Bergamo Restaurants

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We had booked room only, though we could have eaten breakfast in the hotel for 10 Euros per day, we preferred to have an 'Italian Breakfast' of coffee and a pastry. Pizza and Co was near to our hotel (it's between the Mercure and Best Western hotels). A cafe/coffee bar/snack bar.

We sat on tall stools at a small round table downstairs, but noted that there is an upper Mezzanine area with tables and benches. I was impressed that there was an electric stair lift for customers with mobility problems. I think the toilets were upstairs.

There was a steady stream of customers, which kept the lone elderly proprieter? quite busy

Favorite Dish: I enjoyed my brioche com crema - pastry with a custardy filling and Cappuccino - though I could have drunk more than a small cup full! This came to 2.10 Euros (December 2011) - On the right hand side of the menu display was this drink and cake offer - for 4.40 Euros I could have had my choice, plus an additional small orange juice. Cappuccino and a slice of tart was also 4.40 Euros

Purchased seperately cappuccino is 1.30 and brioches are 0.90 cents - so although this only saved me 10 cents, for anyone with a family these might be a better option.

As the name of the cafe suggests, they also bake and sell pizza - a small selection of pizza al trancio was on the bar - (Pizza sold by the slice) 1.60/3 Euros small/normal.

A handy place for a quick cheap breakfast.

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It was Happy Hour, and we were quite thirsty, so we decided to stop at this bar, with its pavement tables and chairs. Although it's on one of Citta Bassa's busiest streets, we were shielded from the traffic by the tubs and troughs of shrubs.

I ordered my favourite - Aperol Spritz, the others chose draught beer (birra alla spina - beer from the tap) fruit juice and coffee (illy brand). These came with a bowl of olives and crisps. (During Happy Hour, accompanying nibbles can sometimes be a substitute for a meal)!!

Inside the bar was a selection of ice creams, but I managed to resist (especially as Grom was within view)!

Clean toilets in side.

A decent enough place for a drink and loo break.

Shortly after arriving in Bergamo, we were hungry, so it was time to pay homage to Grom - my favourite Italian gelaterie. We had to get back to the hotel to link up via Skype with the gang in Karlsruhe, enjoying a pre-gluhwein meet evening, so we decided to grab a pizza to eat in our room.

Gusto Pizza , opposite our hotel, was open so we entered. There was a selection of thin pizzas on display - one complete with tomato sauce and french fries -er, we decided to pass on that one. I settled for a Calzone Alla Neopoletana - 5 Euros, Gilly settled for a Margherita Pizza for 2 Euros.

It seemed a bit strange to be purchasing pizzas from a Fast Food establishment in Bergamo, when there are so many nice pizzerias/ bakeries, but we were in a bit of a hurry, and this place was open.
Besides Pizza, Gusto serves panninis, kebabs (Halal Meat), fries, fizzy drinks.

Seating at the counter.

We waited while these were heated up and boxed, then rushed back to our hotel (collecting a bottle of wine from the hotel bar to wash it down with).

Well my calzone was hot and edible, but eaten as fuel rather than for its culinary delight!

Open until late, and prices are fairly reasonable. Pizza & Co on the opposite side of the street would be a better choice imo, but it doesn't open late.

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Based in Milan, this chain of 'Fast Food' Restaurants is part of a company (Autogrill Spa) that is 57% owned by Benneton. They started out in 1947, with their first road side outlet catering for the increasing number of motorists. The Ciao restaurants were launched in 1982, and now have over 170 outlets in cities, stations and airports through Italy.
Although 'Fast Food' and self service, this isn't another Mc Donalds. There was a variety of hot and cold dishes, pasta dishes, salads, pizza, desserts, Hot and cold drinks including wine and beer.

Grab a tray, then visit each of the stations, selecting your choices, then head to the till to pay - There is usually a Dish of the Day, and some of the hot meals are cooked to order.

The Ciao Ristorante in Bergamo is located up a flight of stairs, with tables inside and on an outside terrace, which is where we chose to eat - accompanied by 'thieving' sparrows, who were quite tame. If you don't like these feathered friends popping onto your table uninvited, I'd advise eating inside. Personally, I'm not too comfortable with birds getting too close to me.

I'm afraid, that although it was only a few months ago since I ate here, I can't for the life of me remember what I ate - I'm sure that I had a pasta dish and salad. Hopefully I'll find a receipt somewhere to nudge my memory! Oh hang on, I've just checked on my photo-there's certainly a salad and bottle of mineral water, and possibly it's pasta!!

I would say that it was cheap and cheerful, but the staff weren't the most joyous! If you're looking for food as fuel, then this is your place - the food was good enough - it certainly puts a lot of other 'fast food venues' to shame, but wasn't over memorable - then again, I was still quite full from our late lunch and aperitivo that had been consumed prior to arriving here!

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Popular with the University's students - possibly because La Birrera offers a special menu that is only available to them! Also has free WiFi.

