The story
Since 1990, the Perin family has been welcoming guests to Al Vecchio Convento, a restaurant set within a historic building that dates back to 1740. Located in the Bizzozzero district of Varese, the restaurant occupies a former convent, where traces and works of the founding monks are still visible. This sense of history is tangible, from the ancient dining hall to the natural cave cellar, which was originally connected to a 17th-century well discovered on the property.
The kitchen is firmly rooted in traditional Tuscan cuisine, a focus that has earned the restaurant a consistent place in the Michelin Guide. The team is led by a skilled group of professionals, including chef Michele Mussi for first courses, chef Andrea Pellati for pastries and antipasti, and patron Simone Taube, who also serves as sommelier. The menu is refreshed regularly, always built on fresh ingredients. A standout feature is the restaurant’s commitment to gluten-free cooking: Al Vecchio Convento is recognized by the Italian Celiac Association (A.I.C.) and makes its own fresh gluten-free pasta in-house.
The dining spaces reflect the building’s layered past. The Sala Antica, the original 1780 dining room, offers a warm, intimate atmosphere. The more modern Sala del Pozzo is bright and spacious, capable of hosting up to 120 guests for meetings or private events. A live kitchen separates the two rooms, allowing diners to watch the chefs at work. In warmer months, meals are also served in a fragrant, green courtyard garden.
The restaurant’s cellar is a point of pride. Housed in a pre-existing natural grotto that remains cool and airy thanks to the well’s ventilation, it offers a vast selection of wines, organized by geographic origin. Al Vecchio Convento also caters to weddings and special events, hosting only one ceremony per day to ensure full attention to detail.
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