I stumbled into Sciarada totally by chance, on an evening when all I wanted was a cocktail and a…read morecouple of small dishes. I left pleasantly surprised, to say the least.
Tucked into the lively San Salvario area near Porta Nuova, Sciarada strikes a rare balance: upscale but genuinely friendly, with a warm, intimate vibe and a small, thoughtful menu that clearly prioritizes quality over quantity.
I started with the Fumo di Porto :black tea-infused Campari, Carpano Classico vermouth, Empire dry gin, and Tawny porto. Beautifully balanced, with the porto's sweetness cutting through the bitterness of the Campari, and lovely smoky notes throughout. The oven-candied carrots with thousand island salsa were a clever, unexpected starter, and the taco with grey rabbit "tuna," arugula, and pico de gallo was a standout: inventive and original without trying too hard, and very tasty!
Service was attentive and knowledgeable, especially when it came to the cocktail and whiskey selection. The only downside, as is often the case in Italy, was that sitting outside meant sitting among smokers; worth requesting a table inside if that bothers you.
Whether you think of it as a cocktail bar with excellent food or a restaurant with standout cocktails almost doesn't matter -- Sciarada does both exceptionally well. What started as a spontaneous stop turned into one of the better surprises of my trip. Looking forward to coming back next time I'm in Turin.