Restaurant in San Cassiano, Italy
Book for the wine list, not the food alone.
Cocun Cellar Restaurant at Ciasa Salares is the strongest wine-focused dinner option in San Cassiano, with a 7,500-bottle cellar, natural wine depth across Italy, France, and California, and Michelin Plate-level contemporary cooking at the €€€ tier. Book it for a special occasion dinner where the wine list is as important as the menu.
At the €€€ price tier, Cocun Cellar Restaurant positions itself as the most wine-obsessive dining room in San Cassiano — a considered choice for a celebratory dinner, a serious date, or anyone who wants their food and wine to work as a single composition rather than two separate decisions. You are eating inside a working cellar at the Ciasa Salares hotel on Strada Prè de Vì 31, surrounded by bottles on every wall. The name gives it away: cocun is the Ladin word for cork. If that framing appeals to you, this is the right room. If it does not, St. Hubertus next door offers a more cuisine-led experience at a steeper price point.
The visual experience at Cocun begins before the first course arrives. Bottles are stored floor to ceiling around the dining space, and the cellar architecture of the Ciasa Salares gives the room a density that most hotel restaurants cannot manufacture. This is not a wine wall installed for atmosphere — it is a functional cellar converted into a dining room. For a special occasion, that physicality matters: the space communicates intent before a single glass is poured. The room holds a relatively intimate number of covers, and the Google review score of 4.7 from 47 reviews suggests consistency rather than occasional brilliance.
The wine program is the primary reason to book here. The cellar holds 7,500 bottles across 505 selections, with particular depth in Italy, France, and California. Wine pricing sits at the mid tier ($$), meaning there is range across the list rather than a concentration at the high end , practical for a table that wants to drink well without committing to three-figure bottles. The corkage fee is €9, which is low enough to make bringing a special bottle a reasonable option if you have something specific in mind. For a region where natural wine can be difficult to source, Cocun is regarded as one of the leading destinations for natural wine in Northern Italy , a credential that makes it a draw for wine-focused travellers arriving in the Alta Badia from further afield.
Kitchen operates with a Michelin Plate (awarded in both 2024 and 2025), which signals consistent quality without the full star designation. The cuisine is contemporary with global influences, and the chef makes frequent use of the grill as a preparation method. Expect dishes that draw from ingredients and techniques across different cooking traditions rather than a strictly regional or Italian-only menu. For a tasting menu framing, the architecture here leans on contrast , globally sourced ingredients and influences are grounded by the cellar setting, so the progression of courses works in dialogue with wine pairings rather than as a standalone culinary sequence. The food earns its place at the table without needing to compete with the wine list for the evening's main attraction. Cuisine pricing is also mid-tier ($$), with a typical two-course meal running $40–$65 before beverages , a reasonable anchor for the Dolomites at this quality level.
Cocun works leading for couples or small groups who want the occasion to feel considered without the full formality of a Michelin-starred tasting room. If your priority is wine discovery , specifically natural wine and European producers , this is the most focused option in San Cassiano. If you are travelling as a group of four or more and want a room that can absorb a longer, more theatrical evening, the cellar setting handles that format well: the bottles on the walls give the space something to look at throughout the meal, which matters on longer evenings. Solo diners who want to eat at the bar or counter should check availability directly with the hotel, as counter seating details are not confirmed in available data.
Against the full range of San Cassiano dining options, Cocun sits clearly below the price and prestige ceiling. See the full San Cassiano restaurants guide for a broader view. Within the Dolomites and Northern Italy more widely, the comparable reference points for this style of wine-centric dining would be Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico (more cuisine-driven, higher price) and Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence (deeper wine archive, formal service register).
Address: Strada Prè de Vì 31, 39036 San Cassiano BZ, Italy. Booking: Booking difficulty is rated Easy , walk-in availability is more realistic here than at starred neighbours, but for a special occasion dinner during ski season or summer peak, reserve in advance through the Ciasa Salares hotel. Budget: €€€ for the full experience with wine; cuisine alone prices at the mid tier ($40–$65 for two courses). Wine budget: $$ list with a broad price range and a €9 corkage fee. Dress: No confirmed dress code in available data, but the cellar setting and hotel context suggest smart casual is appropriate. Getting around: San Cassiano is a small Alpine village , consult the San Cassiano hotels guide if you are staying locally, and the San Cassiano bars guide for pre or post-dinner options nearby.
Possible, but not the strongest fit. The cellar setting and hotel restaurant context work leading for two or more. Solo diners focused on wine exploration will find the list worth engaging with, and the mid-tier pricing ($$) keeps the bill manageable. Check with the Ciasa Salares hotel about counter or bar seating , no confirmed solo-specific format is available in current data. If solo dining flexibility matters more than wine depth, see the full San Cassiano dining guide for other options.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy relative to the San Cassiano market, but that is a relative measure in a small Alpine village with limited high-quality dining options. During ski season (December to March) and summer peak (July to August), book at least one to two weeks ahead through the Ciasa Salares hotel. Outside peak periods, shorter lead times are likely fine. The Michelin Plate recognition (2024 and 2025) has raised the profile of the room, so do not assume walk-in availability on busy evenings.
