The Insider’s Guide to Alba Restaurants is your ticket to eat, drink, and be merry.
Welcome to Alba, Italy Alba, Italy, the primary wine town in Northern Italy’s Langhe wine region. The Langhe is made up of Piedmont’s most well-known wine areas of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Alba sits directly between Barolo and Barbaresco. For visitors looking to explore the Langhe without renting a car, we often recommend they stay in Alba for easy access to amenities like restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores, hotels, bike rentals, and more.
The Insiders Guide to Alba Restaurants covers everything from coffee bars / cafe, wine bars, osterias, pizzerias, gelato, and fine dining establishments.
Dig in!
Alba’s population is about 30,000, so it’s big enough to give you options but small enough to still feel intimate. In addition, the city’s central location makes getting around Barolo, Barbaresco, and even into the Roero and Monferrato easy.
The centro storico or historic center spans two main piazzas, Piazza Savona (recently renamed Piazza Michele Ferrero, founder of Ferrero and inventor of Nutella – all hail) and Piazza Risorgimento (also called Piazza Duomo by the locals). The main street connecting the two is Via Vittorio Emanuele (or Via Maestra to the locals ). Our guide to the best Alba restaurants covers that primary vicinity.
Best Restaurants in Alba: Mornings
Coffee and Pastries:
Caffé Teatro
We started visiting Caffé Teatro on Saturday mornings en route to the weekly open-air mercato. Teatro is off the main busy street, so it’s a faster walk. We quickly realized it was something special when we kept seeing familiar faces there. The coffee is strong and the pastries are divine.
Find it! Caffé Teatro
- Address: Via Calissano Teabaldo, 6, Alba.
- Hours: Closed Sunday.
Pasticceria Pettiti
Pettiti is known for their baked goods and local treats. Don’t miss their baci di dama, traditional biscotti cookies with a hazelnut cream filling, or any of the torte cakes – all the baked goods are made fresh daily. They have a coffee bar inside and when the weather is nice they set up tables on the main street – great for people watching. The historical draw to this Alba restaurant is that Pettiti is the bakery is where the recipe for Nutella was invented. Salute!
Find it! Pascticceria Pettiti
- Address: Via Vittorio Emanuele, 25, Alba.
- Hours: Closed Monday.
- WiFi: No.
Best Restaurants in Alba: Lunch and Dinner
Nicer meals, to high-end dining:
Osteria dell’Arco
One of our go-to Alba restaurants when we have friends in town or are just looking for something a little nicer without breaking the bank.
The food is always fantastic, mostly traditional, but you’ll also find things like duck that are not typical to the region. Osteria dell’Arco is associated with the Slow Food Organization, which initiated in the nearby city of Bra. The extensive wine list is about the best deal in town. They are a part of Slow Food, so they cannot sell wine for more than it retails for at the cellar door.
Find it! Osteria dell’Arco
- Address: Piazza Savona, 5, Alba (in a courtyard just off Piazza Savona).
- Phone: +39 0173 363974
- Hours:Open daily: 19:30 – 22:30.Closed: Sunday – Monday.
- Open Sundays in October – November.
- Reservations: Recommended.
- Price: Prices start at 28€ for a full meal
Eno Club
Located in Piazza Savona, Eno Club is in the cellar below – perfect for a more intimate experience.
Dining options include traditional fare as well as a daily seafood dish – sometimes two. During truffle season it makes for a great brunch-style stop of fried egg topped with decadent shavings of Alba White Truffle.
Find it! Eno Club
- Address: Piazza Savona, 4, Alba.
- Phone: +39 0173 33994.
- Hours:
- Reservations: Recommended.
- Price: Prices start at 38€ (Eno Club).
- WiFi: Yes.
Osteria Lalibera
On our list of Alba restaurants, Laliberra is a bit more upscale with a fantastic wine list (though, be prepared that the list might not always be accurate and you may do some back and forth with the somm to find something in stock). Traditional dishes with an innovative twist. A visit here isn’t something we do often, so when we make the splurge it’s quite a treat.
Find it! Osteria Lalibera
- Address: Via Elvio Pertinace, 22, Alba.
- Phone: +39 0173 293 155.
- Hours:Monday: 20:00 – 23:00.Tuesday to Saturday:
- Lunch: 12:30 – 14:30.
