Discovering Desenzano Del Garda, Italy: The Best Restaurants, Gelaterias, Hotels & Activities!

There's a lot to look at in Desenzano del Garda!

​Desenzano del Garda is a great little town on Lake Garda that I'd never even heard of before we booked our AirBNB. Now, after spending a week there, I would recommend it to anyone for its myriad charming shops and restaurants, street music and wonderful outdoor market... and also for its terrifically central location. 

From Desenzano it is very easy to walk, bicycle, drive or take a ferry anywhere around Lake Garda.  There is also a train station right in the heart of town, with direct service to larger cities nearby including Verona, Venice and Milan.  

Longer day trips are possible too. If you're willing to drive for a few hours you can be either hiking in the Dolomites or basking on a Mediterranean beach.  For these reasons, we encourage you to consider Desenzano del Garda as a great 'base' for your next northern Italian vacation. If you love lakes, mountains and watersports you definitely won't be sorry you chose to come here!

Here are our best recommendations for where to eat, enjoy a gelato, play and stay in Desenzano!

The Best Of Desenzano

Where To Eat?
Pratello Winery
Kapperi
Gattolardo
Alla Stella

Gelato Heaven? 
Bon Bon Gelato
Gelateria Vivaldi

Where To Play? 
Desenzano Farmer's Market
Spiaggia Desenzanino
Spiaggia Del Oro
Sirmione

Where To Stay?
Hotel Tripoli
Hotel Vittorio

Hard to say no to a view like this!

Where To Eat?

Pratello

Food and wine under the stars at Pratello.

On the advice of a good friend we took the short drive (10-15 minutes) from Desenzano Del Garda to reach this lovely winery located in the hills along the Brescia shore of Lake Garda. Enoteca La Veranda, the Pratello restaurant, is a farm-to-table establishment where most of the dishes are created using ingredients grown in Pratello's gardens and pastures.  From vegetables to preserves, fruit, olive oil, wine and salames... all of these and more are created or crafted by Pratello's warm and welcoming staff.

During the Fall and Winter you can get warm and hearty local dishes including soups, stews and roasts.  In the summer you should dine outdoors under the ancient mulberry trees on treats like grilled meats, salads and fresh pasta.  Best of all, of course, the wine!  Pratello's wine is light, refreshing and delicious!  We brought back an entire case of Pratello wine from Italy.

Reservations recommended.  ​

Kapperi 

Great food, great drinks and amazing gluten free options at Kapperi!

​Kapperi is a restaurant of high quality with excellent food.  The restaurant is so popular that it is often difficult to arrange a table during high season without calling several days in advance.  Perhaps this popularity stems from the staff's focus on giving excellent service and providing a creative menu that meets the dining needs of both a 'normal' and a 'gluten free' palate.  

This is one of the only restaurants I have ever seen with its own dedicated gluten-free kitchen, apart from the normal kitchen. Two kitchens! They bake their own gluten free items with their own flour mix on site! There are over 50 gluten free options on their menu, from appetizers to main courses to dessert! Amazing!!! The food itself is delicious with ample portion sizes. Our particular favorites included the Rustica Salad with roasted chicken and homemade gnocchi with tomato and basil sauce. 

My family enjoyed this place so much, we ate there twice in two days! 
​Highly recommended. Reservations are essential.

Gattolardo
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The sweetest ambiance at Gattolardo!

Gattolardo is a truly sweet restaurant that we first noticed while passing by on the main street of Desenzano. What a welcome respite in the heart of the tourist district to have such an inviting and enjoyable space tucked away, almost escaping notice.  Gattolardo offers indoor and outdoor seating and a truly charming atmosphere... small, tasteful and warm.  The menu includes mouth-watering pasta, pizzas, salads, seafood and grilled fish, wine and other entrees.

Don't miss their famous pizza, lasagna or mouth-watering hot chocolate cake!  This place is really a gem.

Reservations recommended.


Alla Stella

Pasta that's worth the wait at Alla Stella!

​Alla Stella is very popular, very beautiful, and provides delicious food.  Unfortunately the wait during high season, even with a reservation, can be quite impressive.  Our family waited for nearly thirty minutes to give our order once we were seated and almost another hour before the actual meal arrived. 

That said, under other circumstances if we had not been as tired or hungry I think we would have had a spectacular time.  The food really was fantastic. So, recommended!  Just be aware of what you are getting into.  It appears to be a family run restaurant... hence there are only so many people to serve and assist... but if you can be patient and don't mind starting with drinks and appetizers, I think you will have a very positive experience.  

