We are planning to go to Lugano for a few days and I think I've got our sightseeing options sorted but I am having a hard time finding many restaurant recommendations on the web. I was wondering if anyone has been there and could recommend any restaurants in the area. Preferably casual as we have a little person in tow and lingering meals at white tablecloth establishments are not realistic for us right now.

thanks!

Lugano is a small town... how about heading for the main square (Piazza della Riforma), and then just wander around that area and find a place that takes your fancy? I guess it is still warm enough to sit outside...

Whether particular places can supply eg high chairs is not something that I can answer.

Thanks for the suggestion. Obviously that is what we would do, if we couldn't get any recommendations. We were just hoping to get clued in to a couple of places that people have been to before, where they have had a good experience.

High chairs are not a worry for us. Main thing is just not a white tablecloth place but we are not in need of extensive baby facilities.

So - would still love to hear if anyone has eaten at a casual spot in Lugano that they particularly enjoyed.

We went to Lugano for a weekend and just walked around and tried a few places, all Italian and all of them were ok, including lake view pizzerias. Not excellent, but reasonably good. I don't remember any names though. I quite liked the place off the main piazza to the right towards Monte Bre. Lamb was delicious!

All the restaurants off the piazza della riforma do reasonable fare (I'm told), but the only one I've eaten at is Argentino's - which has a red awning out over it and red seats in the glass bit inside. They do a nice pizza, though I found the base a bit too crunchy. (I was recommended that they do the best pizza in town, so I'll try again in there as maybe it was a bad day for them).
Round the back of Manor (just off piazza riforma) is the ristorante Manor, which I realise isn't exactly seeing Lugano, but the food is good (buffet etc) and there is a play area for kids.

etnic - very fun and cool, in the centro. Mary has a view of the lake, outdoor patio, and great food. ABC bar in massagno has great pizza and german wheat beer, and if you want a little late night slice - speedy pizza (on via buffi), which is next to Oops bar (this is worth the short walk from the centro to see the young folks hanging out on the street drinking, smoking - it is really quite cool).

There are great restaurants in lugano. However some of them are not in the center....

Osteria del Portico is near the Palazzo dei congressi and Kursaal....corso Pestalozzi...food is great but pricey....

A little out of way is ristorante il sole...IMO they make the best pizza. Via delle Scuole 4, Pregassona....better make reservations though...

if you're willing to drive around and look for other restaurants let me know

Must agree the ristorante il sole in Pregassona is definitely best for the little ones but mine are +5 years

If you are planning to visit the Herman Hesse Museum in Montagnola, you can walk along the marked Hermann Hesse paths and stop for lunch or dinner in the woods at Grotto Cavicc. I've been here several times and have always enjoyed the food and atmosphere. I think there is also an area for children to play. There is outdoor and indoor seating. It's open until the end of October, grottocavicc.ch

If you are in Massagno (on the border of Lugano and next to the train station, you might try Grotto Valletta Sagl. It's at Via dei Platani 1.

I walked by it the other night (Saturday) and the outdoor area was packed with couples, families, and kids. They have a playground for the kids that is fenced in and far enough away from the dining to not irritate you.

It smelled good and seemed pretty cool.

Hope you found somewhere decent. My kids love the food at Mary's (just off the main sq near the police station) it would be good to know of any other child friendly places to eat.

I recommend Zurich.

What as opposed to Lugano? Never eat that well in Zurich except for an old bier halle type place about 10 years ago. But if you have any more specific recommendations that are kid friendly that'd be good.

Grotto dell’ortiga in Manno is amazing!