The Best Restaurants In Bergamo's Città Alta, Italy
Bergamo is a city in Lombardy, not too far away from Milan, and its Città Alta is one of its prettiest and most visited areas. The neighborhood has some truly inviting restaurants, so we look at some of the best.
Taverna Colleoni dell'Angelo
Owned by internationally renowned chef Pierangelo Cornaro, Taverna Colleoni dell’Angelo is one of the celebrities of Bergamo’s Upper Town. It is located on one of the most beautiful piazzas in the city, Piazza Vecchia, and is housed in a building realized by the Italian architect Donato Bramante. The interior is characterized by a high vaulted ceiling which was admired and appreciated by the famous artist Le Corbusier. Service and staff are top-class, serving delicious, elaborate dishes which are based on local traditions.
Il Sole
Hotel
Housed in a building dating back to 1200 and established in its current form in 1796, Il Sole is a historic restaurant in the heart of Bergamo’s Città Alta. It is located near Piazza Vecchia and is part of a hotel-slash-inn, thus guaranteeing a cheerful, convivial atmosphere and a pleasant, homemade meal. The dishes are prepared with great care and respect for the guidelines set by local tradition. This makes Il Sole one of those must-try restaurants when visiting Bergamo. Bergamo Citti Alta from above | © Joseph Richard Francis
Trattoria da Ornella
Restaurant, Italian
If you ask any local for a great restaurant with great traditions, they’ll rightfully point in the direction of Trattoria da Ornella. As the sign outside reads, this is the home of polenta taragna, one of the few delicious dishes which characterize Bergamo (and other cities nearby). Polenta is generally known abroad too, but polenta taragna is typical to northern Italy. It is made with a different kind of flour, and other ingredients such as local cheese and sausages may be added. A view of Città Alta | © Luca Serazzi/Flickr
Trattoria La Colombina
Restaurant, Italian
This trattoria offers typical dishes from the local tradition and serves them in a rustic environment where the atmosphere is genuine and authentic. The ingredients are all locally sourced and fresh, thus imparting a characteristic, homemade quality to the food. Of notable mention is the “menù degustazione“, which will introduce travelers to the regional cuisine through a tasty tour of the flavors and smells of the area.