- Dinner: 20:00 – 23:00.
- Closed: Sunday.
- Reservations: Recommended.
- Price: Prices start at 35€.
Piazza Duomo
The only three Michelin-starred Piedmont restaurant. In 2017 it ranked # 17 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. It books up far in advance, so make your reservations early. I ate there not long ago! Read my notes on what to know about dining at Piazza Duomo.
Find it! Piazza Duomo
- Address: Piazza Risorgimento 4, Alba.
- Phone: +39 0173 366167.
- Email: info@piazzaduomoalba.it
- Hours:
- Reservations: Required.
- Price: Tasting menus start at 180€ per person.
Ristorante Museum
Another place I discovered during the lockdown. Great traditional food and wine list, lovely people, and now that we can go back in, perfect central location.
- Address: Via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 10/d, Alba.
- Hours:Sunday: 12:30 to 14:30.
- Closed: Monday.
Casual, Pizzerias:
Osteria dei Sognatori
A traditional eatery serving hearty local food and wine at great prices. During high season, you’ll see both locals and visitors line-up here – literally because they do not take reservations. They also have an adjacent bistro, Bistrot dei Sognatori, that serves food from the same kitchen. The Bistrot is open daily for coffee, lunch, aperitivo, and dinner.
Find it! Osteria dei Sognatori
- Address: Via Macrino, 8, Alba.
- Hours:
- Reservations: No. It’s a good idea to get there when they open to get a table.
- Price: Prices start at 25€.
Pizzeria Da Gio
Da Gio is a great casual option in our list of Alba restaurants and is one of our favorite pizza places. They also do traditional dishes from antipasti to pasta, and mains as well as artisan beers if you need a break from wine. You can get your pizza for takeaway.
Find it! Pizzeria Da Gio
- Address: Via Cuneo, 3, Alba.
- Hours:
- Closed: Tuesday.
- Price: Plates and pizzas start at 7€.
Pizzeria Cincilla
An Alba restaurant institution. Pizzeria Cincilla is owned by a husband and wife team from Naples who have been making pizzas in their wood-fired oven for decades — watch them from the counter. Traditional dishes and pasta are also available. Pizza is available for takeaway. 
Find it! Pizzeria Cincilla
- Address: Via Giacosa, 2 Alba.
- Hours:
- Price: Plates and pizzas start at 7€.
- WiFi: No.
Trattoria da Sergio
Just up a side street off the main pedestrian street of via Maestra, Trattoria Sergio is a great eatery offering a combination of regional cuisine mixed with Sardinian – think fish! You’ll also find local and Sardinian wines. It’s a real treat, especially for the seafood lovers in town!
Find it! Trattoria da Sergio
- Address: Via Giuseppe Mazzini, 6, Alba.
- Hours: Tuesday to Monday: Lunch: 11:00 – 15:00, Dinner: 19:00 – 24:00; closed Wednesday.
Just up a side street off the main pedestrian street of via Maestra, Trattoria Sergio is a great eatery offering a combination of regional cuisine mixed with Sardinian – think fish! You’ll also find local and Sardinian wines. It’s a real treat, especially for the seafood lovers in town!
Gastronomia Urbana
There are tons of fabulous gastronomie around Alba. One of my favorites is just across from Piazza Michele Ferrero; you and also dine-in and they have a great wine list.
Find it! Gastronomia Urbana
- Address: Piazza Michele Ferrero 11, Alba.
- Hours: Open daily, 10:00 to 20:00.Closed Monday.
- Sunday, 10:00 to 15:00.
Best Restaurants in Alba: Wine and Aperitivo
Wine Bars, Tasting Rooms:
Voglia di Vino
A wine bar offering tasting flights and an extensive wine by the glass list. You can also try older vintages as well as producers like Gaja with their Coravin system. Ask Luca for the Girl’s Gotta Drink tasting flight – five regional wines I picked myself at 15€; drinks are always served with a complimentary small plate of food.
Find it! Voglia di Vino
- Address: Via Elvio Pertinace, 7A, Alba.
- Hours:
- WiFi: Yes.
Petricore
Quickly becoming one of my favorite wine bars and fantastic food for dining. Outdoor seating not far from the market. Fantastic aperitivo plates, knowledgeable staff, excellent wine (they delivered to me more times than I want to admit durint lockdown!)
