Restaurant La Cucina di Alice

A small Italian restaurant across the street from Lake Lugano. We came here from the reviews and now we’re glad we did. Although busy with both locals and tourists, we were able to get a table quickly. We ordered some specials of the night, including a Blueberry Risotto and Peppercorn Filet. Both were a hit. While we didn’t prefer the Stuffed Squash Blossoms (usually a fan of this dish), that didn’t hinder our dining experience.

We truly enjoyed our visit to this restaurant. The food was fresh and excellent, and the menu offered a good mix of variety, with the exception of the starter area, which I believe may be improved. I tried the risotto with mushrooms, and it was a masterpiece. We also had ravioli and cheesecake, both of which were excellent dishes made with fresh ingredients. The staff was incredibly attentive and made our time there even more pleasurable; also, they were helpful, I ordered based on their recommendations.

The stuff working here is very kind. We loved the food so much we had an Irish steak and Ravioli of the day, also, don’t mess having a dessert at the restaurant we had tiramisu and cream brûlée. Alexsandro is a great guy who made our time here very enjoyable. For sure will come here again.

The special dishes (risotto and ravioli) were 10/10. We also ordered steak and seabass fish. Unfortunately, they used the same grill, so the steak tasted like fish. Dessert is New York cheese cake 1000000/10

Good food. Good location. Nice ambience, you can choose to sit in air-con or outside. Reasonable menu selection. Staff is good attentive. Food was quick to arrive.

Small Italian Restaurant where we had our dinner by chance. Reservation is required, the restaurant was full even on Monday evening. Fast and friendly service. Beef was delicious but portions are small.

Amazing little restaurant on the water front… it was the only one serving food in the afternoon… but, has a great menu with top quality dishes… thier Burrata salad is tasty…I loved their risotto with shrimp… highly recommend

The staff was very kind and attentive, and my dog was immediately given water. The pasta was delicious and customized just for me, which I really appreciated🤍 They also treated all guests to a small appetizer before the main dish. Nice atmosphere and view.

A small Italian restaurant across the street from Lake Lugano. We came here from the reviews and now we're glad we did. Although busy with both locals and tourists, we were able to get a table quickly. We ordered some specials of the night, including a Blueberry Risotto and Peppercorn Filet. Both were a hit. While we didn't prefer the Stuffed Squash Blossoms (usually a fan of this dish), that didn't hinder our dining experience.

Nice fresh flavors. Had the orecchiette and it was delicious. Loved the sauce and the hints of pomegranate. Not pictured was the daily soup which my mother ordered and absolutely loved. It was a nice vegetable soup which was perfect for a cold, slightly dreary day. We sat inside since it was drizzling and they weren't serving outside. The inside is cozy and they hang your jackets up elsewhere for you though it took them two tries to bring back the correct ones when we were leaving. They also provided little hangers for our purses. The staff were very pleasant and welcoming overall.

Buonissimo! Cute little restaurant in center Lugano. Alice the owner is often there, her team offers impeccable service, and you can tell she pours her passion in every detail

Beautiful restaurant with an amazingly friendly staff. Fluent in English. Regional dishes. Very very good. Great location. Easy parking.

Ok, sitting on a fence post with this restaurant. We walked in and were graciously welcomed. There were only one other couple dining. We were seated immediately (had reservations which we had made a month before arrival). We were tucked into a corner almost behind the bar. Service started our great and then abruptly changed into what do you want, what do you want type atmosphere. We ordered and our cocktail/wine came right before our food. They served the food pushed a small side tabled butting against the table and bar, nothing placed on it and they disappeared. Never came back to check on us. We ordered the Fresh lake perch cooked in a whit merlot served with saffron rice...not risotto. The fish was pretty fresh until it cooled down. There was no merlot sauce to be found. One one check back so I couldn't ask for more. The other main was a Orecchiette with Genoese Ragu which was a Ragu without tomato. It was quite good but could have used a bit more Ragu to the ratio of pasta. We asked for the check and I asked our server what the table was for? Of course I knew the answer(for needed condiments....salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, etc. I had seen next to each and every table). He looked at me like I was crazy...wrong answer. Maybe for a little oil to go on the dry bread. All in all the food was a low 4 but the service was a 1. Sort or recommend with a reservation. Don't take the table by itself. Dishes were on the expensive side of Lugano for what we got. Our two dishes with a drink was right at $100 Ch. Treat tourist a bit better they normally tip more than locals but not this time.

