
Cortina is a town in the Dolomites, the most beautiful mountain range too many people have never heard of (but which is UNESCO World Heritage). It is the ski base for the rich and famous. It will also be one of the hosts of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. And you can tell. The amount of construction everywhere is mind blowing. They are getting ready and they are getting ready fast. The Olympics rings are already installed and we got the mandatory picture with them.

Along the main pedestrian road there are several cafes that all have beautiful terraces and typical Italian hot chocolates but we chose Pasticceria Alvera and were not disappointed. First opened as a bakery in 1914, this shop also became a pastry shop in 1954. It has seen the city transform and transformed with it. We enjoyed our drinks and pastries outside on the terrace with a view of the nearby pistes (and construction). The hot chocolate was beautiful, silky smooth, thick, but not overly decadent (4.50 euros). We also had to order it with a tiramisu which was pretty lackluster to be honest (mostly cream with a dusting of cocoa powder). But the rest of the pastries looked absolutely amazing and the café sitting area, both inside and outside, are well worth a stop, regardless of what you order.




Pasticceria Alvera, Piazza Pittori Fratelli Ghedina 14, Cortina, Italy Pasticceria Alvera.com