Where should you be? In South Tyrol, just over the Austrian border (okay, another 1,5 hours), lies the impressive Sella massif—better known for the Sella Ronda. A name that rings a bell with many skiers. This famous ski area runs around the Sella mountain range. Hence Ronda: round. Got it.

There are several villages around the Sella, including Alta Badia, Each with its own unique atmosphere. Some are more popular than others, but they all stay true to themselves. And it shows. The perfect mix of Austrian mountain huts, Kaiserschmarrn (those delicious scrambled pancakes), and classic potato and speck dishes, combined with Italian charm, good coffee, and homemade pasta.

All this, and much more, makes (most of) these villages Ladin. This is the local culture, and you will find it in everything: the architecture, the food and even the language. Because yes, here they speak their own (recognized!) language—something you don't see very often anymore. A bit like Frisian with us. No worries, they also speak German, Italian and English. So no, you don't have to sign up for Duolingo beforehand.

Alta Badia

You can spend days, weeks, even months on the slopes here without getting bored. That's perfectly fine. But even if you prefer to relax, you'll still have a great time, because the mountain huts here serve much more than just the standard ski food. They can really cook up a storm here. Oh, and they also fill generous glasses.

Whatever you do, skip the Bioch Hut (Ütia Bioch Refuge 2,079 m) not over. This fairly small, atmospheric restaurant serves both the classic menu with bratwurst and fried potatoes as well as a refined menu. Every year, a top chef from somewhere in Italy creates a special dish here. This year: Massimiliano Alajmo (3 Michelin stars), with a pasta with smoked butter. But psst—last year's dish is still on the menu. Reason enough to visit twice!

And then there’s the wine… The owner is a true wine connoisseur, and you can tell by the impressive cellar under the restaurant. Over a thousand bottles, and yes, you can order them. They also do wine tastings here, and it’s no coincidence that they won the South Tyrolean Wine Culture Award twice. So definitely order a glass—or two, or three.

In the above mentioned Badia Hill Hotel you will also find Ristorante Porcino, A brand-new Michelin-rated fine-dining restaurant that has been welcoming guests for top-notch dining since December 2025. The name refers to the famed porcini mushroom, the "gold of the Dolomites." And a golden meal is guaranteed.

Under the guidance of chef Marco Verginer and sommelier Michaela Mair, the focus here is on creative tasting menus (no à la carte): seasonal dishes from the Alps. The menu changes regularly, but last time we checked, we saw South Tyrolean Wagyu with potato millefeuille, wild broccoli, and Lagrein sauce. Delicious.

Restaurant Porcino

The real icing (or cherries) on the cake are the restaurants. After a day of skiing or bathing, you often don't feel like going out at all. Whether you fancy a fine dining experience or something more accessible, Badia Hill has three restaurants to suit every winter atmosphere. Porcini mushrooms for a fancy treat yourself dinner, The Badia Hill Stube for a cozy fondue, or the Bistro an easy bite. Even the Bistro is top-notch: big steaks, wagyu steak tartare—you certainly won't find bratwurst or goulash here.

And in each tent (which are all in the same building, by the way) an impressive wine list awaits you. Can't decide? Then have a chat with the in-house wine sommelier—he knows exactly which wine goes best with your dish.