IKEA near the Alps Torino has 2 IKEA stores, and they are placed in two fairly opposing parts of this metropolitan area. This review is for the main one at Collegno, which is northwest of the city center. (The other is south, near Mirafiori, and focuses on furnishings.) From its exterior, this is a very large and sprawling IKEA store. After all, this is Italy's 4th largest city and metro area and the heart of its automotive industry. And, with that, they provide ample parking. From the entry, there are elevators or walkways up to the main floor, where the cash registers are. If coming here for food, there is a learning curve. Food is served in 3 places: a bistro(t), a bar, and a restaurant. Immediately, I thought that the bistro(t) sounded like the place to go for that casual meal. It's actually the equivalent of what North American stores have near their cash registers; hence, it's the place you would go for a hot dog, a slice of pizza, or a soft drink. Not only that, seating is cramped and it's not an area in which you'd want to remain. I moved up one level to see what the restaurant and bar were all about. This is where the action is. The restaurant is like the one we all know, except that its hours are phased and limited to lunch and dinner. On the other hand, the adjacent bar is where people get coffee and tea, and also has panini, other snacks, and plenty of desserts. (A bar in Italy is not that much like a bar in North America.) When the restaurant is closed, the bar continues. And they share the same eating area with the white tables and bright spaces you expect. Also, from its windows, one can see the Alps north of the store, which drop right down into the Torino area. There are two more things to note. First, one who orders a meal in the restaurant and then needs coffee or tea then moves over to the bar to get those things. The other is that the cashiering function is automated and it seems to work. Here, one slides their tray in a slot which seems to "read" what has been ordered and puts out a message as to how much needs to be paid. It's the first time I've seen such a thing. I'm sure that, after getting used to working it, it's probably a useful thing to have. Store personnel were helpful. One laughs and thinks of the Italians and the way they stereotype all their regions. For this region, it would be "Piemontesi ... falsi e cortesi." (It is said that the small and sparsely populated Molise region 'does not exist!') I had no basis for evaluating if, at this store in the Piedmont, they were "falsi" (ingenuine), but they were definitely "cortesi" (courteous). As for getting here, go in a car. If taking public transport, one must connect from the Metro to a bus. Most of the buses that come up on Google Maps that tie into the Metro put you a little ways away from this store, requiring you to walk around a few roundabouts that tie into their highway system and which do not have pedestrian paths. However, a less frequent bus, the 32, is the only one for which there is a stop directly in front of the store and the only one I recommend using if that's how you will get to this IKEA. For being "Ikea near the Alps," complete with being a big store and featuring parking and views, this store comes in at 4 stars. read more

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