View is nice, food looks nice but not that flavorful. Gnocchi was very mushy, we mentioned that to the waiter but it wasn't addressed, also had an extra $8 water bottle charge on our bill that we had to request to be taken off as we didn't order it.

Food was okay. Nothing to write home about. Lots of smokers on the terrace which certainly dulled my appetite. Service was good. Prices were high.

Service and Ambiance were great. We came with our baby and they were more than accommodating. They were changing to dinner but they were able to make us gnocchi and ravioli. They even told a man smoking to leave since it was bothering our baby. Definitely come try this place.

The food and service is outstanding. It's pricey for the view and location but you'll not regret it. We had the gnocchi and both the spaghetti with tomato sauce and meat sauce and it was delicious. They served a small piece of bruschetta that was perfect. We also had the pesto pasta dish and that was our least favorite but still pretty good. I highly recommend.

I came already six month ago and I was very pleased with the dish. This time I went for lunch. Fortunately I arrived at 12:30 pm, as half an hour later all available tables were taken. ( Around Half of the tables had been reserved) As I wanted to eat something light, I chose the sea brass filet with with potatoes and vegetables. I accompanied the dish with a glass of rose wine. The fish tasted delicious and could be removed from the skin with ease. The potatoes were fried perfectly and had no burns. And finally the vegetables were tasty and crunchy. After the main course, I chose to eat a dessert. I chose the dessert of the day, that was the Torta della Nonna (Grandmother's cake) with a fruit topping (strawberries). The cake was perfect, not too soft neither too dry. I finish the lunch with an espresso. The lunch was a great pleasure albeit at a price of 80.- CHF.

Worst overpriced meal I've had in a while. Things started off well. We had a table for 8 outside. We showed up for our reservation. Our waiter was a bit absent minded but very nice and friendly. After waiting for a bit and no one showed up to give us a menu, I reached over and grabbed a few of the laminated manus that were on a table nearby. There were 8 of us, 5 of which kids, so I can understand that it was chaotic, yet, mine and my husband's meals never arrived. It wasn't until everyone else already had their meals that our waiter said, oh you had the pasta with beef and the local fish, yes? They will come in about 10 minutes. So he entered our dishes after all others already had theirs. Of course our meals were then rushed although they did arrive eventually. My seasoned potatoes, had no seasoning on them and were still hard to eat. I didn't complain, I knew they rushed the food and we had kids, I wasn't going to send the food back and delay us any further. If you've ever sat down to eat with littles, you know. To their credit they tried to compensate with topping off my husband's glass of wine. So that was nice. When it was time for dessert, the kids ordered their desserts. They were out of the creme brulee. That's fine, the chocolate lava cake was a nice alternative. The kids loved it. Except that we looked around and the 9yo's vanilla ice cream never made it. So he had to wait and watch all of his friends have their desserts while his took more time to arrive. In fact, our waiter was nowhere to be found so I had to march myself into the restaurant and demand that they bring out his dessert. BTW, each dish was between 29 and 50 swiss franks a plate. When you're buying a $12 scoop of ice cream, you want it to arrive at dessert time. Overall a disappointing and expensive experience. There are many lovely places in Lugano. If you're paying a premium for dinner, find a place that will offer food and service that's on par.

Yum yum. Cute little place & very friendly staff. Our hotel made reservations for us and it was necessary because they were packed completely & turning away walk-ins the whole night. I definitely recommend this place if you're in Lugano.

This is a small restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The local dishes are fabulous. In addition the service is second to none. Located on the lake so you can enjoy a view of the water. We were taken care of so well, you would have thought we were friends of the owner. We enjoyed a small appetizer tasting (on the house). This is a must for dinner in Lugano.

Yelp had it wrong. I got there at 1015pm tonight and they said the kitchen was closed. They had several tables still eating. I asked their hours and they said every night they close at 10pm; so, not midnight like Yelp had it. You'd think a place on the main drag might at least match the hours of a place with no water view, like Pizzeria Argentina which is where I ended up... but anyway... I think the magic from last year was my romantic moonrise from God. #thethrillisgone

Beautiful location, lovely evening and wonderful meal. Attentive waiter and Alice visited our table!

Food was average and very expensive. Waiter was rather arrogant. Location is good and the atmosphere was fine but I wouldn't go again.

Great place. Delicious food. High quality ingredients. Friendly staff. Great location on the water. Highly recommended!

Very good! Nice ambience, good food and good service...definitely recommend. Reservations a good idea.