Find it! Petricore
- Address: Via Ospedale 6, Alba.
- Hours:Closed Thursday
-
Friday: 6:00 to 1:00
-
Saturday: 11:30 – 1:00
-
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 AM
-
- Wifi: Yes.
Roberto Sarotto Tasting Room
Located in Piazza Savona with prime outdoor seating. The Sarotto tasting room features about the best aperitivo plate in Alba. The high-quality meats and cheeses perfectly accompany Sarotto wines; available by the glass, bottle, and tasting flights. Aperitivo plate comes with any wine ordered.
Find it! Roberto Sarotto
- Address: Piazza Savona 3/A, Alba.
- Hours:
- Friday – Tuesday: 10:00 to 22:00.
- Thursday: After lunch.
- Closed: Wednesday.
- WiFi: Yes.
Ape Wine Bar – Alba
It’s the bar / ristorante’s second location, the first in Santo Stefano Belbo. Enjoy wines by the glass, a fantastic wine list, great aperitivo, and a nice lunch and dinner menu. One of my favorite parts? There is a baby changing station in the bathroom – a rarity in Italy!
Find it! Ape Wine Bar – Alba
- Address: Piazza Risorgimento 3, Alba.
- Hours:Monday, Tuesday: 12:00 to 14:30, 18:00 to 23:00Friday, Saturday Sunday: 11:00 to 14:30, 18:00 to 23:00.
- Closed: Wednesday, Thurday
- WiFi: Yes.
T Ristoro
Another great addition to the aperitivo scene – and, if you are more in the mood for a cup of tea, you can get that with a lovely torta! T Ristoro is owned by Caffé Teatro, and you’ll find it just right around the corner. A great wine by the glass list – often you can find wines from other countries, not always an easy feat. And, a fantastic mixture of unique apertivo eats, different to your usual meat and cheese offer.
Find it! T Ristoro
- Address: Via Mandelli, 9, 12051 Alba.
- Hours: Open daily: 11:00 to 22:00.Closed: Wednesday.
Beer:
Pensavo Peggio
A great local brewery / beer bar. They brew their ale on site. Even better, they have the best aperitivo buffet in town with some killer pizza. Wine is available. And, they do coffee in the morning and a lunch and dinner service.
Find it! Pensavo Peggio
- Address: Corso Langhe, 59, Alba.
- Hours:
- WiFi: Yes.
Best Restaurants in Alba: Speciality
Gelato:
La Romana (the only gelateria you need!)
Best gelateria in town. Order the panna fresca if you like whipped cream. They do cups, cones, cakes, and takeaway. 
Find it! La Romana
- Address: Corso Italia, 2, 12051 Alba.
- Hours:
- WiFi: Yes.
Foccacia:
Focacceria di Budego
If you are looking for a quick bite to eat while walking around town, Budego is perfect. The focaccia is amazing and the owner is always entertaining. But, take the opening hours with a grain of salt. As frequently, I walk by and they are closed during the day. Shoot for lunch, aperitivo.
Find it! Focacceria di Budego
- Adress: Via Cavour Besnco, 9, Alba.
- Hours:
- Open daily: 9:00 to 19:30.
- Closed: Sunday.
Sushi:
Hasu
Yes, that’s right, you can have sushi here in Alba.
Find it! Hasu
- Address: Via Cavour, 10, Alba.
- Hours: Open daily,
- Lunch: 12:15 – 14:30.
- Dinner: 19:15 – 24:00.
Enjoy all the fantastic Alba Restaurants!
We hope The Insider’s Guide to Alba restaurants helps you explore the culinary – and wine – delights of our city. There are also a ton of fantastic dining options in the Barbaresco and Barolo villages – check out our Insider’s Guide to Barolo and Barbaresco Restaurants, too! Don’t miss our adventures about town, subscribe to the blog in the upper right.
And, if you need any help with your area travel plans, click for our tour and travel planning services.
Do you have some favorite Alba restaurants that we’ve missed? Please, let us know in the comments!
Read More:
- Alba Italy Guide: One of the best small towns in Piedmont
- How to get to Alba, Italy: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
- Getting Around Barolo and Barbaresco
- How to do a day trip to Barolo from Turin
- Insider’s Guide to Restaurants in Florence, Italy
