Introduction
Many mountain lodges in Cortina are, in fact, high-altitude restaurants with a breathtaking view of the Dolomites. There you can eat fancy and quality dishes on the most enchanting peaks of the world. Let's discover together the best alpine refuges where to eat in Cortina, reachable by car, with the lifts, or on foot.
To be honest, we are unsure about the exact translation of the Italian word "Rifugio," so we opted for a mountain lodge because a mountain hut, alpine refuge, or shelter makes us think of something for rescue and not a cozy place where to eat and relax, such as those we'll describe.
Mountain lodges close to the streets
In this section, we'll describe the mountain lodges that you can find on the side of the roads or very close to them. These places are ideal on days of bad weather or when, for whatever reason, you are not too eager to walk in the mountains. Over the years, many of them have become quality restaurants, but some places still keep the atmosphere of the high mountain huts.
Between these, we certainly want to mention the Bergohotel "Passo Giau," which rises on the top of the wonderful Giau Pass. They serve traditional dishes in a simple, but absolutely appropriate, decor. It would be hard to find a better view in a mountain lodge two steps from a car park.
Alternatively, it is also possible to stop a little lower along the Giau Pass at "Peziè de Parù," a mountain lodge located on a beautiful pasture very close to the road, perfect for those with children.
If, instead, you prefer to see another mountain pass, you could take the nearby Falzarego Pass. Also there, you'll find beautiful and easily accessible restaurants, such as "Locanda del Cantoniere," which has a large terrace and is located just above the street, and "Baita Resch," a lovely mountain lodge that is not only close to the road but also to the ski slopes. From here, you can admire a wonderful panorama of Cortina in a cozy environment.
Driving a little more up the Falzarego Pass, you will reach "Col Gallina," a mountain lodge that also offers an incredible service: you can stay overnight in the Starlight Room. It's a charming, super exclusive, and solitary glass room with a 360° view of the Dolomites and the starry sky. The reservations are currently suspended for bureaucratic reasons, but the owner is determined to solve the problem as soon as possible.
Of course, the restaurants and mountain lodges that can be found in the immediate vicinity of a road don't end here. On the other side of the valley, along the Tre Croci Pass, there are also "El Brite de Larieto" and "Rio Gere." Both of them are very popular, both in summer and in winter.
We would also like to mention a place that is special, not so much for the panorama as for the story it tells: "Rifugio Ospitale." It is one of the oldest buildings in the area and one of the oldest inns in the world. Now it is completely restructured, but it has been historically operative since the 11th century, over one thousand years ago.
If you visit the restaurant, remember to take a look at the beautiful tiny church of Ospitale, which preserves the original structure supporting the roof, dated 1200, one of the oldest in Italy, with over eight centuries of history.
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Mountain lodges with short walk
Here we have collected all the mountain lodges in Cortina d'Ampezzo that are reachable with a walk. They are all reasonably easy and short hikes, perfect for whetting your appetite.
These hikes can be done by anyone, as long as they are normally trained and fit. You should also bring with you some water and something to eat. If you really don't feel like walking, in the more touristic months, there should be a jeep taxi service, but always verify the actual availability by contacting the mountain lodge.
The first place we'd like to suggest is "Rifugio Mietres," easily reachable both from the car park at "Guargnè" and from "El Brite de Larieto." The "Rifugio Mietres" has good cuisine, a terrace with a breathtaking view, and it can be reached quite easily. If you want to know more about the short hike from "Larieto" to "Mietres," you can read our page below:
The second mountain lodge we definitely want to recommend is "Malga Federa." It can be reached from the parking area of "Parù de Col" along a definitely challenging, but spectacular, walk. It is the tourist path "Ra Góres de Fedèra," an amazing walk that we have described on the page linked below:
The third mountain lodge that we want to recommend is "Rifugio Dibona," which is not only the starting point of many via ferratas; it's also very popular with residents of Cortina. It's fairly easy to reach from this parking area on the Falzarego Pass, as we have written on our page, which you can read below:
Alternatively, another popular alpine refuge is "Malga Ra Stua," which is easily reachable from the "Sant'Uberto" car park. This is a special place for those who have children, as it stands on a pasture with cows and other friendly animals. If you want to know more, we have described the hike from "Sant'Uberto" to "Ra Stua" on the page beneath:
Fourth, but not less important, there is the "Lago d'Ajal," a charming restaurant located on the shores of the lake with the same name. The facility has been renewed recently, and it's absolutely amazing. This mountain lodge is open only in the summer, and can be easily reached by walking from the parking area of Parù de Col, but if you want to lengthen the hike, it's also possible to walk from the center of Cortina. We have written a deep article on this hike; you can see it below:
The last mountain lodges we want to suggest to you for this chapter are all along the same gravel road. All of them are reachable starting from Cianzopè parking along the Falzarego Pass.
In about an hour's walk, you will reach the base of Mount Five Towers, or, in italian, "Cinque Torri." They are an iconic and beautiful mountain formation, at whose base stands the homonymous "Rifugio Cinque Torri," open only in summer, which offers a very genuine menu with local products.
