This little shop will have everything you need- maybe not a lot of choices, but they will cover…read moreeverything from TP to freshly made ( delicious) sandwiches. We spent 3 weeks in this town and got to know many of the vendors and this place was, by far, such a pleasure to come and shop. The family who runs it is very accommodating, speak English ( for all the American and British travelers who come here) and carry so many authentic Italian products. We even purchased several jars of one sauce to take back to CA. One of the best parts of this place is Sunny, the young woman who works there- what a pleasant, helpful and kind person. She will make you want to come back and shop here just to have her help you. I hope she gets some credit for the good work she does there.

Macelleria Salumeria is a cute, local shop that says meats, cheeses, and accompanying sauces,…read morespreads, breads, wines, and other odds and ends. The married shop owners, Enriqio and Annarita, are so friendly and were both so patient with us. Annarita's English is good and fluent and I had to do some combination of gesturing and guessing with Enriqio. We ended up coming here three times for salami sandwiches. We told Annarita the rough specifications: focaccia, Milanese salami, a medium cheese and sun dried tomatoes, and they made it happen. It cost about the same as a subway sandwich but we felt we got so much more! Delicious and great service. We will be back!

Alright, Migros. I've been waiting 7 years for this revisit and you didn't let me down. My only…read morecomplaint is that you close at 7 pm and I felt rushed upon arrival at 6:45. That's okay, I'll see you again later this week. This particular Migros location served as our "budget-friendly" grocery for 6 months while I lived in Lugano and attended Franklin College Switzerland. Unlike, Manor (their downtown competition- albeit, flashier), Migros offers several budget friendly stock items to make living in Switzerland possible for a poor college student and now, budget-conscious traveler. We hightailed it here upon arriving in Lugano to fill our mini kitchen with produce and regional treats like spaetzl and cheese rolled in whole walnuts. On the entry level of this grocery you'll find a bakery with beautiful pastries and prepared takeaway foods. On the basement level you'll find everything you could need in a grocery store. Two budget tips: look for items marked as "Azione" and "Budget" with green wrapping- these are the best deals? Twelve kiwi for $4? Don't mind if I do! My only complaint this round was the unfriendly woman working the bakery who made it clear she doesn't speak English even when I was using only Italian mumblings with her. Work with me a little, would ya?

I came here for a local whole polenta (polenta integrale). The owner was very helpful and explained…read moreeverything, like all the different kinds of polenta and ways to cook. In this store they also have very tasty local honey and other specialities from the region of Ticino. Also great for gifts. They have different opening times depending on the season. In January and February, they are closed on Mondays. In the summer months, they are open also during lunchtime. It's only a short drive from popular tourist places like Locarno and worth a visit!

OK. A very small grocery with fresh vegetables…read more Has a lot of items. You just have to look closely or ask for help. + Friendly proprietor. - Cash only - The small sign indicating the operating hours cannot be seen when the store is closed as it is hidden behind the unmarked wooden door. But, everybody in Varenna knows what the hours are. I upped my rating from 3 to 4 stars after my third visit.