Travel Tips Italy
Restaurant tips from all over Italy
Tips from Lake Garda between Desenzano and Salo
Ancient Trattoria Miravalle in Polpenazze

A small and very lovingly decorated restaurant with a terrace and a gigantic view of Lake Garda.
It is run by a young, ambitious team that is very polite and courteous but never intrusive.
The kitchen conjures up modern creations of classic Italian dishes from Veneto and Lombardy.
The wine cellar is very well stocked and, in addition to good regional and national Italian wines, also includes top labels from well-known wineries.
After the drinks and food have been consumed, the kitchen welcomes you with a lovely amuse bouche, in our case with a cranberry shot and a crostini con crema di pesce.
What is particularly interesting about the menu are the 3 menu options, each with 3 courses, which actually “only” cost between €35 and €37. Despite the price, you don’t get “menu portions” for the individual courses.
Among the free choice dishes, the beef tartare with homemade mustard cream as a starter clearly stands out; it is sensationally seasoned and beautifully presented.
We couldn't find a favorite among the main courses because all the dishes - whether fish or meat - were excellent, very artfully presented and extremely tasty.
For desserts, we recommend the homemade tiramisu in a flower pot.
Be sure to make a reservation as places are limited!
Osteria dell'Orologio in Salo
Tel. 0039 0365 290158

Located in the middle of Via Mattia Butturini, Salo's shopping and boutique street, you will find the Osteria. It is one of Salo's traditional restaurants, but neither dusty nor outdated. The ambience is 100% Osteria or trattoria, the quality and service is that of top-class gastronomy.
You will always be greeted in a friendly and warm manner by the owner, who usually stands behind the bar in the entrance area, and served competently and courteously by the service staff.
The wine list would be a good fit for many top restaurants. You will certainly find almost 500 national and international wines here.
All pastas are homemade and highly recommended. If you have them, you should order Sarde in Saor as a starter. As for the main courses, both the fish and the meat were excellent; the Branzino and the Costoletto di Maiale are particularly recommended.
Here in the Osteria, the homemade tiramisu is also the hit dessert.
If you prefer cheese as a dessert, you've come to the right place, as you'll get a selection of unusual regional cheeses, all served just right.
This restaurant is worth a visit both at lunchtime and in the evening.
Restaurant Pizzeria Santo Gusto in Manerba dG


One of our favorite places on the lake.
Santo – that is the actual name of the owner – his family and many of his crew members come from Sicily and are hosts with Sicilian fire.
Santo Gusto stands for two specialties and these are seafood and very special pizza creations.
You won’t find a better Gran Crudo for 2, 3 or 4 people anywhere on the lake than here.
The Polipo croccante con purè di patata dolce e cime di rapa serves the most tender squid arms you have ever eaten. It is only surpassed by the Degustazione di tartare di mare, where you get 3 different fish tartares, each of which is an explosion of flavour.
We can't give you any tips for the main courses, because every one we've tried so far has been excellent and recommendable. Choose according to your mood and you'll always be delighted.
I'm not a big pizza fan myself, but for anyone who is, Santo Gusto is an Eldorado. In addition to the traditional pizzas, there is a special menu for unusual pizza creations like you've never tasted before. If you're not the first to enter the restaurant, you'll see these pizzas on almost every other table or the waiter will bring one to your table right in front of your eyes and when you see it, you'll know what I'm talking about.
We rarely made it to dessert because we were already too full, but it is the desserts that really capture the Sicilian soul. Sweet, sumptuous and imaginative probably describe it best.
Another tip about wine: Here you can get an excellent Lugana from a small family winery near Desenzano that you should definitely try. It is called "Abate" and goes perfectly with all fish and pasta dishes.
Otherwise, the wine selection is large and you will find everything that is of any reputation, which is especially true for the Spumantes.
Here too, it is essential to make a reservation in good time, as the restaurant is almost always fully booked, especially by Italians, which says a lot about its quality.
Enjoy your meal!
Restaurant Fior die Loto in Puegnago sul Garda
https://www.ristorantefiordiloto.it/



If you follow the directions and then find yourself in front of the restaurant, please don't think that we were trying to mislead you.
It is located at the end of a gravel road, to the right is a horse stud, to the left and behind it is the Lagi di Sovenigo and the building itself is totally inconspicuous at first glance.
But!!! Here lies the grail for all meat lovers! Visit the website and let yourself be inspired by the history and descriptions.
Behind the “still” inconspicuous entrance area, you enter a restaurant with white-covered tables in a bright and spacious room, where your eye is immediately drawn to the wonderful, colorful glasses.
If the weather is nice, you should reserve a table on the covered terrace overlooking one of the lakes, although your view will be distracted from the delicious dishes that are served to you.
Special recommendations:
For starters you should try the fried vegetables, then one of the tartar variations.
