Olympic Curlers, Fans Welcome at Cortina’s Molo Pub

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO – After Friday night’s Olympic curling fireworks, a timeout may be in order.

So what’s the closest bar to the curling arena?

Just a 400-metre jaunt – slightly uphill – from the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, you’ll find the historic Italian ski resort’s friendly and inviting Molo Pub.

It’s not your traditional Italian bar, as a small sign on the door warns customers: No Coffee.

Refraining from serving Italiano caffè at any reputable establishment from the Dolomites down to Sicily would normally be cause for a few choice Italian words accentuated with hand gestures, but not here.

Run by an Italian rock guitarist, Matteo “Zach” Magri, Molo beats to a different drum.

What you will find is a wide array of creative cocktails, regional red and white wines, and the pub’s signature selection of ever-changing, imported craft beers. The vibe at Molo is fun, friendly, and whimsical.

Molo hands-on boss Magri is enthusiastic, albeit a tad nervous, to not only welcome the world curling community – but also bobsledders, lugers, skeleton sliders and female ski racers, all of whom have flocked to Cortina for the Olympic Winter Games.

“We’ve had a lot of curling events over the years – the athletes come in, with staff and team supporters, and they are very nice and easy-going people,” Magri told The Curling News. “The curlers are very quiet, unlike hockey players,” he adds with a laugh.

The beer offering on my last visit included Pilseners from Austria and the Czech Republic, lager from Germany, red ale from England, a stout from Ireland, and if you dare, a 5.3% Italian pale ale known as Zero F**ks Given.

“Our beers are always being changed – we don’t want to annoy our customers to have to drink the same beers,” Magri says, probably exaggerating a bit.

Andrea Antoniacomi, 35, is born and raised in Cortina. He is one of many local fans of Molo.

“I like everything about this place – the atmosphere, the people,” Antoniacomi says. “When you go to Molo you feel like you are at home with your friends, parents, or you can enjoy it alone. It’s the best bar in Cortina – we all love it.”

For the cozy, trusted establishment – albeit modest in size – the Olympic Games presented a great unknown. While Matteo has been serving guests since 2004, and the business dating to the late 1960s, Cortina hadn’t hosted an Olympic Winter Games in nearly 70 years. Naturally, it is uncharted snow and ice in this era, for the historic winter sports playground.

“It's a big responsibility – it’s a very stressful experience to meet the demand and make the money,” Matteo says. “Very stressful and difficult.”

Olympic uncertainty aside, Molo’s excellent food is a given. Besides their juicy hamburgers – not easily found in the Italian Dolomites – tasty paninis, piadinas, and Italian toast are also on the menu. Magri and staff push limits with a unique fusion of ingredients, but Italy’s traditional cured meats like Prosciutto Crudo and Cotto are staples, among other high-quality products. 

This hungry journalist was extremely satisfied with the Ramboso Fusion special, a smoked Porcetta paninaro (sandwich) served on filoncino bread with mozzarella, sweet and sour Italian peppers, Teriyaki salsa, and a few added ingredients that Matteo assured me were ‘molto bene’ and ‘deliziosa.’ He quickly earned my trust.

For the Olympic curling teams and their dedicated fans who find their way to Molo in the time remaining, what exactly can be expected?

Matteo suggested expecting the unexpected.

“In 2018, Italians didn't know know what curling was, and then they saw Constantini (and Amos Mosaner) win gold and they went f***ing crazy,” Matteo says.

If the Italian ‘Tifosi’ witness another golden moment on the curling ice – they’ve already nabbed a bronze – you can bet your outdated Lira that one hell-uva, all-night party at Molo will follow. Salute!

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