If you still have some energy left, you may continue for about half an hour towards the "Rifugio Scoiattoli," a very cozy restaurant with a huge terrace and a view on Mount Five Towers that is absolutely unique. Even higher, continuing for another forty minutes, you can also reach the "Rifugio Averau," which is recommended because it's a classy restaurant at high altitude with a breathtaking view.
If you want to reach these areas with a less known path, there is a beautiful hike that will take you to the "Cinque Torri," starting from "Pian dei Menis." We describe it on the following page.
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Mountain lodges on the ski lifts
The mountain lodges placed on the mountain lifts or in their immediate vicinity are perfect for those who want to experience the high altitude but don't want to walk up the mountains. These places are great for organizing fancy events, for the elderly, for people with reduced mobility, or for those with skis on their feet. All these apline refuges are also accessible by various difficulties hikes.
The first mountain lodge we want to talk about is "Rifugio Faloria," which rises on the top of the mountain with the same name, offering an unforgettable view of Cortina d'Ampezzo. The refuge can be easily reached, both in summer and winter, using the "Faloria" cable car. In summer, you may also reach it by walking up the panoramic path "Dolomieu," starting from the parking area of "Rio Gere." We talked about it in depth on the following page:
As an alternative to Mount Faloria, it's also possible to climb Mount Tofane with the brand new cableway "Freccia nel Cielo." Upon arrival at "Col Druscié," the intermediate station, you'll be welcomed by the "Masi" Wine Bar and the "Col Druscié" Restaurant. If you want, you can continue up to the top of the mountain, where you will find the "Bar Cima Tofana."
If you want to reach the area of the Five Towers but don't want to walk as we mentioned in the previous chapter, you can take the "5 Torri" chairlift, which leads directly to the "Rifugio Scoiattoli." It is one of the most frequented places, both in winter and in summer, and it's also famous for the wild parties at the end of the season and for the summer concert.
Last, but not least, there is "Rifugio Lagazuoi," the one at the highest altitude among all in the Ampezzo valley and also the largest. It can be reached by the cableway at the top of Falzarego Pass or with a hard hike of about 2 hours. Alternatively, you can also get there along the Lagazuoi Tunnels, a steep and challenging hike through a gallery dug during the First World War to undermine the Austrian military posts.
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Sleep at a mountain lodge
Can you imagine waking up in a mountain lodge surrounded by nature, having your breakfast in front of a breathtaking panorama, and being immediately ready to go on a hike?
Sleeping in a mountain refuge is a special experience, even for those who usually live in the mountains, so try to imagine what it can mean for those who live in the city.
... If you have a chance to plan at least one night in a mountain lodge, do it...
Most of the mountain lodges we have listed in this article offer overnight accommodations. If, during your vacation, you have the opportunity to organize at least one night in a refuge, do not hesitate; do it.
Surely the comforts will not be exactly the same as in a hotel; maybe your sleep will be disturbed by those who wake up at night in your same dormitory; maybe you'll have to share the bathroom with other people; but I can assure you that these annoyances will be amply rewarded by what awaits you in the morning when you wake up. Some experiences can't be described; you have to live them.
Also, in this case, remember to book well in advance. There are not many rooms, as the mountain lodges aren't big, and it is better to be foresighted.
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Go down by sled
During the winter holidays, it's possible to organize fun sled rides from the mountain lodges to the valley. In Cortina, there are at least four structures that allow this type of activity. We are talking about "Malga Federa," "Rifugio Dibona," "Rifugio Mietres," and "Malga Ra Stua."
All the locations have a specifically structured sledding track for the descent with the sled, as it's absolutely forbidden to use the ski slopes dedicated to skiers. For more information, please read our article, which you can see below:
The link above will send you to the chapter dedicated to sledging. If you scroll upwards, you'll find described all the hikes that can be done in winter in Cortina, along roads where the snow has been packed, without the need for touring skis or snowshoes.
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Some recommendations
This is not a complete list of all the mountain lodges in the area. We have decided to list only the most touristy refuges, which are easy to reach. You should know that we have not received any benefits or discounts to recommend them. They are sincere recommendations, as we would give them to a friend visiting Cortina.
If you are coming on vacation during the peak season, it's always a good idea to try to make a reservation whenever possible. In the event that reservations are not accepted, try to be in place before 12 a.m. to anticipate the crowd and avoid long waits.
Before planning a hike in the low season, it's always a good idea to call the mountain lodge to verify if it's open. If you want to know more about the tourist influx in Cortina each month, you can read our article below:
Conclusion
We hope you liked this page on eating at the mountain lodges of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Before saying goodbye, we would suggest you read our home page, with all the articles we wrote about Cortina d'Ampezzo.
If you want to thank us you can read the page Support us. If you only want to suggest a change, propose something or just say hello, in the section contacts and info, you'll find all the ways to reach us.
