DINING DISCOVERIES
from our favorite towns
villa mucci picks
We've been exploring this region since we first came here - market mornings, long lunches, spontaneous detours, and a few late dinners. We can't possibly cover everything here on this page, and the truth is we're still discovering. But these are the places we go back to and recommend without hesitation. Some are in our village of Agliano Terme a short walk from Villa Mucci. Others are worth a 20-45 minute drive through some of the most beautiful countryside in Italy. Each one has earned its place on this list and we hope you love them as much as we do.
Make sure to mention Villa Mucci for exceptional hospitality.
Agliano Terme
Al Gatto Verde
Via Principe Amedeo, 45
14041 Agliano Terme | +39 345 6741423
Tues - Sun: 6:30 PM -11:00 PM
Closed Monday
Walking distance from Villa Mucci, Al Gatto Verde is one of our most-visited tables. The Origlia family creates dining experiences with real passion under the care of brothers Pietro and Francesco. The menu is exceptional family-owned Piemontese with personal service, the wine list celebrates the surrounding Barbera d'Asti vines beautifully, and the atmosphere is exactly what we love. Enjoy a lively street table to see friends and neighbors, a quiet table in the charming olive courtyard, or choose the intimate indoor setting.
Bar La Dolce Vigna
14041 Agliano Terme | +39 328 2166801
Tues - Sun: 7:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Closed Monday
Everyone in town knows this place simply as Gianni's, which tells you everything. Just up the hill from Villa Mucci, it is THE gathering spot for Agliano's aperitivi hour - the entire village seems to end up here at some point in the evening. Gianni and Chiara are the best hosts, the wine list is genuinely impressive for a casual bar, and the outdoor seating with its young, lively clientele makes it the perfect place to end a day - or night. You will also see the morning crowd, grabbing a fresh espresso and a brioche. Great for a nightcap and snacks, Gianni's also makes awesome panini & burgers, perfect for watching sporting events.
Osteria La Milonga
Via Cristoforo Colombo,10
14041 Agliano Terme | +39 347 5228922
Wed - Mon: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Closed Tuesday
For the past 20+ years, La Milonga is the classic family-run Piemontese restaurant that anchors a village — the kind of place that has been doing this for generations and does it with authentic flair. Ask for Vittorio or Chef Mauro. The menu is traditional and generous, the atmosphere warm and completely unpretentious. Open every day for lunch and dinner except Tuesday. A reliable, lovely stop that feels like eating in someone's home. Vittorio will recommend a fabulous local wine to pair with Mauro's table-side risotto. Enjoy a classic inside table or sit out on the charming patio by the pool.
Villa Fontana
14041 Agliano Terme | + 39 0141964031
Fri - Tues: 7:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Closed Wednesday & Thursday
Also walking distance, and a completely different register - this is the elegant gourmet option in Agliano. The Villa Fontana Relais & Spa property unfolds panoramic views across the Langhe and Monferrato hills, with ancient cedar tree canopies above. The dining room is elegantly furnished and the kitchen takes traditional Piemontese cuisine seriously at a higher level of refinement. We love to sit on the open patio perched above the vines, and you can see Villa Mucci from your dinner table. Perfect for special occasions, particularly at sunset when the hills turn gold. Our guests can also walk up the hill to enjoy a full day at the thermal spa.
Nizza Monferrato
All'Officina
Via Carlo Alberto, 84/86
14049 Nizza Monferrato | +39 0141701460
Wed - Thurs: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri - Sat: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Closed Tuesday
Our son Bryce's top recommendation, and he knows what he's talking about. All'Officina is a serious steakhouse featuring dry-aged cuts from Black Angus, Croatian Simmental, Australian Angus, and A5 Wagyu sourced directly from a butcher in Kyoto. The burgers use Piedmontese beef on brioche. Worth noting: Italians approach a burger the way Americans approach a fine steak - with intention and respect. This is not fast food. This is a proper meal.
