The story of Crocevia comes to life when Pilar Franco, a Trieste native born in 1987, becomes passionate about a ruin in a small rural village and, with the support of her family and her life and adventure partner Marco Tonsi, begins to renovate it.

In 2021 Crocevia opens, a small house in red painted walls and karst stone, with 8 rooms and a small restaurant open from Thursday to Sunday with a meat menu that revisits tradition with a contemporary twist.

We fell in love with this corner of the world, happy to welcome curious travellers who can immerse themselves in the Karst tradition here.

(Pilar and Marco)

Leading the kitchen is Davide Tonetti, executive chef finalist of MasterChef ninth edition, who uses quality raw materials, wherever possible from small local producers, to create a menu that changes often, keeping as cornerstones some typical Karst recipes that change according to seasonal products.

From meat to vegetarian cuisine, with particular attention to gluten-free and lactose-free alternatives, there is never a shortage of flans, such as the mountain flan with porcini mushrooms, Resia garlic sauce, parsley powder, Sauris ham chips and corn wafer, or homemade pasta such as Spatzle with wild herbs, courgette flower and almond pesto and bacon, and second courses such as rabbit roll wrapped in bacon, buttered carrots and savory.

The wine and beer list is also designed to enhance local wineries, with many companies from the Karst, but also from Collio Goriziano, Friuli, Istria and Slovenia, all gathered in a charming cellar dug into the rock.

In the summer you can dine in the outdoor courtyard in the shade of a large walnut tree, while in the winter you can book the characteristic internal room with exposed stone walls and a curious table made from an ancient well from the 1800s on which a glass top has been placed.

The small “secret” garden is beautiful, ideal for an aperitif or a last drink but also for relaxing and reading a book immersed in the peace and greenery that in the evening, with the bulb lights on, becomes truly romantic.

A fascinating crossroads – crocevia means “crossroads” in Italian – between Carso, Collio and Friuli that will make you fall in love with these lands.

The Secret

The house dates back to the end of 1800 and was once owned by a wealthy family of farmers in the area. The conservative renovation has maintained the charming dry stone wall with the old wooden door that leads to the internal courtyard of the premises.

Useful Info

Crocevia Contemporary Karst Inn
Località Santa Croce 173
34151 Trieste
Tel. +39 366 3633394

Starters: from 15 euro
First courses: from 16 euro
Second courses: 18 – 29 euro