After a year of intense renovation work, the Al Porto Portici has been able to move back into the historic Casa Varenna in Locarno. This brings the seven attractive boutiques, cafés, and restaurants at Al Porto to Locarno, Ascona, Bellinzona, and Lugano, which surprise and delight their numerous patrons and regulars every day.
The Boutiques, the Cafés and the Restaurant
Entering the Al Porto Boutiques, a world of infinite delicacies, means immersing yourself in an atmosphere filled with aromas, soft colors, and sinuous shapes, centered around a large, attractive presentation counter. Here, delicious and distinctive creations are carefully displayed, available for takeout or to enjoy in-store, including Al Porto classics like the Raspberry Tartlet, the Chocolate Desiderio, the Torta Truffles, and numerous seasonal sweet and savory offerings. Additionally, a wide selection of Panettone cakes is available, including several award-winning ones, such as Apple, Chestnut, Apricot, Pistachio, Chocolate, Traditional, and Local, as well as White or Selected Amaretti, flavored with Kirsch, Amaretto di Saronno, vanilla, or orange, and finally, carefully and imaginatively packaged gifts.
In the heart of Lugano, lies the Grand Café Al Porto restaurant, "Lugano's living room...since 1803." This historic venue, brimming with elegance and tradition, offers Mediterranean cuisine and unique spaces, winners of the "Swiss Location Award," particularly popular for events and banquets.
Online Boutique
The website www.alporto.ch features some of the creations available in various stores, as well as all the Al Porto specialties suitable for mailing. Ideal for sending a sweet surprise to a loved one. Simply choose the specialty, enter the shipping address, and add a message for the recipient, if desired. Al Porto will take care of the rest. Shipping costs are also included for all orders over CHF 66.
Creativity and innovation
Director Anton Froschauer and the creative team, led by Maître Créateur Paolo Loraschi, are always on the lookout for new specialties and surprising flavors. These include the delicious Bon Bons, flavored with Alphonso Mango, Baileys Irish Cream, and Earl Grey Impérial, the vegan Voilà Truffles, and the new Panettone creations like Apple and Pistachio.
The designs and flavor combinations of the wedding cakes are highly distinctive. They can be a classic whole cake or composed of individual portions that combine to form a multi-tiered masterpiece, so each guest gets their own beautifully presented mini cake. This exclusive cake design is suitable for wedding cakes, but also for birthdays, parties, or corporate anniversaries, catering for 20 to 120 guests or more. Each cake is unique and custom-made. For this reason, the bride and groom are invited to the artisanal Al Porto pastry shop to taste and also to design their cake with the specialist, with the desired design, colors, and combinations.
Confiserie Al Porto
Foundation
Founded in 1963 in Ascona, under the direction of A. Froschauer since 1996.
At the Port in Ticino
The headquarters, with its artisanal production and tailoring workshop, are located in Tenero. From there, the creations are delivered in air-conditioned vehicles several times a day to the seven boutiques, cafés, and restaurants in Locarno, Ascona, Lugano, and Bellinzona, six of which are open 7 days a week.
Collaborators
Of the 140 employees, 9 are apprentices, 50 work in production and kitchen, 48 in restaurant and café service, 28 in service and sales, and 14 in internal services and administration.
Website and Online Shop
The website www.alporto.ch presents the delicious specialties that are suitable for postal delivery (offered from CHF 66.-) and the creations that can be found in the sales boutiques.
Awards and awards
- Swiss Bakery Trophy
- Gold medals for the Traditional Panettone, the Apricot, the Chestnut, the White Amaretti and for the Gianduiotto creation, which also won the “Bernhard Aebersold” Special Prize for Creativity.
- Silver medal for the Panettone Nostrano and the Tortino Grand Café 1803.
- Bronze medal for the Panettone La Mela, the Amaretti al Kirsch, the “Senza Senza” cake (wheat-free and lactose-free) and the selected Bon Bons.
- Best of Swiss Gastro – for Al Porto Café Lago, Muralto-Locarno.
- Swiss Location Award – “Exceptional” mention for events and banquets at the Grand Café Al Porto, Lugano.
- Historic Places of Italy – Awarded to restaurants and hotels of historical renown, for the Grand Café Al Porto, Lugano.
- The most beautiful cafés and tea rooms in Switzerland, published by the Schweizer Heimatschutz.
