Located on the west bank of Lake Garda, Gargnano is a small and peaceful town surrounded by mountain landscapes. It is a place where time slows down, so it is perfect for those who seek a relaxing vacation away from crowds, noise, and loud parties. That’s why most tourists in Gargnano are older people and families who like to slowly walk down the cobbled streets, smell lemon trees, leisurely sit near the lake, and enjoy the good cuisine.

Most towns on Lake Garda have truly amazing restaurants, and Gargnano is no excuse. Unlike other popular destinations in Italy, Gargnano has many high-quality restaurants where you can enjoy excellent food at a reasonable price. Even if you don’t do any research and just walk into one of the available restaurants at random, there’s a good chance you will end up in an excellent one. Therefore, you don’t have to be afraid of tourist traps in Gargnano, unlike in many other popular cities in Italy.

Restaurants in Gargnano mostly serve lake fish from Lake Garda, which include whitefish (lavarello), perch, pike, and tench. Other dishes include Brescian meat specialties, like roasted lamb, wild boar in salmì, or rabbit with polenta, and classic Italian dishes like pizza and pasta. Here are the best restaurants in Gargnano:

(This article contains 5 restaurants in Gargnano, which are best in our subjective opinion. The order of the restaurants is not related to the quality they offer. Every restaurant has its pros and cons, so choose the one based on your personal preferences.)

Trattoria San Martino – Le 3 Oche

Trattoria San Martino – Le 3 Oche is a lovely fine dining restaurant located in the center of Gargnano. It is perfect for those who like a romantic place with high-standard food and staff who are excellently trained, friendly, and courteous. The restaurant is equipped with beautiful original olive furniture and offers both outdoor and indoor space. You can stay in the pretty and quiet covered stone alley, with a glimpse of the lake view, or in the spacious and cute air-conditioned interior space with windows on the lake.

The food is made with local raw materials, without too many frills, clear and well-balanced flavors, and it is structured in a way that you can easily order 3 portions. We suggest trying their local lake fish specialties with homemade smoked olive oil. If you like it, you can even buy their homemade olive oil as a souvenir. Prices are slightly above average, but appropriate to the quality of what is offered.

Keep in mind that table reservation is mandatory, and that there are not many vegetarian and vegan options, but you can find something or ask if they can do it. Trattoria San Martino – Le 3 Oche is open every day except Monday from 7:00 PM (19:00 hours) to 10:00 PM (22:00 hours). On Saturday and Sunday, the restaurant is also open from 12:00 PM (12:00 hours) to 2:00 PM (14:00 hours).

Ristorante La Mingla

Ristorante La Mingla is a lovely family-owned restaurant run by a husband and wife team. It is located in a discreet, narrow street just a few meters from Lake Garda. Small and intimate, this restaurant offers local, seasonal, and organic dishes, which wouldn’t be out of place in a Michelin-star restaurant. There are both inside and outside sitting tables, the menu is displayed on a chalkboard, and all the ingredients are sourced locally. Dishes are usually a great combination of typical Italian food and modern expression, the food selection is not so wide, but everyone will find something for themselves.

You can even find many organic and vegetarian options, too. We recommend trying homemade pasta dishes and black pizza, their house specialty. They only have approx. 4 tables outside and a couple inside, and only serves dinner, so it is advisable to book your table in advance. Keep in mind that this place is not the cheapest restaurant in the area, but the food is exceptional, and the service attentive, and it felt like good value for money.

So, if you appreciate someone who obviously has a real talent for cooking with locally sourced ingredients, a cosy place with many references to the history of Lake Garda, a reasonable price for the outstanding quality of food, and personal service second to none, this is the little gem you are looking for. Ristorante La Mingla is open every day except Wednesday from 6:00 PM (18:00 hours) to 10:00 PM (22:00 hours).

Ristorante La Tortuga

Ristorante La Tortuga is a family-run Michelin-star restaurant that has been holding the star since 1980. It is located in a lovely old building on the main street in Gargnano overlooking the main square. Unlike many other restaurants, La Tortuga is not on the lakeside and there are no outside tables, but the interior is very stylish and comfortable, with the “right” background music at the perfect volume, camouflaged air conditioning splits, top quality crystals, and collectible dishes. It is run by three generations, Nonna in the kitchen and mother and daugther in the service. Therefore, you can be sure that you will have an authentic Italian experience here.