For pasta we recommend Tortelli Fior di Loto or Risotto ai porcini e zefferano.
Then it's time for the meat and you have to decide for yourself, because a recommendation is impossible here. But I still have a favorite and that is the Secreto di Pluma di Patanegra Iberico. This is pork from another universe! The only problem will be that you will never even look at German pork at home again.
Here, too, we never made it to dessert, but the double espresso at the end was always the best ending for us.
Tips from Tuscany
Florence
Many of you have already been to Florence and of course you have seen the most important sights, such as the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno or the cathedral. If not, then you should definitely do so.
The Uffizi Gallery houses great art treasures from ancient Italy, as Florence was one of the centres of Italy in the Middle Ages and the home of great artists and scientists.
There you can see famous works by Michelangelo but also Leonardo da Vinci, as well as many famous Dutch painters, and the rooms are worth a visit in themselves.
is the third largest church in the world and the dome is the largest in the world. Enjoy the details of the exterior facade and definitely go into the cathedral. The dome is amazing and you absolutely have to climb it, because from up there you have a gigantic view over the whole of Florence.
But now a few insider tips for italiving fans:
Galileo Museum, Judges Square
This museum is dedicated to science and shows interesting technological developments from the 18th to the 20th century. In particular, the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo are exhibited there.
Central Market, Central Market Square
The market hall in Florence is a true El Dorado for all connoisseurs. Even if you don't have the opportunity to take all the delicious food back to Germany, it's worth strolling through the aisles. Every stallholder wants to outdo the other with their decorating skills, everyone offers only the freshest products. You'll find all kinds of vegetables, the best homemade pasta variations, olive oils from all regions of Italy, the butchers' impressive Bistecca Firorentina, which should weigh at least 1.2 to 1.5 kilos with its bone, but also a huge selection of fish and seafood.
Davanzati Palace, Porta Rossa Street
It is one of the lesser-known palazzi but nevertheless something very special for lovers of the Italian interior design style. It exhibits almost all of the furnishings, art and everyday objects of a wealthy family from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Shopping and dinner through back streets in Florence
It's best to start from the Duomo at around 6 p.m. and walk along Via de'Cerretani on the left-hand side of the street, directly opposite the main entrance. From there, there are small boutiques lined up one after the other, offering a wide variety of products. Then turn left into Via di'Vecchietti and stroll along to Via de' Pecori, which you follow to the left until you reach Palazzo Antinori, then left again towards the Arno, past many more boutiques. Then turn right into Via della Vigna Nuova and stroll leisurely along it until you come to a small alley on the right, called Via dei Palchetti. Turn there and after about 50 meters you will find Florence's ultimate insider tip on the right: the Il Latini restaurant ! It's open from 7:30 p.m. Nowhere in Florence will you find more authentic Tuscan cuisine than here.
Everything you need to know about the restaurant and also the telephone number to reserve a table there (nothing works without a reservation!!!) can be found here: http://www.illatini.com
Something very special for lovers of fish and seafood
If you really fancy fish and shellfish in the evening in Florence, reserve a table at the Trattoria Vittorio. Here, the price/performance ratio is still right and you won't be ripped off like in some tourist restaurants!
Don't be put off by the inconspicuous building and entrance. The culinary secret lies hidden behind this door.
You absolutely have to try the Antipasto misto della casa and then you shouldn't miss out on the Gan misto crostacei cei alla catalana. Both are simply to die for.
You can find more information here: Read more
Tips from South Tyrol Bolzano
Bolzano
On the way south, we often drive past Bolzano and literally ignore it. After following our tips, you will see for yourself that this is a big mistake and will at least plan a stopover in the city on your next trip to Italy.
Did you know that Bolzano is one of the warmest cities in Italy, even in winter? Or that the arcades were the city's commercial centre as early as the 12th century and are still one of the most beautiful historic shopping streets in Italy today?
For the "Indiana Jones" among you, there is the South Tyrol Archaeological Museum in Bolzano, which is particularly well-known for its exhibition on the "Man from Tisenjoch". You don't know him? Yes, but under the name "Ötzi". The museum is really worth a visit, not only because it is a huge experience for children, but also for adults.
Another highlight near Bolzano is the "founding museum" of the 6 MMMs - the Messner Mountain Museums. It is not far from the city to the museum in Firmian and the journey is worth it. The "King of the Mountains" has invested all of his knowledge and much of his private fortune in the 6 museums. Nowhere else in the world is so much experience, knowledge and skill combined with the natural resources of nature, showing creation, change, mythology and magic in context.
If you want to take it easy and use the stop in Bolzano to chill and enjoy, we have the following tips for you.
Take a look at Maximilian and find top fashion brands there or be impressed by the great selection on the many floors of Oberrauch Zitt, which by the way has a very special dirndl department.
