Expensive but quaint little café and bakery just a couple of blocks from the main square in town. A…read morevery large umbrella gives shade to most of the patio with some smaller umbrellas on the side bringing welcome relief from the sun. A tiny four piece snack size croque monsieur was CHF 12! They do give you a nice amount of mixed nuts and a small sampling of olives or marinated feta with toast crisps with each order of beverages. Service was very professional and amiable. They serve quite a few ice creams and pastries as well.

I really like this place, but I should say that it is a slightly generous 5 stars. If 4.5 were and…read moreoption, that's what I would give it: 5 stars for ambiance and service and 4 stars for food, so why not be generous and give it a 5?! The restaurant manager, Andrea Ponnozzo, is outstanding and he has created an environment where you really feel like a personal guest. He had seen me once and recognized me walking around town in Ascona - when does that happen? The service is attentive and personal without being overbearing. The space is wonderful - a modern dining area that overlooks the lake and is not too crowded. There is a nice bar in the restaurant if you want to get a drink before dinner. The food was excellent. I had the Ticino oxtail ravioli and the Capretto, both of which were perfectly done. For dessert I had the Seven Ice coffee, which was a creative twist on a classic. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it.

I might go out on a limb here and say this was (one of) the best meals I've ever had in…read moreSwitzerland. Don't get me wrong, it was horrifically expensive (350 CHF for two, with one glass of wine!) but actually the food was really very good - by far the best high-end restaurant food I've had in Switzerland - and the service was charming, if occasionally abrupt. Nothing like the rude, slamming down on the table style of Zurich. We decided to not go with the 'surprise menu' and opted instead for a starter, first course and second course... and then we caved and had dessert too! We had: Starters: Foie Gras variation, Potato Mousse with white truffles - both divine! First course: Prosecco & Wild Mushroom Risotto, Pumpkin Variation - fabulously dense rice and loved the pumpkin soup poured over all the other other yummy pumpkin bits Second Course: Bison - amazingly tender and buttery - with red cabbage, Lamb with polenta and aubergine - not bad, not mind blowing though Dessert: Nougat Souffle with redcurrant sauce (for two) - decadent but pleasantly light and so moreish. All in all we spent around 350 CHF, which is about what we've paid elsewhere in Switzerland, but this time I actually think it was almost worth it. It's no Per Se but it's certainly worth a visit and the delightful lakeside setting in pretty Ascona is lovely.

It was a great surprise to discover this authentic place. I'm Italian and this was a great place to…read moreeat a Italian food in Switzerland. I gave 5 stars also because of the impeccable service. Truly recommend it if you are in Locarno!

We just arrived in Locarno, and were seeking a latte after traveling for 14 hours. We happened…read moreupon this locaton from just a sign out on the main sidewalk pointing through some construction to get here. We are glad we did! This place is adorable, the ladies who work here seeet, and the cafe macchiattos delicious! Lots of tables inside and out.

You wouldn't imagine Vera Gelateria to be anything special, tucked away next to a gift shop…read moreopposite the entrance to the furnicular, but it's fab. Having driven the couple of hours from Orta to Locarno is was ready for a coffee, and the espresso did not disappoint! And the gelato! Two large chillers filled with an extensive variety of fruit and cream based flavours. As tempted as I was by the amazing chocolate varieties, I went with a scoop of mango and a scoop of fruits of the forest. Delicious! Full of flavour, every bite was fab. Make a detour before you go up into the mountains, you'll be glad you did.

We had salad and polenta, a local dish. The polenta was fine, the salad fresh, the service good…read more The sauce with the polenta to salty and the look and feel just unappetising. The location on the Piazza grande is very nice.