Evan and I took a quick weekend trip to Cortina for a ski getaway. After hearing so much about the Dolomites in the summertime—and having never properly skied in Italy (aside from briefly skiing over from Zermatt)—we decided it was time.
We flew from London into Venice and from there it’s an easy two-hour drive to Cortina. Public transportation is also available and can be booked online; Cortina Express is what we used for our return trip. Because we landed late and all the buses had already departed, we opted for a private car, which cost around €350.
We arrived in Cortina close to midnight, so for the first night we stayed at a more affordable hotel, Hotel Franceschi—and it was actually fantastic. We could have easily stayed there the entire weekend. The lobby was lovely, breakfast was solid, and it’s conveniently located near the Tofane ski area, though slightly farther from town. The only downside was that the room and bathroom felt quite dated.
The following morning, we moved to the Eight Hotel, which was stunning. Every detail of the interiors was beautifully done, and my favorite space was the bar and lounge—it’s chic, cozy, and very well designed. They’re currently building a spa and fitness center, expected to be completed by summer 2026.
On our first full day, I skied Tofane. Recommended restaurants in that area included Baita Piè Tofana, El Camineto, and Masi Wine Bar. El Camineto is more of an après-ski and party spot and is reachable both by ski and by car—although during our visit, access was limited due to Olympic construction in the area.
While in Cortina, I also toured two other hotels: Hotel de Len and its sister property, Hotel Ancora. Both are centrally located and beautifully designed. I preferred Hotel Ancora overall; it’s the five-star property and has a fitness center that can be shared with Hotel de Len. That said, the spa at Hotel de Len is exceptional, with a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and ice showers. Each guest receives one complimentary spa session (which must be pre-booked), with additional sessions available for a fee.
Evan and I actually used the gym at Hotel Ancora on our last day. It’s a Technogym facility with modern, well-maintained equipment. Gym access can be booked for €25 per person through the hotel. We also stopped by for drinks—the hotel has a “club” space that looked very trendy, and in the evenings they feature a piano player during dinner service. The aperitivo was a 10/10, with some of my favorite bar snacks of the trip: veggie chips, small sandwiches with Italian cold cuts and cheeses, olives, cashews, and potato chips—dreamy.
We also grabbed wine at Enoteca Cortina, a fantastic old wine bar that’s been around since the 1960s. I loved the bar seating and their excellent selection of wines by the glass.
Our first dinner was at SanBrite, located just outside town and reachable by a short taxi ride. The setting is stunning, with beautiful mountain views overlooking Cortina. SanBrite is Michelin-starred and offers two tasting menus—one where you’re surprised and another where you follow a set menu—as well as a communal, family-style dining option. I loved all three concepts. The dining room itself is beautiful.
Evan claimed he had the best cold cuts he’s ever eaten, the best butter he’s ever had, possibly the best pork—and then the best dessert. One of the most special aspects of SanBrite is their commitment to sustainability; their sister property is a working farm with cows, and so much of the menu is shaped by what they produce themselves. One of the wildest details: the butter is salted differently depending on the season—1% salt in summer and 2% in winter—based on the cows’ diet. For our cheese course, we were taken into the cheese room and given a full explanation of how each cheese was made. It was such a memorable experience.
Our second day brought fresh snowfall—perfect timing, as Cortina really needed it. We skied Faloria, which is connected to Cristallo, a smaller ski area, via a chairlift (with a parking lot between the two). While Cortina’s ski terrain is more compact with shorter runs, we had an absolute blast. There’s a good range of difficulty, plenty of black runs, though not much off-piste skiing.
Faloria also has a fun outdoor après spot with a DJ called Super G. The restaurant attached is very good—Evan had ravioli and meatballs, and everything looked fantastic. We skipped dessert after indulging the night before, but the tiramisu appeared to be their specialty.
On our final night, we had dinner at Tivoli, another Michelin-starred restaurant in Cortina (the third is El Camin, near SanBrite). Tivoli felt more traditional and old-school compared to SanBrite. They offer both tasting menus and à la carte options. By that point I was already full from the day, but everything was excellent. The staff were wonderful—warm, engaging, and fun. The sommelier, in particular, kept checking in on us even though we were ordering wine by the glass.
Standout dishes included cold spaghetti with raw seafood and caviar, pigeon, venison prepared two ways, and lamb ravioli with macadamia and artichoke. For dessert—which we absolutely did not need but couldn’t resist—we ordered their signature apple crumble in a glass. It was incredible.
For ski rentals and service, there’s a shop below the Faloria gondola that offers a 10% discount with some hotels. I rented from Pro Ski, a higher-end shop with great equipment. There are several rental options scattered throughout town.
Both Faloria and Tofane are easy to access—about a 10-minute walk from town (from the Eight Hotel, specifically). There’s also a free bus that runs through town and connects all the ski areas.
I can’t say enough good things about Cortina. The shopping alone is worth the trip, with a mix of designer boutiques and lesser-known brands. Cortina has strong Austrian influence—it was part of Austria until 1920—and that shows in the elegant men’s and women’s suiting and knitwear inspired by Austrian and German styles. There are simply too many great spots to cover in one weekend.

Restaurants Recommended by a local:
Tofane
Masi Wine Bar
Rifugio Col Druscie 

Faloria
Super G
Meraviglioso 

S Torri
Rifugio Scolarroli
Rifugio Averau 

In Town
Enoteca Cortina
Beppe Sello