Traditional Piedmontese restaurant with rooms · Canelli
A farmhouse among the vines, just outside Canelli.
Stone and brick walls, barrels and old farm tools, checked tablecloths. Traditional Asti cooking in the kitchen, and Alessandro in the dining room to suggest the right wine.
The osteria
C'era una Volta is a hillside farmhouse in Regione Serra Masio, outside the centre of Canelli, surrounded by Monferrato vineyards. From outside it looks like a small farm; inside, stone and brick walls, barrels and antique farm tools recall rural life of the past.
It is family-run: Grazia and Alessandro look after the osteria and the rooms. Guests mostly remember Alessandro's welcome in the dining room and honest, no-frills Piedmontese cooking built on excellent ingredients.
In summer you eat under the veranda and the pergola; overnight guests have a pool looking out over the hills.
At a glance
- About 60 covers, indoor room and veranda
- Rooms for overnight stays, breakfast included
- Pool with vineyard views
- Vegetarian and gluten-free options
- On-site parking
- Dogs welcome on a lead
On the table
A few dishes from the public menu and from guest reviews. The menu changes with the seasons.
Vitello tonnato
Piedmont's classic starter: thin slices of veal with tuna sauce. One of the dishes guests photograph most.
Veal braised in Barbera
Slow-cooked in the local red wine and served with potatoes. Mentioned again and again in reviews.
Stuffed peppers
One of the house starters, served with finely sliced raw vegetables.
Wine
Canelli is Moscato country. The list runs to more than 200 local labels, from Barbera to Moscato.
Guests mention pairings suggested dish by dish (including a glass of Moscato di Canelli with dessert) and the chance to buy wines from nearby cellars.
Full wine list available at the restaurant.
What guests say
«a true host in every sense: friendly, courteous and utterly professional»
«a rustic place with a flavour of times gone by»
«the bunet ice cream was simply delicious, a real discovery»
«outside the village, with a lovely terrace»
Short excerpts from public reviews.
Photos
The farmhouse, the pool above the hills and a few dishes, as photographed by guests.
Why Canelli
Canelli, the home of Moscato, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato” (2014), known for its historic underground cellars. From the Serra Masio hill you look across to San Marzano Oliveto, a good base for exploring the Langhe and Asti wine country.
Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Opening hours
| Monday | 19:30–22:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 19:30–22:00 |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 19:30–22:00 |
| Friday | 19:30–22:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00–14:0019:30–22:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–14:00 |
Approximate hours from public listings (Restaurant Guru, Sluurpy, TheFork). Please call ahead to confirm before visiting.
How to find us
Regione Serra Masio 30, 14053 Canelli (AT), Piedmont, Italy
On Google Maps the osteria is listed as Via Aldo Aliberti 1.
The farmhouse sits on a hill outside the centre of Canelli, along a paved road: you will need a car. On-site parking.
Book or get in touch
To reserve a table or a room, call us, send an email or book through Quandoo.
- Mobile
- 393 531 0288
- Landline
- 0141 824392
- Address
- Regione Serra Masio 30, 14053 Canelli (AT)
- Online booking
- Quandoo ↗