Yes , this is one of its stronger use cases. The cellar setting is visually distinct, the wine list gives the evening a natural structure, and the price tier (€€€) is appropriate for a celebratory dinner without reaching the full cost of a starred experience. For an anniversary or birthday dinner where wine is central to the celebration, Cocun delivers the right atmosphere. If you want more formal service and greater cuisine ambition for the same occasion, St. Hubertus is the local upgrade.
At €€€ with mid-tier cuisine pricing ($40–$65 for two courses) and a $$ wine list, the value equation is strong if wine is a priority. You are getting access to a 7,500-bottle cellar, 505 selections, meaningful natural wine depth, and Michelin Plate-level cooking at a price well below the starred alternatives in the region. If your visit is primarily about the food rather than the wine, the value case is less clear , the Michelin Plate signals quality but not the cuisine ambition of the top-tier local options.
The tasting format suits this room well because the progression of courses pairs naturally with the wine program. The globally influenced kitchen creates enough variation across the meal to justify a longer format, and the grill-heavy cooking gives the sequence textural contrast. Specific tasting menu pricing and course counts are not confirmed in current data , ask the hotel directly when booking. For comparison, tasting formats at Le Calandre or Dal Pescatore run longer and cost more, but with deeper cuisine credentials.
St. Hubertus is the primary alternative for a serious dinner in San Cassiano , higher price, stronger cuisine focus, Michelin-starred. Beyond the village, Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico offers creative Italian fine dining in the same Alto Adige region. For the full picture of what is available locally, the San Cassiano restaurants guide covers all current options.
No dress code is confirmed in available data. The hotel context and €€€ price tier suggest smart casual is the right read: not formal evening wear, but not ski gear either. The cellar setting is atmospheric without being stiff, so clothes that fit a considered dinner rather than a casual meal align with the room. When in doubt, ask the Ciasa Salares hotel at the time of booking.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocun Cellar Restaurant | Contemporary | The Cocun Cellar Restaurant at the Ciasa Salares hotel is regarded as one of the best locations for natural wine in Northern Italy. Its wine list is full of different producers and different styles, f...; In the cellars of the Ciasa Salares hotel, you dine surrounded by bottles – after all, cocun in Ladin means cork, and not by chance the wine selection is vast. The chef creates dishes with ingredients and influences from every corner of the world and makes frequent use of the grill.; Michelin Plate (2025); WINE: Wine Strengths: California, Italy, France Pricing: $$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Corkage Fee: $9 Selections: 505 Inventory: 7,500 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: American, Italian Pricing: $$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Lunch and Dinner STAFF: People Wine Director: Dennis Porter Chef: Brad Focht General Manager: Sam Barkey Owner: Ken & Sam Barkey; Michelin Plate (2024) | Easy | — |
| Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler | Italian, Creative | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Dal Pescatore | Italian, Italian Contemporary | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Enoteca Pinchiorri | Italian - French, Italian Contemporary | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Enrico Bartolini | Creative | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Le Calandre | Progressive Italian, Creative | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Solo dining is workable here, particularly if your focus is the wine list rather than the social occasion. The cellar setting — bottles floor to ceiling, a room built around the collection — gives solo diners something to engage with. At the €€€ price tier, though, the value proposition is stronger when you can work through several pours across a shared table.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which means walk-in availability is more realistic here than at the Michelin-starred rooms in the Dolomites. That said, San Cassiano is a resort destination with concentrated seasonal demand in ski and summer seasons, so booking at least a week out in peak periods is sensible. Shoulder season visitors have more flexibility.
Yes, with the right expectations. Cocun delivers a considered, wine-forward occasion in a cellar setting without the full formality of a starred tasting room. It holds a Michelin Plate for 2024 and 2025, signalling consistent kitchen quality. Couples and small groups wanting an occasion dinner at €€€ without a multi-hour tasting menu format will find it fits well.
At €€€, the value case rests on the wine program: 7,500 bottles, 505 selections, with depth in Italy, France, and California. If you plan to drink well, the list justifies the price tier. If you are focused primarily on the food, the Michelin Plate signals solid but not destination-level cooking, and there are comparable cuisines available at lower price points in the region.
The database does not confirm a tasting menu format. The kitchen holds a Michelin Plate (2024 and 2025) and works with global influences and frequent use of the grill, which suggests a menu built for choice rather than a locked sequence. Check directly with the restaurant before booking if a tasting menu format is a priority for your visit.
For a step up in prestige and formality, Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler is the benchmark in the broader Alta Badia area, with full Michelin recognition above Cocun's Plate. For a lower-stakes dinner with less emphasis on the wine program, San Cassiano has other hotel restaurants in the same valley. Cocun sits in a clear middle tier: more wine-serious than a standard hotel dining room, less formal than a starred destination.
The venue data does not specify a dress code, and the cellar-set format at a hotel restaurant in a Dolomites ski-and-hiking resort typically skews towards relaxed smart rather than formal. A step above resort casual is appropriate at €€€ pricing. Avoid ski gear at the table, but a jacket requirement is unlikely to be enforced.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
