Sellaronda Lunch Stops

A snowHead

Hi there - we're heading to the area in Feb (planning to stay in Selva) and am looking for advice for on-mountain dining at resorts along the Sellaronda. The twist is that we have a couple of non-skiers and at least one day, we'd love to have them meet us on mountain. Are there recommendations for mountaintop lunch spots that could also be accessed by non skiers doing a up and down on a gondola or tram? Thanks in advance.

A snowHead

Do the non-skiers have access to a car?

If they do there's a vast number of options across the connected ski area.

If not there are still some decent options in the Val Gardena valley that can be reached directly from Selva or by using a valley bus.

The restaurant at the top of the Dantercepies gondola would probably be the simplest option.

There's also a restaurant at the top of the Ciampinoi gondola but I don't think it's as nice.

They could also catch the bus to Plan de Gralba and meet you for lunch there without having to take a lift.

Catching the bus down the valley is also an option. There's a restaurant at the top of the gondola from Ortisei to Alpe de Siusi and another at the top of the Cable car to Seceda.

Finally, there's a restaurant at the top of the funicular and gondola system in Seceda which starts in Santa Cristina and is easily accessible by bus from Selva.

I'd avoid the restaurant at the top of the gondola from Santa Cristina which drops you half way up the Sasslong. It drops you at a very average restaurant owned by a someone who made himself extremely unpopular in recent years by installing netting across his land to cut the Sasslong slope in two and forcing skiers to unnecessarily ride a an additional chair lift he also happens to own, thereby increasing his share of profits from the local lift consortium. Avoid.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Thanks very much. And yes I should have mentioned that our non skiers will have a car and can take an uphill lift from anywhere. Thx again

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I can't remember the names of any of them but we were struck by the difference in quality/service/price between those that were directly on the circuit and those you had to take a dead-end side lift to get to. Stands to reason I guess - just basic economics that those with a guaranteed flow of customers don't have to try very hard, whereas those that you can only get to by making a conscious choice have to make more of an effort. But it was really quite pronounced on the Sella Ronda.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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I only know about the Alta Badia sector but there are a few choices here. There is a fancy restaurant at the top of Boe, with amazing picture windows and views. Worth a visit just for the ground level toilet! There’s a decent pizza by the slice place with outdoor seating as well. View less but in the sunshine and well protected if there’s any wind.

Col Alt has a great reputation on here. The restaurant is apparently straight above the gondola top station and one of the best. View is incredible when you get off the gondola there but I didn’t know about the restaurant.

Moritzino is next to La Ila top station but IMO the self service bit is slightly expensive, the interior a bit dark and the music outside on the loud and doof doof doof side.

Much better is Las Vegas, accessible by a short walk from Sorega (San Cassiano). The restaurant at the top of Sorega is just a pit stop but you can easily walk across the col, staying on the left edge of the piste as it starts going gently downhill then uphill with skiers coming towards you.

Finally, you can drive (on Strada Plaön in La Villa) or ski (on 26) to Florian, which was an excellent first lunch spot for the kids and I after not skiing for 2 years in 2021.

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Utia Le at Sante Croche is nice and you can go up and see the chapel too. I've seen plenty of walkers up there.

The I Table on Alta Badia is great. I be surprised if you couldn't get to most places on Alta Badia by walking....

Ortisei is flat as a pancake and probably more fun to walk than it is to ski Toofy Grin

. Plenty of choice up there.

Most places with a gondola or cable car seem to have a resto at the top. Google is useful!

A car is very useful if you are not skiing as the mountain passes give access to a surprising amount of the area and track quite close to a lot of the runs on the Sella Ronda.

After all it is free

You are spoilt for choice for nice restaurants around the Sella Ronda, my favourites are, Rifugio Friederich August, also known as The Yak place, on Col Rodella, Crep De Munt, Edelweiss in Colfosco, which I think is accessible but not sure, Arlara, Corvara, on a nice sunny day, which is accessible by the Arlara chairlift, it allows pedestrians, Fienile Monte, also on Col Rodella, the list is endless. I would recommend for the non skiers a trip to Sass Pordoi on a sunny day, the restaurant is ok for a coffee but the views are spectacular.

thanks again everyone... Rifugio Friederich August looks amazing but I can't figure out (from google) if you can get there in the winter w/out skis.

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I've been to Selva a few times with a non-skier amongst our group and we try and meet for lunch at least a couple of days each time. A few favourites (nb not necessarily on the Sella Ronda but all accessible from Selva):

Jimmy Hutte: take the dantercepies gondola and then the winter walking path (~1km) to the restaurant.
Baita Ciampac: at the bottom of the Cir black run from Dantercepies - an easy walk from Selva.
Baita Oodles: at the top of the Col Raiser gondola - bus or walk to Santa Cristina from Selva then take the gondola. If the non-skiers are up for a bit more walking other places like Daniel are doable from here too.
Val D'Anna: towards the end of La Longia - take a bus to Ortisei then the woodland walk

The restaurant at the Dantercepies gondola top station is good for afternoon sunset drinks too (just don't miss the last gondola down!).

There are places accessible from the top of the Plan de Gralba (cable car / gondola) too but I can't speak for them.

Sadly nothing decent accessible from Ciampanoi - the restaurant in the top station is pretty grim.

snow reports

Don't forget Villa Frainela on the edge of Selva, the homemade cakes are to die for and looks like they do some light savouries too now...

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zir3GikJnYWGH3uy5

You know it makes sense.

I feel the need to back up the suggestion above for the Col Alt, which is one of our favourites.
It's recommended in the Michelin Guide and so meets its exacting standards in terms of food and service but is relaxed and un-stuffy and IMO surprisingly good value given it rests above Corvara which is generally pretty pricey.

Corvara is a decent sized town though so it would be a good day out for your friends to drive over to it (about 30mins), peruse the shops (or whatever) and then jump on the Col Alt Bubble to meet you for lunch.

Help!!

Sellaronda Lunch Stops

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