After seeing such positive reviews of this place, we were really looking forward to some relief from heavy Swiss food, and have to say we were disappointed. While La Cucina offers a break from the tourist traps with cute decor and an interesting menu, the food is not up to par. The tortellinis tasted like supermarket quality, from the actual pasta to the sauce that tasted like it came from an Alfredo Prego jar--bland and heavy! The pricing also does not make up for what lacks in depth of flavor. The rest of my party was pleased with their meals, which were two Caesar salads and a soup. Service and amuse-Bouche were both great!

unfriendly waiter-overpriced (55chf for a filet)-you have food on the table in a few minutes (fresh?)-poor flavor. A tourist trap...but with a great view

Ambiance and Service were excellent. Food was just okay. High priced for what it was.

This is the third time we have dined at Cucina di Alice. It's a very friendly local spot that's always busy. You'll need to arrive early or get a reservation in advance. We've had a variety of salads and appetizers here. Several items stand out. The ricotta stuffed squash blossoms and the polipo (octopus) salad. We had those again tonight and they were great. Highly recommended.

The food was great, it was very delicious and the service was excellent. The waiter was very nice and polite. The restrooms are very clean.

Food was great. Got to meet Alice too and she was great. There were 8 of us and they fit us in and served us with no problem. First time in Lugano and we are lucky we found this place. Short little walk from our hotel.

This place was amazing! I enjoyed our food and tea so much! My husband got the pasta of the day and I got the fish. I also got a lavender tea. It was the best pasta on our trip!!

As an American that travels abroad a lot, I depend on Yelp in determining where I should eat when I pass through places so I feel obligated to review this restaurant. I actually came here because of Yelp reviews and how close it was to my hotel, which was in DT Lugano. I was extremely happy with the choice and would recommend this restaurant to anyone. The staff spoke great English, which always helps to make me comfortable, they had great specials and everything was reasonably priced (by Swiss standards). I opted for two mainstay items on the menu, the Tagliatelle and a mixed green salad and had a couple of drinks and left there completely full and happy. I was here in the wintertime on a Sunday and can only imagine the experience to be much better in better weather and on a night where more people are out. I also sat next to a couple with two kids under 3 so families are definitely welcome. You won't regret a dinner here.

Must have the buratta! The food was amazing. The staff went out of their way to make us feel like family. We will definitely visit this place again!

I was so pleased we came here for one of our Lugano dinners. The food and wine were both excellent. My husband and I shared the autumn salad (the blue cheese in this salad is as good as blue cheese will ever get ) the daily ravioli, which was ricotta and spinach and the potato nocchi (also perfectly cooked, not too heavy). For dessert we had the lava cake and the creme brûlée. The atmosphere was lively and the restaurant was full by 7:30. Above all, was the service, very attentive full of good recommendations (especially the wine) and very family friendly. They were so sweet and brought some toys for our daughter to play with which allowed us to fully relax and enjoy our meal. Highly recommend.

Yummy food with a delicate Alice in Wonderland vibe located near beautiful Lake Lugano.

A little expansive for what it is. The food is nice, but there's nothing extraordinary here, and the presentation is just ok. Good food, not excellent but the risk ts to expect too much from the meals, they're just good -

Reservations are necessary if you wish to dine at this fine and popular location. I was not a Yelp member when I dined here but the experience was unforgettable so I must act now to share what I can only refer to as a perfect dinner. The menu item I chose was a Raspberry Filet that was so tender it almost melted in my mouth. The flavor was perfect and I fear that I will never find a comparable experience. I sincerely hope that Alice is alive and well and that she continues to thrill customers with her excellent fare.

This was one of our favorite meals in Lugano, so much so that we had to come back and have it again. Don't miss their lunch salads - so fresh and tasty, just simply perfect!

Incredibly good food. The staff was very friendly and patient with us in explaining the menu items. I got a grilled fish with spinach that was one of the day's specials and it was perfect. The Metis drink that I got was great as well. Overall, the meal was a bit pricey, but I enjoyed it!

Everything here was FANTASTIC! The asparagus ravioli (made in-house) and the blueberry risotto with marscapone we're both TO DIE FOR! The service was excellent, even with a full restaurant, and they did a great job helping us by speaking English and explaining the dishes. If we hadn't gone on our last night in Lugano I'd want to go there every day!

