The story
Arté al Lago is the fine-dining restaurant of Villa Castagnola at Viale Castagnola 31 in Lugano. Gault&Millau awarded its Mediterranean kitchen 16 points in 2026.
Executive Chef Alessandro Boleso now leads all three restaurants of the villa. He took over after longtime chef Frank Oerthle moved to Castelgrande in Bellinzona. Boleso spent 16 seasons at Villa d'Este on Lake Como, and he has made the card more modern. Junio Carlo Pini, from the Bergell valley, runs the pass. Boleso calls Arté a laboratory and hopes guests will take their time.
The Genesi tasting menu opens with finely cut, ice-chilled beetroot, mountain yoghurt, chives and caviar. An oyster follows under a cacciatora espuma. The pasta course pairs house-shaped gnocchi with sweetbread cubes, roast jus and a trace of burnt lemon. Brüggli char arrives caramelised, with cauliflower in several textures, bitter almonds and dill. A vegetarian menu, Il Territorio, draws on vegetables from the Magadino plain.
Veal terrine is a highlight of the carte. So is the Stratificazione of veal tongue and trotter, served with a buckwheat tartelette and salsa verde. The Milano-Torino is the drink the guide suggests alongside it. Pasta runs to spaghettoni with red prawn, marrow bone, broad beans and mint. Dessert is smoked pineapple with liquorice. The Michelin Guide lists Arté al Lago as Recommended for 2026.
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