Explore the Best Restaurants at Lake Garda
The largest of the Italian lakes is always beautiful – and Lake Garda restaurants can be even more so. Ask the locals when to visit and they will agree that the best months are undoubtedly June and September – fine weather, fewer crowds, and thus better quality in hospitality. Why not leave the car behind and take advantage of the public water transport system, allowing you to disembark directly in the heart of the lakeside villages? You can visit them at your own pace and dine at one of the lakefront restaurants, feet in the water, as the French would say.
Lake-fresh fish? A must-try
This selection is based on location and the quality of both food and wine menus. The west coast is particularly superior, with a recent increase in excellent dining options. In addition to the top addresses selected, you should also consider several other quality restaurants that focus on local produce. If in doubt, always try the freshwater fish: lake sardines, perches, whitefish, and chubs are great choices. Although delicious, trout has virtually disappeared from Lake Garda and is now primarily grown in Trentino.
Valtenesi and Lugana
This is just a small selection of the numerous great places you can find around Lake Garda. Many restaurants are worth a stop, if not a detour, and consistently impress their guests. On the Trentino shore, consider dining at La Terrazza in Torbole and Al Volt in Riva del Garda. On the Verona shore, try Osteria al Pescatore in Brenzone Porto, Alla Frassa in Castelletto di Brenzone, and Da Oreste in Lazise. On the Brescia shore, check out La Miniera in Tignale, Locanda del Benaco and Osteria dell’Orologio in Salò, Dalia & Fagioli in Manerba, L’Osteria H2O in Moniga, La Dispensa in San Felice del Benaco, and La Speranzina in Sirmione.
Pro tip: Pair your meal with a glass of Valtenesi or Lugana, the finest wines Lake Garda has to offer, blessed by a series of excellent vintages.
Il Fagiano at Grand Hotel Fasano – Gardone Riviera (Brescia)
Il Fagiano is the flagship restaurant of one of the most stunning hotels on Lake Garda, the Grand Hotel Fasano. With 10 tables set indoors and a customary lakefront terrace for outdoor seating, it presents a unique dining experience. The chef, Maurizio Bufi, formerly at Villa Giulia, knows how to celebrate local ingredients and traditions without relinquishing his roots from Puglia. The menu is eclectic – featuring dishes such as pike cartellata with smoked potatoes, capers, olives, lamb with ramen, asparagus and fava beans, and risotto with lemon, burrata, and liquorice. As an added bonus, the talented bartender Rama Redzepi offers an impressive list of gin and tonic variations, while vegetarian tasting menus are also available.
Address: Via Zanardelli, 190 25083 Gardone Riviera
Website: ghf.it
Esplanade – Desenzano (Brescia)
Lake Garda restaurants frequently appear on the lists of discerning gastronomes, and Esplanade is one such surefire address for food lovers who enjoy al fresco dining. Here, Massimo Fezzardi leads the kitchen while Emanuele Signorini serves as maitre d’ and sommelier, overseeing one of the best wine cellars in the region. If you seek a romantic setting, request a table on the jetty. The tasting menu focuses on freshwater fish, while the highlight is saltwater seafood, particularly crustaceans, featured in the signature menu that alternates between cold and hot hors d’oeuvres.