So, if you're looking for a 'no frills' place to eat or drink, but with a local atmosphere right in the heart of Citta Alta, try here.

The name La Birrera is a clue that this is a pub, mainly serving a variety of beers/lagers .

Checking their website , there is an impressive selection of draught and bottled beers - including many Belgian trappist beers. Draught beers are served in small (25cl) Medium (50cl), litre and shuttles! -350cl!

We were in search of food though, and we were directed to the basement dining area.

Starters began at 3 Euros, First courses were all 8 Euros, Mains 10-12 Euros.

There is also a menu of the day 2 courses 12 Euro plus 1 Euro cover and service charge, platters and snacks -panninis, hot dogs etc for 4.50 Euros (again check out their website for menus and prices)

Open daily 09.00 -14.00 and 19.00 -0200

Favorite Dish: We opted for the local traditional dish of Casoncelli - stuffed pasta served with butter and sage - I think this was my first tasting (the first of many) of Casoncelli - Mmmm! 8 Euros washed down with a draught Heineken 4.50 Euros

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CITTA BASSA
We'd been handed a booklet listing a selection of restaurants in Bergamo and its Province, which was helpful in one of our choices for a place to hold our Friday night meal for Eurmeet 2012.
This restaurant was a few minutes walk from our Hotel, so we went to have a look, liked what we saw, and luckily managed to reserve tables for Eurmeet.

That evening, we returned to check out the food. The place was certainly busy, but the staff were very pleasant and professional. We ate in the larger back dining room, and our table allowed us to see over the restaurant. It was quite an eye-opener, watching the staff manouvre through the restaurant, efficiently serving or clearing tables in a well practiced efortless manner.

We knew that the trattoria specialised in local cuisine, as well as being a pizzeria, but I don't think that I've ever seen such a vast and varied Pizza menu - Pizza by the metre and some very obscure combinations too!

Well we decided to give the pizzas a miss (for this time at least) and try some of the food that was going to be on the menu for EurMeet. Well we weren't disappointed at all!

The restaurant offers 2 set menus - A Traditional Menu for 35 Euros and A Traditional Dish for 20 Euros (Which We'll be eating at Eurmeet)

It wasn't until later that I realised that this restaurant is recognised for the quality of food by the Bergamo Chamber of Commerce - as one of the ristorante dei Mille Sapori (restaurants of A Thousand Flavours)
Bergamo is known as The City of A Thousand, due to the high number of men from Bergamo, who enlisted for Garibaldi's army campaign in 1860, so this is recognised in the Chambers awards for traditional flavours and quality restaurants.
There is quite a long list of requirements and standards to warrant being awarded.

1. They offer own cooked courses, and have been run for at least one year by the current manager
2. They offer the Traditional Menu and Traditional dish at lunch and dinner every day
The Traditional menu includes - starter, first,main course, in house dessert, garibalda bread if available in the area , Bergamasca white wine or Valcalepio doc wine and Bergamo produced mineral water
The Traditional dish - single course meal with garibalda bread if available in the area , Bergamasca white wine or Valcalepio doc wine and Bergamo produced mineral water.
both should be inspired by typical local cuisine, using seasonal ingredients, particularly traditional products with the Mille Sapori mark. They should be quoted inclusive of cover charge and service.
Other stipulations are in regard to the outside appearance -signposted, well lit, car parking, the inside - comfort of noise, temperature, lighting, maintainance, reception of guests, local information, waste management, food miles, energy efficience, low packaging, recycling etc.

Local and Traditional dishes


Closed Mondays and 26th July-17th August for holidays.
Seats 220
Disabled access
Credit and debit cards accepted
Car Parking
Reservation recommended

Favorite Dish: Instead of choosing the Traditional Dish, we opted for a starter of affettato misto - a selection of cold meats - which our waiter explained included spek, bresaola, salami, lardo, pancetta and prosciutto . We shared this. 7.50 Euros

For our main course we both ordered casoncelli Bergamasca- Stuffed pasta similar to ravioli
breadcrumbs, egg, cheese, sausage, raisins, amoretto biscuits, pear and garlic are some of the ingredients traditionally used, this was then served with melted butter, pancetta and sage -Mmmmmm - delicious! 8 Euros each
We then treated ourselves to dessert - Gilly had the pannacotta, 5 Euro, while I opted for a sharp and refreshing lemon sorbet 4.50

A bottle of fruity Valcalepio 13 Euros
2 coffees 1.50 Euros each
A bottle of mineral water 2.50 Euro
Cover charge for 2 3 Euros

Total Bill 54.50 - which we felt was very good value.
Certainly looking forward to eating here in June 2012!

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Originally we'd hoped to book Restaurant Pizzeria Da Franco for one of our Eurmeet meals, (Having eaten here twice before and being very pleased with the food and service) They weren't able to accommodate us, but recommended their sister restaurant La Columbina. So the 4 of us decided to eat lunch there before booking the restaurant for June 2012.

