Must-see restaurants in Lake Garda

  • Speck Stube

    Lake Garda

    You could be forgiven for thinking you’d just arrived in rural Bavaria at this popular Lake Garda haunt. On sunny days, multitudes of bikers and motorists…

  • Ristorante Il Girasole

    Sirmione

    Sirmione’s best dining experience excels in congenial, well-organised service and traditional food skilfully executed. The three-ingredient cacio e pepe …

  • Restel de Fer

    Lake Garda

    Set in a quiet residential quarter, this family-run locanda (inn) feels like dropping by a friend's rustic-chic house: expect worn leather armchairs,…

  • Agriturismo i Vegher

    Lake Garda West Bank

    Well worth the journey along unsurfaced roads and the long booking lead times (book at least a month in advance for holiday weekends, otherwise about two…

  • La Rucola 2.0

    Sirmione

    Calf brains, sea urchins and pigeon breast are some of the more exotic offerings at this Michelin-starred affair tucked behind Sirmione's castle. The…

  • Al Cantinone

    Lake Garda West Bank

    It's well worth heading just a few streets back from the waterfront to track down this friendly neighbourhood trattoria, home to gingham tablecloths,…

  • Osteria Le Servite

    Lake Garda

    Tucked away in Arco's wine-growing region, this elegant little osteria (tavern) serves dishes that are so seasonal the menu changes weekly. You might be…

  • La Goccia Trattoria

    Desenzano del Garda

    Positioned well back from the lake front, La Goccia is a fantastic find, especially for fish lovers. With a chef who hails from Puglia you can expect the…

  • La Tortuga

    Lake Garda West Bank

    Despite its homey appearance Michelin-starred La Tortuga serves a sophisticated menu without undue pomp and ceremony. Appreciative diners at its handful…

  • Antico Brolo

    Lake Garda West Bank

    If you’re a considering a date night, Antico Brolo is the place for you, with seating in an intimate walled courtyard or better still on a tiny balcony…

  • Vecchia Malcesine

    Lake Garda

    Probably in the top five of Lombardy gastronomic restaurants, hillside Vecchia Malcesine is at once creative, fun and very, very tasty. The Michelin…

  • Antica Trattoria alle Rose

    Lake Garda West Bank

    Go with the flow in this elegant trattoria where Rosanna Faè and Gianni Briarava have been turning out contemporary, local cuisine for 25 years. Say yes…

  • Cristallo Caffè

    Lake Garda

    There's a clockwork efficiency about Cristallo that isn't always present in tourist-heavy lakeside cafes in Italy. Plying ice cream since 1892, the 60…

  • Trattoria Piè di Castello

    Lake Garda

    If you're looking for a real local experience, book a table at this wood-panelled travellers inn on the road to Tenno. It's been run by the same family…

  • Osteriva

    Lake Garda

    If you’re just off the Lake Garda ferry from ‘down south’ (ie Lombardy), welcome to Trentino where Teutonic influences prevail and sausages are king. If…

  • Al Boccondivino

    Sirmione

    A small restaurant close to Sirmione’s castle with tables pushed close together and every inch of wall covered by a mix of old movie stills and wispy…

  • La Fiasca

    Sirmione

    In this small authentic trattoria, tucked away in a backstreet just off the main square, the atmosphere is warm and bustling, and the dishes are packed…

  • Ristorante Fior di Loto

    Lake Garda West Bank

    Describing Fior di Loto as a steakhouse is criminal given the Rolls Royce selection of meat cuts aged between 25 and 40 months. Ten different cuts of meat…

  • Il Giardino delle Esperidi

    Lake Garda

    Holidaying gourmets should head for this intimate little osteria, where sourcing local delicacies is a labour of love for its sommelier-owner. The…

  • Alla Grotta

    Lake Garda

    The resemblance of this harbourside restaurant to an aquarium is perfectly apt as the menu here offers almost exclusively seafood. Don't even think of…

  • Osteria dell'Orologio

    Lake Garda West Bank

    This osteria has a fancy feel, pleasant service and tries to specialise in local lake and mountain fare. First courses are mostly excellent homemade…

  • Ristorante Lido

    Lake Garda West Bank

    The sleek, modern Lido is a perfect lunch location, its terrace thrust out over the lake shaded by a pergola and ancient olive tree. Chef Gramatica's…

  • La Capannina

    Lake Garda

    Arguably the best of several eating options available at the upper station of the cable car is freshly renovated La Capannina, located around 200m north…

  • Locanda Agli Angeli

    Lake Garda West Bank

    A shaded terrace, rattan chairs and burgundy tablecloths set the scene for some classic Lake Garda cooking. Tempting choices include veal ravioli,…

  • Osteria Gatto D'Oro

    Lake Garda West Bank

    This funky-rustic place has shunned the sometimes bland, traditional style of an Italian eatery and added tons of colour to proceedings. But it's no…

  • La Dispensa

    Lake Garda West Bank

    Situated on the main square in San Felice del Benaco, this fun and colourful wine bar and restaurant offers a mouth-watering modern Italian menu with a…

  • La Cambusa

    Desenzano del Garda

    Located in an old butcher’s shop, La Cambusa is earning itself some heartfelt accolades with home-brewed beer, top-notch salami, aperitivo (aperitif)…

  • Restaurant Gardesana

    Lake Garda

    The artfully lit arches of Hotel Gardesana's restaurant make a romantic spot for dinner as the sun sinks over a pink-tinged lake and the distant mountains…

  • Viandate Mangia e Bevi

    Sirmione

    Arguably the best of the cluster of tourist-attracting restaurants around Sirmione’s ferry terminal, Viandate has a detailed menu split into various sub…

  • Osteria Il Gallo

    Lake Garda

    Trentino specialities punctuate the menu of this cosy trattoria, which sits snug underneath the arches of one of Riva's lakeside squares. Try the…

  • Osteria di Mezzo

    Lake Garda West Bank

    At this intimate osteria guarded by hydrangeas a constant stream of hearty meals heads into a dining room lined with antique mirrors and weathered stone…

  • Al Veccio Fontec

    Lake Garda West Bank

    This titchy restaurant occupies an ancient building in the centre of Limone and serves a menu of Italian standards as well as locally inspired dishes…

  • Trattoria Bell'Arrivo

    Lake Garda

    The excellent, if somewhat pricey food at this local harbourside trattoria is served by very attentive staff in a simple, undistracting dining room. The…

  • Osteria Al Capitel

    Lake Garda

    Despite its roadside situation, Al Capital features a lovely shady garden, a warm rustic interior and serves a commendable Veronese menu. Lake fish are…

  • Cristallo

    Lake Garda

    The best ice cream in Bardolino has been scooped at this family-run parlour since 1969. Choose your flavour before joining the fast-moving queue as the…

  • Ristorante Papillon

    Lake Garda West Bank

    Surprisingly good thin-crust pizzas straight from the wood-fired oven. Enjoy them lakeside beside the weeping willow, but watch out for the pushy, pizza…

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