Intro
A magnificent view of the city of Lugano, lake and snow-capped Alpine peaks, an ultramodern hut and two young hut wardens who prefer the hut’s signature stew to haute cuisine: if you stop off for a bite to eat prepared by Alessandro Müller, Jvan Cattaneo and their team, you’ll encounter heart-felt Ticino hospitality and a very special hut experience.
Lugano
Lugano, the largest town in the holiday region of Ticino, is not only Switzerland's third most important financial centre and a conference, banking and business centre, but also a town of parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. With Mediterranean flair, Lugano offers all the advantages of a world-class city, combined with the cachet of a small town.
Hint
From gourmet chef to hut warden
The kitchen of the Capanna Monte bar is a hive of activity. Steaming saucepans fill the air with inviting aromas of Ticino specialities: pizzoccheri, polenta with Alpine cheese, brasato. The hut is particularly famous for its home-made gnocchi. “People are always praising our excellent food”, says the pleased hut warden.
Both Alessandro Müller and fellow hut warden Jvan Cattaneo are professional chefs used to serving up gourmet cuisine in 5-star hotels in St. Moritz, the Caribbean – and even Dubai. Nowadays, they enjoy having direct contact with guests and are convinced about one thing: “Our guests can feel that we are really committed to what we do”.
The location is majestic and its views fit for a queen.
Modern design and a high degree of comfort
The two climbing fans took the helm of the newly built Capanna Monte bar in December 2016. Compared to rustic mountain huts, theirs stand out on account of its outstanding architecture, modern design and above-average comfort. Alessandro ist really impressed by it.
I appreciate being at home in a fabulous building with a fantastic view right in the middle of the mountains.
Cycling guests are surprised that the hut offers them all the amenities that their hearts desire – just like a bike hotel: a repair service station, pump, cleaning facilities, various battery charging stations for e-bikes, a lockable bike room, hot showers and even a washing machine for their sweaty cycling kit.
Slow down, pause and just take everything in.
Several routes lead to the Capanna Monte bar. If you only have a day, you can pedal your mountain bike, e-bike or racing bike up the 1,000 ascent from Tesserete on the paved road.
What more can you ask for after a demanding climb than a lovingly prepared platter of cheeses and cooked meats washed down by a refreshing beer? Probably only the eager anticipation of the descent on one of the numerous flowing single trails.
The four-day tour signposted Lugano Bike is really worth doing and is highly popular with mountain bikers of all levels. It is one of the most diverse bike routes in Switzerland. Starting in Lugano, it takes the form of a high mountain trail and winds its way around the Val Colla and over impressive Monte Tamaro through the hilly forests of Malcantone to Ponte Tresa.
The second stage with its fabulous panorama is a real classic. As there are three mountain huts on the route, the Capanna Monte bar being one of them, there’s always a place to stop and eat. Pure enjoyment! Just typical of Ticino.
Ticino single trail enjoyment on the Lugano Bike route
This four-day mountain bike tour embraces the most flowing single trails in the region on the stretch from Lugano to Ponte Tresa. It takes you past the Monte Brè, Monte Bar and Monte Tamaro mountains and features some fantastic viewpoints. You can save yourself some uphill pedalling by taking the funicular railway up Monte Brè (Ruvigliana-Monte Brè) and the cable car up Monte Tamaro (Rivera-Alpe Foppa).