Located on a quiet street (next door to where the composer Donizetti was born) This was surprisingly larger inside, than it appeared from the outside. A cosy traditional trattoria divided into smaller dining rooms - we were shown to a table in the dining room on the right of the door. (Visiting the toilet later on, I spotted 2 more dining rooms, and a terrace) terracotta tiled floors with wooden tables and chairs, prints and plates decorating the walls, with some quirky touches.

There was a friendly atmosphere here, from the staff and groups of diners.

We enjoyed our meal and the service, (nice and relaxed - not having too long to wait, but not feeling rushed either) so decided to go ahead and book the restaurant for our Saturday evening EurMeet meal.
The staff were very helpful in helping us select a menu, and are looking forward to feeding us all!

Closed Monday and Tuesdays
Open 12.15 - 14.15 and 19.30 -22.30

Favorite Dish: I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, as did the others

Antipasti-Starter

Gilly and I shared a (crostone di polenta -platter of baked polenta, salami and cheese -8 Euros
Chiara and Alex shared a Asse di Salami - a selection of cold meats with pickles and polenta 8 Euros

Primo Piatti - First Course

I enjoyed a crespelle -a light and fluffy savoury pancake -8 Euros
others enjoyed ;
Casoncelli alla Bergamo - pasta stuffed with sausagemeat served with lardons, butter, grated cheese and sage - 8 Euros
Tagliatelli - pasta strips, with a sauce that contained dried fruits - 8 Euros
Polenta tarragona con porcini - polento flavoured with tarragon and served with porcini mushrooms -12 Euros
Drinks 4x coffees 2 Euros each
1 x bottle H2O - 2 Euros
1 x soft drink -3 Euros
1 x beer -3 Euros
1 x glass of wine 3 Euros

coperte (Cover charge) 2 Euros each

Total Bill = 79 Euros, which we felt was quite reasonable.

At the end of the meal, 2 bottles were placed on our table - Amaro and a blueberry (mirtillo) liquer(pic 5) digestifs - The Amaro appeared to have been home made, or made especially for this trattoria. I wasn't quite sure of which ingredients were in this drink, although it tasted familiar, and was quite pleasant - warming, rather than the 'throat burner' I was expectingWhat Wikipaedia has to say about Amaro
The label shows a monk collecting flowers/herbs - At one time a monastery existed on or near the site of the restaurant - The monks were known as Brothers of the Dove - a dove forms part of this trattorias logo.

A lovely meal

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This was somewhere that I'd wanted to eat for a while, since reading the positive reviews of its food and atmosphere. When we (very briefly) visited San Vigilio in May, I'd mistakenly thought that the restaurant next to the funicular station was San Vigilio Restaurante. So I was pleased to find there was a table available, when we turned up without booking at Sunday lunch time. I'm sure that this would be different in the summer months - It is popular with locals as well as weekenders from Milan and visitors from all corners of the world.

A bonus was that there was a table on the enclosed terrace -Again, in summer, these windows would all be open, affording wonderful views over the valley below. The restaurant is sited on the highest hill of the city. I'm afraid that our view wasn't the best, as it was quite a hazy day, but it was still quite atmospheric. The German writer Hermann Hesse was so overwhelmed by the 'awe inspiring and far reaching view' that he had glimpsed through the glass window as he passed by, that he was compelled to enter!
A favourite time to dine here is as the sunsets over the valley.

The restaurant was opened in 1913 under the name Isola Bella (The Beautiful Island). It is run today by the Zani Brothers.

It is noted for its typical Bergamasque and Mediterranean cuisine, and it's pizzas are renowned too - being made to order and baked in the central traditional wood burning oven.
All the pasta and desserts are made daily.

There was a mix of clientele of varying ages -as it was Sunday lunchtime, there were a few extended family groups, couples and groups of friends too.
The young staff were friendly, polite and efficient.

I enjoyed eating here, and look forward to doing so again in the not too distant future.

Last orders in the kitchen
14.30 and 22.45
Pizzeria Restaurante open
Mon - Sunday 12:00-14.30 and 19:00 - 00:00

Favorite Dish: I thouroughly enjoyed all of my meal

Antipasti - Starter
Gilly and I shared a plate of Salumi tipici bergamaschi con polenta (pic 4) - A selection of cold meats with polenta 9.50 Euros

Primi Piatti - First Course
I had Tortelli di zucca e patate con burro vansetto e amoretti
Ravioli with pumpkin and potato with butter and almonds -12 Euros

Gilly had Gnocchetti de patate con code di gamberi, peperoni e zucchini -
Potato dumplings with prawn tails, peppers and courgette -13 Euros

We drank a bottle of water (75cl) -3.10 Euros and a coffee each 3.60 for 2
Coperto (cover charge 6.80 Euros
Total bill 48 Euros ($62 40GBP)