The Best Restaurants In Bergamo's Città Alta, Italy

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

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

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.