You can choose between tasting menu and a la carte options. The 5-course tasting menu with wine pairings is served at the perfect portion, so you won’t stay hungry. From a la carte options, we recommend ordering homemade pasta and delicate fish specialties. Keep in mind that this is a fine dining restaurant, so prices are rather high but fair for the whole context of the place. Ristorante La Tortuga is open every day except Tuesday from 7:30 PM (19:30 hours) to 9:30 PM (21:30 hours).

Osteria Civico 20

Osteria Civico 20 is another small family-run restaurant in Gargnano, perfect for those who appreciate great Italian cuisine and warm hospitality. It is located in a quiet and exclusive square, next to the marina, overlooking the lake, and has both outdoor sitting on the terrace with a lake view and a small indoor area. Don’t be put off by the restaurant’s modest look. They always offer amazing food with fresh, quality, and local ingredients, and you will be amazed by the presentation of the dishes, which are well-kept, beautiful to look at, and just as good.

The menu is not very long, but it offers the right number of dishes for an excellent lunch or dinner. We recommend offering delicious lake fish dishes, but there are also some meat alternatives for those who don’t like to eat them. The people who run and work there are really passionate about what they do, so you can expect plenty of friendliness, kindness, and humility, enough to make you want to return again.

The prices are in line with local fare, and in any case, if you eat well, you won’t think that your dish is overpriced. The staff will also take care of those who want vegetarian or gluten-free dishes. Overall, this is a classic Italian place to go if you are looking for something away from busy tourist locations with a traditional menu. Osteria Civico 20 is open every day except Thursday from 12:00 PM (12:00 hours) to 2:00 PM (14:00 hours) for lunch, and from 7:00 PM (19:00 hours) to 9:00 PM (21:00 hours) for dinner.

Aeolus

The last (but not least) on our restaurant list is Aeolus. It is a lovely restaurant situated in an Italian classic building full of charm that definitely matches the beauty of Gargnano. The place is pretty idyllic, with a terrace in front of the old port with a breathtaking view, and a stunning wine cellar space with arched stone ceilings. Overall, it is a whole different level from the typical “tourist” places you might find on the lake. Here, it seems that your heart skips a beat when you first sit down and gaze over the lake, taking in all you see, makes you sigh and relax.

The menu is not too vast but interesting, and dishes are created with respect to tradition. We recommend homemade pasta dishes as well as excellent tuna specialties. For a dessert, don’t miss an excellent chocolate cake. Besides amazing food, this place is the best in town for making cocktails. You can even order personalized cocktails tailored to your preferences. There is also a pretty good wine list with mostly local wines.

Keep in mind that, especially in the summer months, you need to reserve your table. Otherwise, you will not find an available table. Portions are pretty generous, and prices are reasonable for what you get. Aeolus is open Friday to Monday from 12:00 PM (12:00 hours) to 2:30 PM (14:30 hours) for lunch, and from 5:30 PM (17:30 hours) to 12:00 AM (00:00 hours) for dinner. From Tuesday to Thursday, the restaurant is only open for dinner.

Where to find the best restaurants in Gargnano?

Gargnano is really full of amazing restaurants, so you won’t need to be afraid that you will end up in some tourist trap. The food scene here is pretty high, and most restaurants compete with each other to attract gourmands who appreciate high-quality dishes. Also, Gargnano, like other Lake Garda towns, is very popular among older German tourists who don’t like to eat pizza or fast food dishes. Therefore, don’t expect to eat good pizza or burger here.

Also, you don’t have to walk or drive far from the center to find a great restaurant. Most of them are within 5-minutes walking distance from the center. In our list, we listed only restaurants that we have tried, but there are also others that have significant food quality and reasonable prices. It is advisable to always check online reviews on TripAdvisor or Google before you choose your restaurant, and always try to go there where you hear the local language. However, whichever restaurant you choose from our list, we guarantee that you will get the most for your money. Bon Appetit!

Check out our other posts about Gargnano:

• Things to do in Gargnano on Lake Garda