One thing I can easily say is we never had a bad meal while we were in Italy. For a country that is synonymous with good food, I expected nothing less. There were several little street-side restaurants we wandered into that exceeded even these high expectations. But there were two restaurants on Lake Garda that simply cannot be missed. Today I am jumping around to be able to share both places in one post. I had heard about both of these restaurants when Julia and Rosie visited Lake Garda. I share that because unless someone has told you about these places, you would never know they were there!

Villa Feltrinelli

Villa Feltrinelli captivated me from the first time I saw a picture of this gorgeous water-front villa. While I would have loved to have stayed at Villa Feltrinelli for a couple of days, it just didn’t fit the budget. When I read that the restaurant currently holds two Michelin Stars, I knew that would get Brian interested in going for dinner. We had enjoyed the Michelin Star restaurant in Hambleton Hall the year before so much that we had decided that on every trip we take going forward, we will have one evening where we enjoy a fine dining experience.

Brian and I both love watching Chef’s Table because we have such an appreciation for what chefs do and the creativity that they have. Dining at a Michelin Star restaurant is amazing, not only because of the food, but the entire experience. Our dinner at Villa Feltrinelli was the single most amazing dining experience I have ever had! I say this for a few reasons. From the second we drove through the gates onto the private drive, I could tell this place was going to be special. The villa and the grounds are simply breathtaking.

We arrived an hour before our reservation to be able to enjoy cocktails by the water. The serenity can not even be described. All I remember hearing is the sound of the gravel crunching underneath the feet of the staff coming and going, and the soft crashing of the waves against the shore. Even though there were many other couples near-by everything seemed so intimate.

Every single detail of this experience was amazing. I do say experience because it was so much more than a dinner. The staff was the best I have ever encountered and the pride that they show for what they do is admirable. The food was interesting and still delicious. Each wine was excellent and chosen perfectly by a talented Sommelier.

The evening was made complete by the opportunity to meet Chef Stefano and thank him for such an amazing experience. I won’t pretend that it wasn’t the most expensive dinner we have ever had, but for both of us it was worth every penny. It was a night that we will both remember forever and cemented the decision that one day we need to stay at Villa Feltrinelli.

San Vigilio Restaurant

This was our last meal on Lake Garda, on our way to return the car. We wanted to savor every last minute of Lake Garda so I suggested this as our last stop. San Vigilio is a beautiful retreat on the shores of Garda. You can stay on the property, but we elected to just stop for lunch. When we turned onto the drive we weren’t sure we were in the right place. But we parked underneath all of the olive trees and followed the crowd that was walking towards the shore.

By the time we got to the bottom of the hill it was clear this was where we needed to be. We were a little early as the restaurant was not open yet, so we walked around and enjoyed the property. Their cafe by the water was packed with people enjoying their coffee and rosé. There is also a charming store that carries some beautiful Italian linens and other little treasures I wanted to bring home.

Like every other place we had visited on Lake Garda, the views were amazing. It was also a perfect, sunny afternoon so we asked to be seated outside. We chose a bottle of white wine, and ordered the Pumpkin Risotto to share. I cannot even describe how good this risotto was! I still think about it randomly, wishing I could find somewhere back home that could replicate it.

As someone who never turns down an opportunity for a good dessert I asked the waiter what he recommended. Without hesitating he suggested the lemon ice. They pick the lemons fresh from their orchard, hollow it out and create the lemon ice without any added flavors. Then the ice is placed back in the hollowed lemon and frozen again before being served. It was amazing!!

Both Brian and I agreed that we were not expecting San Vigilio to impress us so much. We thought it would be a good place to stop for lunch, but it ended up being our favorite meal of the entire trip!

So those are the two restaurants on Lake Garda that simply cannot be missed. Villa Feltrinlli takes the place of overall best experience. The entire property is stunning and the staff are impeccable. I cannot say that the food was my favorite simply because it wasn’t like any other “meal” I have ever had. Everything that we ate was delicious but it wasn’t a typical dinner. This is why San Vigilio was my favorite meal. If you are wanting excellent Italian cuisine, then I recommend San Vigilio. Both places are worth a visit if you find yourself around Lake Garda. xo Bryn