Or do you like something sweet? Then you should definitely go to Chocolat des Steinmair Kurt at Obstplatz 2. Pralines galore, all kinds of panettone and chocolate in all varieties!
Diagonally opposite, things get really weird when you visit Rino Zollo in his outdoor bar called "Fischbänke". In fact, the bon vivant has made the city's former marble fish benches the center of his bar and it feels like the whole of South Tyrol and half of Bavaria meet there for an Aperol Spritz. The visit is a must and please don't get impatient if you have to wait for a free seat. Lobo, that's Rino Zollo's nickname, loves all of his guests too much to keep them waiting for long.
Eating at Italia & Amore is a very different experience. The ambience is super stylish, but a seat on the roof terrace is even better when the weather is nice, and the food is the best thing about the restaurant. The cuisine is of the highest standard, the service is perfect, but unfortunately does not match the quality of the fresh Fassona beef tartare prepared at the table . Then a seafood risotto and a bottle of wine from the huge wine list to go with everything - that's how to enjoy life.
We recommend that you make a reservation and you can find everything you need to know at:
Let me know
The towns on the eastern shore of Lake Garda are better known in Germany than those on the western shore.
At the top of the northern tip is the famous wind and kite surfing paradise of Torbole. If you drive south along the lake, Malcesine is the next tourist magnet.
Then comes Torri del Benaco with its wonderful promenade and the largest town on the east side - Garda. Up to there, the steep slopes practically go right to the shore.
But from Garda onwards it becomes flatter and the hinterland of Lake Garda becomes more hilly.
The two most famous towns on the lake are also located here: Bardolino and Lazise .
From May to September, the streets of the towns are overcrowded, with thousands of tourists pushing their way past the shop windows of souvenir shops and boutiques. Those who like it can line up at the beginning of the town and be washed out of the crowd at the other end.
But even those who are looking for something special will unexpectedly get their money's worth.
In Lazise we can recommend two particularly good restaurants that are located right by the old harbor and therefore in the middle of town, but still stand out from the tourist restaurants around them. This is also proven by the fact that they are among the very few restaurants in town that are open in winter, because they are also the favorite restaurants of the Italians who live here. We would like to tell you more about EDG, Bella Italia and La Dolce Vita in the Tips, Interesting Facts and News sections.
The first of the two - La Taverna del Oreste - is our favorite place!
Here, the focus is primarily on aquatic animals and a huge selection of fish and shellfish dishes of excellent quality are offered.
Particularly recommended are:
All seafood appetizers but especially:
- Crispy whitefish meatballs
- Scallop Nuts
And for the main courses:
- Scampi au gratin with red radicchio
- Grilled prawns
- Sea bass in a salt crust with potatoes in oil
Please make a reservation in advance! You can find all information at:
https://www.tavernaoreste.it/?lang=de
The second restaurant in town is less than 30 metres from Oreste and is just as good in quality.
While Oreste appeals more to the Italian audience,
Alla Grotta introduces the international audience to a loyal fan base of Italians.
All dishes here are prepared with particular care and are often works of art on the plate.
- Those who like it will be spoiled with raw fish starters
- This is followed by a variety of pasta dishes with shrimps, prawns or lobster
- Or you can choose one of the wonderful fish dishes as a main course
The wine selection is gigantic, the service very courteous and very professional.
We particularly recommend a seat in the winter garden with a view of the small old harbor and the lake.
Here too, we strongly recommend making a reservation. You can find further information at:
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle and love red wine, you should get in the car and drive to Sacro Cuor . It is located just 10 minutes from Lazise in the hills and has nothing special except - a crown jewel among the winemakers on Lake Garda - the winery and restaurant MASI Tenuta Canova
Here tradition combines with modernity, centuries-old winemaking knowledge with the latest architecture and young, fresh, light cuisine.
Ideally, you sit outside under large umbrellas and enjoy the top wines either “by the glass” or you choose a bottle of your favorite wine.
MASI is known for its red wines, especially the Campofiorin and Amarone , but the white wines are also not to be despised.
Here at the winery you can enjoy excellent food as well as satisfy your wine needs, as all of the winery's products are available for purchase in the wine shop.
Be sure to take the Campofiorin grape jelly with you, because there is nothing that goes better with a good cheese than this jelly.
And in the restaurant we recommend either the mixed warm starters
The shadow in the cicchetti
or the platter with ham, salami and cheese.
You can order the red wine risotto either as an intermezzo or as a main course. But you should definitely try it, because you won't find the special Vialone rice from our own cultivation, seasoned with Amarone wine and Veronese cheese, anywhere else.
Afterwards we recommend another speciality, namely the thinly sliced buffalo meat on radiccio and drizzled with old balsamic vinegar.
Be sure to make a reservation!
All information about Masi Tenuta Canova can be found at: https://www.masi.it/de/masi-wine-bar-vino-e-cucina
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