Cugini di Torino
Via Gozzellini, 13
14049 Nizza Monferrato | +39 346 3878839
Mon - Fri: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Sat: 5:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Closed Sunday
Founded by Alessandro and Ilaria, this is Nizza's best aperitivo stop with four distinct spaces covering wine bar, gin bar, tea room and wine shop, with a cellar of over 1200 labels. The pinza is outstanding - order it with prosciutto and don't skip the tagliere. Try their signature Barberatonic: Barbera chinata with tonic, invented right here. Perfect for a pre-dinner stop or pranzo after the Nizza market.
La Signora in Rosso
14049 Nizza Monferrato | +39 329 713 7204
Wed - Sun: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Closed Monday & Tuesday
*Reopening July 2026 - check Instagram for updates*
Set in the cellars and garden courtyard of the historic Palazzo Crova, home of the Enoteca Regionale di Nizza Monferrato, this is the place for a long lunch with serious wine. The list focuses on Nizza DOCG producers and the staff genuinely knows it. Order the classic vitello tonnato and the brasato al Barbera, and let them guide the glass pairing. The garden courtyard in summer is lovely and the cellar a perfect place for pranzo. Worth the wait.
Le Due Lanterne
14049 Nizza Monferrato | +39 0141701460
Wed - Mon: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Closed Tuesday
The only Michelin Bib Gourmand in the area, and it earns it. Chef Andrea Cavallo along with his partner Valentina Torellotook over this historic restaurant on the main square and didn't reinvent it - they refined it. The interior is remodeled in a minimalist style, comfortable and understated. The food is not: authentic Piemontese cuisine offering carne battuta, ravioli al plin, braised fassona, bonet. The wine list leans deep into Nizza DOCG producers. Book ahead.
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Locanda del Campanon
Piazza Martiri di Alessandria, 18
14049 Nizza Monferrato | +39 379 350 9360
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Sun: 11:00 AM - 3:00PM
Closed Wednesday
On the main piazza in Nizza, this is exactly what you want after a morning at the Friday market - a half carafe of crisp Arneis, a luscious pizza to share and an umbrella table outside. The workers of Nizza have been lunching here for years, and watching them settle in for a proper midday meal is its own kind of pleasure. The hamburgers are also locally legendary. Casual, unpretentious, reliable - and your 20 euros will be well spent.
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Raiz Wine & Churrasco
Via Carlo Alberto, 59
14049 Nizza Monferrato | +39 351 591 9795
Tues - Sat: 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Closed Sunday
Our newest favorite. We stumbled on this one at the Friday market and are still thinking about it. Tucked on a shaded cobblestone side street, RAIZ is a Brazilian-Italian hybrid with an incredible menu. Brazilian-style churrasco, gorgeous salads and rice dishes, beautiful plate presentation, and a wine list that takes local producers seriously. We ordered a Cascina Galarin Arneis from our friend Marco Carosso's winery and could not have been happier. The portions were so generous we had to cancel the second course. A wonderful discovery.
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Montegrosso d'Asti
Ristorante Antonio e Maria
14048 Montegrosso d'Asti | +39 0141953919
Thurs - Tues: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | 7:15 PM - 10:45 PM
Closed Wednesday
A family restaurant in every sense - owned, run, and loved by the same family for over 20 years, and it shows in how guests are treated the moment they walk in. Their Neapolitan style pizza is served by the meter, with generous toppings and a soft, properly leavened crust. The fresh seafood is equally serious: linguine all'astice, risotto ai frutti di mare, grilled fish done simply and well. The Barbera-forward wine selection is also impressive. Marco and the family run the room with genuine warmth and abundant personality. Great for a big group or family for a night out. Book ahead on weekends.
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Bar BIG BEN
14048 Montegrosso d'Asti | +39 339 858 1026
Daily: 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Start your morning here. Bar Big Ben is where the workers of Montegrosso come for their espresso and cornetti, and that is all the recommendation you need. The cornetti are made fresh daily, crisp on the outside, soft inside and well worth building a morning around - or starting a road trip. We go for frutti di bosco, vuote (plain, the purist's choice), and marmellata. Later in the day it earns high marks as a full service gelateria and offers casual aperitivi. No frills, no reservations, just an Italian bar doing what an Italian bar does.
