Apres Ski in Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d’Ampezzo is one of the chicest ski resorts in the Alps, with stylish, trendy coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and boutiques, and lots of furry Italians.
©stefanozardini.com
The Town of Cortina d’Ampezzo
The elegant town of Cortina d’Ampezzo at 1,200m in the heart of the Dolomites has an imposing Gothic campanile (c. 1858) towering 66m above the extensive pedestrianised centre and, at the last count, as many as 278 shops, 21 jewellery and luxury watch shops, 16 art galleries, 14 antique shops and numerous stylish, trendy coffee shops, restaurants and quality hotels. A visit to an outdoor gear shop here could result in a Gucci purchase as easily as The North Face.
Cortina has an extensive Italian clientele, which makes the whole scene all the more authentic for visitors from elsewhere, with extended families enjoying the passegiata, well wrapped in furs. Most of these visitors don’t even come to ski and even those who do will spend as much time off slope as on. Staggering along in ski boots at six in the evening, you’ll feel very under-dressed and will definitely not slot into the refined après-ski scene in the wine-bars, where there’s no dancing to speak of, never mind on the tables.
The layout of the town is initially confusing when arriving by car – the one way circuit twists and turns up the hill and back down again, and missing your turn-off to one of the ski areas or an outlying hotel means a lengthy repeat of the loop. The town is on fairly steeply sloping ground and of reasonable size, so you shouldn’t count on walking to the two ski lifts which leave from the outskirts; as for the further outlying areas, you’ll definitely need to get a bus.
A key factor in Cortina when choosing lodgings and to make the most of your stay is town centre access – stay in the centre of Cortina and enjoy relaxed strolls and casual, impromptu nightlife rather than having to make an expedition of it. Then by day you can easily reach any of the ski areas from your nearest bus stop.
A member of the “Best of the Alps” association of twelve classic mountain resorts, Cortina d’Ampezzo is Italy’s most celebrated skiing and mountaineering resort. The 1956 Winter Olympics were held here and the legacy continues to be celebrated, in Cortina if nowhere else. The resort is also well known for having featured in numerous films, most notably The Pink Panther, the James Bond stunt sequences on snow in For Your Eyes Only and Cliffhanger starring Sylvester Stallone, but the resorts enduring star attractions of this UNESCO World Heritage site are the Dolomite landscape and Italian traditions.
Cortina Tourism & Promotion
Via Marconi, 15
32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 862171
E-mail [email protected]
Web: www.cortina.dolomiti.org
Apres Ski Bars & Nightlife in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Apres-ski in Cortina is a full Italian experience, with the emphasis on wonderful wine and late nights. Unsurprisingly, there’s no shortage of excellent restaurants in Cortina, ranging from Michelin-starred to simple pizza.
With more than 30 bars, coffee shops, pastry shops and snack bars, 40 restaurants and 14 pizzerias in an around town, apres-ski is one of the reasons to visit Cortina, though it has nothing to do with dancing in ski boots and Germanic beer-swilling revelry. Apres ski in Cortina is a full Italian experience, with the emphasis on several wonderful wine bars before dinner at one of many restaurants serving delicious homemade Italian specialities from the Veneto and South Tyrol.
Visitors to Cortina, mostly from Italy, include significant numbers of non-skiers who come to enjoy the town and to socialise by day as well as at night. Consequently, many cafés, bars and restaurants do brisk business during the day and hence not all of the bars stay open late. A few bars close as early as 9pm and most bars (and restaurants) will be closed by 11pm even in peak season. Though a few bars open late and while partying is possible well into the small hours in one of six discos (open from 11pm), during low season these tend to be weekend-only.