Friendly staff and excellent food. More expensive than it would be on the other side of the Swiss-Italian border, but, hey, it's Switzerland -- everything is absurdly expensive, and this place isn't any more absurdly expensive than any other place of its quality (and really is not priced significantly higher than the tourist traps on the main piazza). The tables outside are in high demand, but I was quite pleased with the inside table, as we still had a lovely view of the lake, but did not have to suffer the street noise or the other diner's cigarette fumes. Why, or why, do the Swiss smoke so much?

excellent staff-speak English fluently .. excellent food quality .. clean.. LOVE it..

I came for a work dinner while in Lugano. Food was delicious (we had fish - ricciola is amazing!) and service was very good. And everyone told us this is the best restaurant in Lugano!!

Very cosy place with northern Italian cuisine. We've arrived on Saturday night without reservation, the restaurant was full but they managed to find a table for 2 for us:) very friendly staff! Food was also great as we were in the middle of truffle season and tried delicious dishes with truffle! Very much recommended!!!

La Cucina di Alice is a hidden gem in Lugano. This Italian restaurant is in a great location directly across from the lake. The ambience is cozy and romantic as it is a small restaurant with helpful servers that are always friendly and welcoming (which is not always the case when you are an English speaker in Lugano), the waiters have helped me choose many a great meal, and have been helpful with teaching me some new Italian vocabulary which is always a plus. The menu changes with the seasons and all the ingredients are fresh and local. My favorite dish I have had here was the matcha pasta with kale and mozzarella (a winter dish), which I was initially hesitant to try as I have never had matcha green tea powder in a pasta before but it was fantastic!! As the restaurant is small and has limited seats it is best to call ahead and make a reservation.

I came here on a whim, and the food was amazing! I had an artichoke salad and the fish special which was sea bass with shrimp and vegetables. It was light and flavorful! The wine and dessert were great too! The service was excellent, the owner was friendly and attentive. I will be back!

Great place with a nice view of the water! Our lunch was expensive but pretty much everything in Switzerland is. The waitstaff was very friendly and helpful, the food was delicious and the location was great. We ordered the daily special which was sea bass with scampi and fresh vegetables as well as the pesto linguine and everything was delicious! Would definitely recommend this place if you're in the area.

Not the best Italian restaurant I have been to in Italy. The view was awesome and I really liked the decor. The wait staff spoke English which was nice. However, I didn't think the food was worth the stop. My gnocchi had an off flavor (smokey, I think).

Situated in an ideal location, La Cucina Di Alice is perfect for a romantic lunch/dinner, with the view on the lake. The menu has the typical italian/ticinese dishes. The quality of the food is not bad but clearly too expensive. The service too is not really up to their supposed standing.

Excellent food, wonderful service, great view of the water, and my waiter made a perfect wine selection for me.

Where do I begin? La Cucina de Alice is in a great location, on the boardwalk directly across from the lake. The restaurant is cozy, classy, and charming. The tables are all lined with white linen tablecloths and candlelit. With Lake Lugano as the backdrop, it's quite the romantic atmosphere. The wait staff are incredibly friendly and speak impeccable English. The food comes out quickly, but they offer bread and olive oil with herbs while you wait. My husband and I ate here 3 times during our 4 night stay in Lugano. It's totally worth the price point, as it's not outrageously expensive but you still feel like it's 5 star quality. I highly recommend the creamed spinach ravioli - it was incredibly fresh and tasty, leaving me feeling satisfied not full. You have to eat at Alice is you're in Lugano!

Excellent. Had the veal ragu... very delicate. Pasta cooked perfectly al dente. Wife had glutten free pasta which was a vegetable flavored version had never had before. we both had an amouse bouche served ex-menu.. excellent. Had acwarm center chocolatte cake beautifully made and served. Suggest this may be a "must stop" place in Lugano. Not cheap, but not too expensive by Swiss standards. Reservations probably needed at peak times. Service was excellent, very professional! They speak a bunch of languages, including English and Spanish.

Great place over looking beautiful Lake Lugano. We went on a beautiful night and were able to dine outside. Pastas are all home made and fresh, try the gnocchi. Easily the best I have had. They also have delicious wines by the glass, although not on the menu, you just need to ask try one of the red wines from Tuscany.

Friendly waitstaff with an infectiously positive humor that bent over backwards to accommodate our probably irritating requests, who recommended a wonderful wine to accompany the meal. The amuse-bouche set the scene for a delicious dinner worthy of the end of a Ticinese holiday. Worth every penny.

Really nice restaurant nearby the lake in Lugano. Service was really good and really loved the food. Try summer salad, it is such a beautiful dish! It is a bit expensive (like every place in switzerland) but imo it's worth it! This is a place where u can have good food and same time enjoy beautiful views!