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Locanda del Boscogrande
14048 Montegrosso d'Asti | +39 0141956390
Wed - Mon: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM | 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Closed Tuesday
Set on a hilltop above Montegrosso, this is the kind of place you want to keep to yourself. The kitchen is rooted in authentic Piemontese tradition - proper technique, local ingredients, nothing fussy - and the garden setting makes lunch here feel like a genuine occasion. It's also in the Michelin guide, though it wears that lightly. Seven rooms if you want to stay, with a pool looking out over the Monferrato hills. Book ahead, especially on weekends.
Cà del Profeta
14048 Montaldo Scarampi | +39 375 626 5750
Wed - Thurs 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri - Sat 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Sunday 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Closed Monday & Tuesday
The owner is Anderson Hernanes - a Brazilian who played professional football at the highest level in Serie A with Lazio, Inter, and Juventus - and what he's built here on a hilltop above the Monferrato vines is anything but a retirement project. Ca' del Profeta is a serious, modern restaurant with a Michelin listing, a handful of beautiful suites, a panoramic pool, and wines produced from the estate's own vines just outside the dining room windows. The kitchen takes Piemontese tradition as a starting point and then goes somewhere entirely its own - the tasting menu changes with the seasons and the chef's imagination. On one visit, Andy ordered a bespoke menu built entirely around carrots from start to finish - and what arrived was one of the most creative meals we've had here. That kind of kitchen confidence is rare. Book well ahead and consider staying the night.
Ristorante Centrale
14048 Montegrosso d'Asti | +39 333233 0948
Thurs - Tues: 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM | 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Closed Wednesday
Run by Giusy and Alessia, this is a proper Piemontese kitchen in the heart of the village - agnolotti, vitello tonnato, risotto, rabbit, all made with local ingredients and real care. The wine list leans into regional bottles at honest prices. When the weather is right, cross the street to their covered outdoor terrace - a sheltered belvedere perched over the vineyards with views that make you want to order another glass and stay all afternoon. A perfect lunch stop if you're exploring the hills around Montegrosso.
Calamandrana
Anima
14042 Calamandrana | +39 0141 769 109
Daily 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
This place has a soul - which is fitting given the name. Set in a century-old farmhouse barn within the Relais Almaranto estate, Anima is the kind of spot you come for lunch and stay for the afternoon. The newly renovated pool terrace and outdoor kitchen look out over Monferrato vineyards, the vibe is relaxed and genuinely international, and the crowd is a warm mix of locals, expats, and visitors who've found their people. The menu runs from classic Piemontese dishes to burgers to vegetarian options - all freshly made and locally sourced. But the event not to miss is the Asado night: fresh meats grilled on their Argentinian grill, open fire, good wine, good company. The compound also houses Adagio, a separate gourmet restaurant, and Adagio Accademia cooking school on site.
Villa La Madonna
14058 Monastero Bormida | +39 348 836 6141
Daily: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM | 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Located nearby in Monastero Bormida, about 30 minutes south of Agliano. It takes a bit of finding but the drive through the southern Monferrato hills is beautiful and Villa La Madonna is absolutely worth the detour. A Swedish family transformed this property into one of the most special boutique hotels in Piemonte, member of both Small Luxury Hotels of the World and Mr & Mrs Smith. The whole place is done in fresh green and white - charming and distinctive the moment you pull in, with a covered outdoor bar shack that sets exactly the right tone before you've even sit down for lunch. The restaurant is seasonal and locally rooted, the wine cellar focuses on the best of the region, and the pool on a warm afternoon is genuinely hard to leave. If you want to make a full stay of it with September harvest and October truffle weekends, the hotel delivers that experience beautifully too.