Mokarabia Coffee Bar
Corso Italia 44, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 863777. Email: [email protected]
Dolomiti Bar
Via Roma 50, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 868344. Email: [email protected]
La Suite Wine Bar & Aperitivi
Piazza Venezia 6, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 860563. Email: [email protected]
Enoteca Brio di Vino
Largo Poste 17, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 862218
LP 26 Prosciutteria
Largo Poste 26, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 862284. Email: [email protected]
X Bar
Largo Poste 65, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 2615. Email: [email protected]
Birreria Hacker Pschorr
Via Stazione 7, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 868121. Email: [email protected]
Stazione
Via G. Marconi, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 2529. Email: [email protected]
Nightclubs in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Blu Room Gall, Nuovo Centro 8
Bilbò Club Gall, Nuovo Centro 7
Area, Ronco 82
Belvedere, Pocol 38
VIP Club Cortina, Corso Italia 207
Ciarlis, Largo Poste 35
Restaurants in Cortina d’Ampezzo
The Tivoli Michelin starred restaurant is the best around. It overlooks Cortina and has an innovative and extensive menu. Leone e Annac serves traditonal Sardinian specialities. El Camineto, Baita Fraina and Il Meloncino are expensive but all offer good quality food. El Toulà, set in a converted barn, is highly recommended. La Tavernetta is a new restaurant that serves traditional Italian food at reasonable prices. Da Beppe Sello, Ospitale, Pontejei and Ariston are all less formal and less expensive. For simple pizza try the Croda Café, Cinque Torri and Vienna. Da Lago Pianozes and Lago Ghedina are both situated out of town near a lake and combine traditional mountain atmosphere and good food.
Enoteca, which closes at 9pm, is always packed with tourists and locals alike who go there to drink wine by the bottle and share their latest skiing exploits. Brio di vino, Villa Sandi and El Becalen are all popular and trendy venues for pre-dinner drinks. The Blues Bar, LP26 and Molo open till late. If you want to stay out later there is a choice of six discos. If dining out, it’s a good idea to plan ahead; check locally on arrival and book in advance to be sure of a table in peak season, and at weekends especially.
Ristorante Pontejel
Largo Poste 11, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 863828. Email: [email protected].
Ristorante Bar Son Zuogo
Passo Tre Croci 1, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 867571. Mob: +39 338 4710026. Email: [email protected]
Ristorante Pizzeria La Perla
Piazzetta San Francesco 3, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 4681
Ristorante Rio Gere
Rio Gere 1, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 3434, Email: [email protected].
Web: www.dolomiti.org
Ristorante Pizzeria Il Ponte
Via B. Franchetti 8, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 867624. Email: [email protected]
Ristorante Pizzeria Ariston
Via G. Marconi 10, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 866705. Email: [email protected].
Web: www.ristoranteariston.dolomiti.org
Ristorante Pizzeria Al Passetto
Via G. Marconi 8, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 2254. Email: [email protected].
Web: www.alpassettoghedina.it
Birreria Vienna Ristorante Pizzeria
Via Roma 68, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Tel: +39 0436 866944. Email: [email protected]
Restaurants nearby Cortina d’Ampezzo
Ristorante Pizzeria La Tavernetta
Via del Castello 53, Cortina d’Ampezzo (0.6km north)
Tel: +39 0436 868102. Email: [email protected]
Ristorante El Zoco
Via Cademai 18, Cortina d’Ampezzo (1.6km north via SS51)
Tel: +39 0436 860041. Email: [email protected].
Web: www.elzoco.it
El Brite de Larieto
Località Malga Larieto, Cortina d’Ampezzo (2km east via SR48)
Mob: +39 368 7008083. Email: [email protected]
Ristorante Al Camin
Via Alverà 99, Cortina d’Ampezzo (2km east via SR48)
Tel: +39 0436 862010. Email: [email protected]
Ristorante Leone e Anna
Via Alverà 112, Cortina d’Ampezzo (2m east via SR48)
Tel: +39 0436 2768. Email: [email protected].
Web: www.leoneanna.it
Fattoria Meneguto
Via Fraina 6, Cortina d’Ampezzo (2km south via SS51)
Tel: +39 0436 860441. Email: [email protected]
Ristorante Baita Fraina
Località Fraina, Cortina d’Ampezzo (3km south via SS51)
Tel: +39 0436 3634. Email: [email protected]
Ristorante Tivoli
Via Lacedel 34, Cortina d’Ampezzo (3km west via SR48)
Tel: +39 0436 866400. Email: [email protected].
