often considered a “must do” if you are visiting Turin - it would be quite the tragedy to visit and miss out on the experience of enjoying a Bicerin!