We visited and they told us they’d be opening in a month. With walls torn apart, carpenters sawing on site, and paint buckets scattered in every corner, we smiled, grateful not to be in their shoes. But a month later we got a message – come, sit at our table, eat. And boy did we eat.
As the candlelight flickered warm hues against shelves of old bottles of wine—each with a story, we’re sure—we sampled grilled calamari, velvety carbonara, zucchini fritters with the creamiest stracciatella, roasted cauliflower in a parmesan mousse topped with pistachios, squid ink pasta brightened by Vesuvian tomatoes, and to finish, the most indulgent tiramisu, whisked together tableside.It was the warmest and most delicious welcome to the newest and coziest restaurant in Lausanne: welcome to Osteria Lupaia.
Named after Lupaia, a charming hilltop hideaway nestled between Montepulciano and Pienza in Tuscany, the restaurant captures the essence of Italian rustic elegance. The original Lupaia is celebrated for its panoramic hilltop views, centuries-old farmhouses, and an inviting atmosphere that captures the soul of Tuscany.
Entering into Lausanne’s Lupaia, you see the attention to detail too – hand-laid brick arched windows and textured walls (hand painted by Lausanne’s Kim Straehler, who also spent hours on the hand-painted exterior sign) juxtapose with ivy and vintage furniture. The warm light, the servers conversing in Italian, the rounds of negronis coming from the central bar, and the smells of garlic and langoustine and lamb coming from the kitchen, the low murmur of conversations and laughter…it’s a restaurant that hits that sweet spot and transports you across the border in the best of ways.
We loved it so much we went back the following week, only this time with the most honest of critics: our kids. My son, who is an Italophile and counts down days until our next meal in Italy, took a bite of his 72-hour slow cooked braised beef pappardelle and did a little happy dance. He looked around and said, “It’s like Italy. But for real this time.”
And we couldn’t agree more. There’s a distinct magic when stepping into Osteria Lupaia—a place where time seems to slow, every bite lingers, and every flavor tells a story, as if you’ve been welcomed to an Italian table where meals stretch into memories.
Osteria Lupaia
Av. Frédéric-César-de-la-Harpe 16, 1007 Lausanne
Closed Sunday & Monday
Open for lunch and dinner service Tuesday - Saturday
***
Read our reviews on its sister restaurants: Un Po' di Piu, Villa Malfi, Le Pointu, and Loxton
