Photo: © Stefano Zardini
Skiing comes second to the sport of seeing and being seen, shopping and drinking coffee in and around the lovely Corso Italia main street. Later on, the party atmosphere is transferred to expensive restaurants and chic nightspots. For Cortina d’Ampezzo is Italy’s most stylish resort, ranked alongside St Moritz, Courchevel and Megeve. There is such a wide choice that just deciding where to go can pose a problem. The venues range from coffee shops and gelaterie (ice cream shops) to piano bars and wine bars, pubs, lounges and nightclubs.
Joining the passeggiata
On the dot of 5pm each day Cortina’s pedestrianised Corso Italia comes alive with fur-clad Italians shopping at the designer boutiques and the delightful antique and jewellery shops. The resort is home to some of the most famous names in fashion, including Bulgari, Benetton and Gucci. If you want a break, you can drink proper coffee at Mokarabia (+39 0436 86 3777), the flagship store of the Italian coffee chain. As well as sipping espresso you can also indulge in delicious home-made desserts and ice-creams here.
The early evening then continues at the five wine bars – the best known is Enoteca, which has a choice of 700 different wines. The others are Villa Sandi, Pane Vino e San Daniele, and El Becalen (+39 0436 868597). Bar LP 26 Proscuitteria (+39 0436 862284) is a curious mixture of prosciutteria (a delicatessen specialising in ham and dried meats) and cocktail bar with live music. It is owned by a millionaire Italian builder who constructed much of Val d’Isere and Arc 1950. A Tripadvisor report on Brio Divino said to “try the wines with local cheese and the mustard. They close around 9pm so you should go latest 8 o’clock”.
Where to go later in the evening
The discos get going around 11pm, and many of the Italian visitors are still wearing their designer sunglasses. They frequent Disco Hyppo, Metro, and the VIP Club. The Blu Room (+39 0436 4366) liven up after midnight, along with The Limbo and The Bilbo Club (+39 0436 5599). Disco Belvedere (+39 0436 863770) at Pocol has a young following.
Family activities after skiing
Cortina Adrenalin Center (+39 0436 860808) offers alternative snow sports such as bobsleigh, snowrafting and ice-climbing. Adrenalin Park, behind the bob run, is located in a wood and has zip-wires with platforms in the trees. It is open in the evening.
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