Web: www.ristorantetivoli.it
Ristorante Lago Scin
Località Lago Scin, Cortina d’Ampezzo (4km east via SR48)
Tel: +39 0436 2391. Email: [email protected].
Web: www.ristorentelagoscin.com
Ristorante Il Meloncino al Camineto
Località Rumerlo 1, Cortina d’Ampezzo (5km west via SR48)
Tel: +39 0436 4432. Email: [email protected].
Web: www.ilmeloncino.it
Croda Cafè Ristorante Bar Pizzeria
F.lli Ghedina 28, Cortina d’Ampezzo (6km north via SS51)
Tel: +39 0436 866589
Ristorante Baita Pie Tofana
Località Rumerlo, Cortina d’Ampezzo (6km west via SR48)
Tel: +39 0436 4258
Gastronomia El Panaruò
Via Nazionale 46, San Vito di Cadore (11km south via SS51)
Tel: +39 0436 5893, Email: [email protected]
Ristorante Passo Giau
Località Passo Giau, Cortina d’Ampezzo (16km southwest via SR48/SP638)
Mob: +39 346 0696745. Email: [email protected]. Web: www.passogiau.it
Ristorante Da Aurelio
Passo Giau 5, Cortina d’Ampezzo (17km southwest via SR48/SP638
Tel: +39 0437 720118. Email: [email protected]. Web: www.da-aurelio.it
Cortina d’Ampezzo Other Activities
Cortina d’Ampezzo usually has more non-skiers than skiers, so besides skiing and snowboarding other activities are plentiful, both in the Olympic facilities and in the bustling streets in town.
©Paola Dandrea
Beyond the confines of the town there is excellent walking and cross country skiing while the Olympic facilities, for skating in particular, are exceptional. Don’t forget that simply riding a cable car here is an extraordinary experience – with top quality restaurants at the far end, it can make a complete day out.
Winter walking and snowshoeing in Cortina
It’s difficult to imagine a better mountain landscape for walking in winter (and summer) with numerous mountain refuges for leisurely lunches and to enjoy the spectacular Dolomite views, by daylight or moonlight, but especially “Enrosadira”, the enchanted time before sunset when the peaks are tinged with red refelctions.
Cross-country skiing in Cortina
The Fiames Nordic Ski Centre is the focal point for cross-country skiing around an open field and on the track of the former railway line. There’s up to 10km high altitude cross country skiing for experts at the Tre Croci Pass (1,800m) with various routes and detours and spectacular views. The cross-country ski school (10 instructors) at Fiames offers private or group lessons (for 5-8 people) for adults and children. Cross-country ski gear available for rental at Fiames. Open: 08:30-16:30 from December to mid-April. Tel: +39 0436 4903. Email: [email protected]
Tobogganing in Cortina
There’s a 1km long toboggan run at Guargne served by the Mietres chairlift and snowbob toboggans available for hire at the base station. Also, a number of mountain refuges organise moonlit toboggan descents after-dinner.
Ice skating and curling in Cortina
The Olympic Ice Stadium has been fully renovated and is now a covered indoor ice stadium open to the public for ice skating in winter and summer, and with instruction available for those that need it. The ice rink also hosts 1st division ice hockey championships. Tel: +39 0436 881812. If you prefer your feet more firmly grounded, the Cortina Curling Centre is open from December until mid-April with instructors and national team athletes available for individual instruction or group lessons. Tel: +39 0436 2400. Email: [email protected]. Web: www.curlingcortina.it
Snowkiting in Cortina
As an alternative to more conventional forms of skiing or boarding, thrill seekers can experience being pulled along on skis or a borad by wind-powered snow kite with indificual and group courses available for beginners and advanced including freestyle and freeride options. For more information contact Kite4Freedom Tel: +39 331 488 5789. Email: info@kite4freedom. Web: www.kite4freedom.it
Ice driving in Cortina
Top Gear enthusiasts may like to try the excitement of ice driving in safety, available from December to February at Fiames (3km from Cortina), with expert instruction from rally driver Franco Munari and to test the limits of a Mitsubishi Evo VIII rally car equipped with winter studded tyres and telecamera. For more information contact Snow Ice Tel: +39 349 764 8279. Email: [email protected]