Italy's Turin: Where Romance, History, and Cuisine Converge Beautifully

It's where Parisian romance meets Italian flair—a place cradled by the Alps and cloaked in baroque splendour. Strolling Turin's moody streets is like flipping through an art house film: royal palazzi shimmering like forgotten treasures, sprawling gardens chiselling their way into eternity, and bookstores that feel like literary labyrinths. It's seductive without trying too hard.

- AKANKSHA DEAN

And then there's the food—ah, the food! The birthplace of vermouth, grissini, and espresso, Turin doesn't flaunt its culinary prowess; it lets you discover it. Slow food reigns supreme, and even tiny trattorias serve wine with the kind of depth that makes you swear off supermarket bottles forever.

Elegance with Soulful Grit

Turin feels like the kind of place Hemingway would have adored, a city with grit, heart, and fewer airs. It's not polished to perfection; it's lived in, loved, and quietly magnificent in its authenticity. History and modernity rub shoulders here, creating the kind of charm that sneaks up on you. I had gone to attend the annual World's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony and the city left me wondering why I didn't come sooner. In the heart of the Roman Quadrilatero district stands the NH Collection Torino Santo Stefano, a striking slice of architecture that's as modern as it is steeped in history. Wrapped in an elegant staircase that seems to spiral endlessly, the hotel feels like it's cocooning you in the folds of Turin's story. From the top floor, ancient Roman ruins mingle with Turin's skyline, framed by the jagged peaks of the Alps—easily one of the most cinematic views in all of Italy. Inside, the rooms are whisper-quiet sanctuaries of soundproofed intimacy, offering just the right mix of sleek comfort and understated luxury.