Possibly better for romantic dates rather than family dinners.
​Reservations recommended.
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Gelato Heaven? 

Bon Bon Gelato

Make Your Own Gelato At Bon Bon!

Despite getting somewhat mediocre reviews on TripAdvisor, Bon Bon was my kids' favorite gelateria in Desenzano. They loved it mainly because of its set-up: more like a frozen yogurt bar than a typical Italian gelateria.  When walking in they were handed cups and then they could serve themselves from any of the gelatos stored on the wall (all of which are gluten free).  There were at least 6 flavors my children found to be very interesting. My husband and I had some too!  The gelato tasted very good.

After serving themselves the kids were instructed (in English) to add as many toppings as they liked. Their cups of gelato were weighed and then purchased based on weight. (Be careful because this can add up.) Bon Bon offered a fantastic array of toppings and sauces (caramel, chocolate, etc.) to take any gelato from ordinary to 'WOW!'  

The service was excellent and the store itself was sparkling clean.  We now give it our highest recommendation, and my kids want to go back!
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Gelateria Vivaldi
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​Vivaldi was more of a traditional gelateria.  A large counter, tons of flavors and eager Italian youth serving behind the counter who seemed as though they might be university students. This gelateria has a solid, merited reputation and there were lines out the door every single time we walked by during the week.

A highlight was that Vivaldi features interesting flavors including 'Penguin' and 'Peach', plus a lot of sorbet options.

It's hard to imagine any Italian gelato that wouldn't taste creamy, rich and amazing. Gelateria Vivaldi definitely had great quality gelato and our entire family was satisfied with the dessert we purchased there.  Highly recommended! ​

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Where To Play? 

Desenzano is a really nice place to stay but there aren't a lot of amazing things to DO there. It's a perfect base for trips around the lake, into the mountains, and to local cities like Verona and Venice.

The town features great restaurants and hotels, plus a fabulous street market. Desenzano beaches are just ok... not spectacular... but we'll tell you about the best two!  You should definitely also check out Sirmione if you are looking for somewhere truly special to play that you can reach by foot, bike, bus or car.

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Desenzano Farmer's Market

Hard to choose with so many great products at the Farmer's Market!

It's always a joy to experience Farmer's Market Day in Italy... when local farmers and vendors show up to proudly display their products in booths lining the streets of a town.  Desenzano has a particularly splendid street market, featuring artisanal cheeses, breads, salames and fruits/vegetables along with paintings, toys, clothing, candy and much more!  

The Desenzano Farmer's Market takes place on Thursdays starting at 8am and lasting through the evening.  Definitely worth taking a leisurely stroll to check out the stands!

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Spiaggia Desenzanino

Friends you may see at the beaches of Desenzano!

Spiaggia Desenzanino turned out to be a small beach just beyond the main street in town. A person could walk there from the center in about 10 minutes. It was recommended to my family by the Tourism office.  When I saw it I was quite surprised by how tiny the little strip of beach was, and how full of tourists!  The beach felt almost like an afterthought.

Still, if you are staying in Desenzano and looking for a place to sit in the sun on rented chairs with a good book next to the water (or hoping to dip your toes into Lake Garda for a minute) this will do very nicely!  The views of the lake and mountains are spectacular!

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Spiaggia D'Oro

Spiaggia D'Oro is a small private beach. You pay both for parking and for the umbrella and beach chair you rent.  That said, it's close to town, clean and well maintained.  In the winter, the beach is almost deserted and you can spend a very pleasant (chilly) time enjoying the lake.  During the summer it's much more crowded so plan accordingly and arrive early if you want your own space on the rocks!
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Sirmione

​There are so many incredible things to say about Sirmione that I've created an entire blog post about it, which you can read here.  Highlights include swimming at Jamaica Beach, sunning in front of ancient Roman ruins and enjoying gelato cones that are nearly the size of a baby's head.

If you are staying in Desenzano del Garda (whether alone or with family or friends) I would highly recommend spending at least one full day in Sirmione.  It's worth your time!

Where To Stay?

Hotel Tripoli (reasonable)
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The great things about Hotel Tripoli are also potentially its drawbacks. Its location is perfect if you're seeking action, fun and energy.  Young couples will love the way this hotel looks out upon Desenzano's beautiful harbor and opens up right onto its main street.  

At night the front of the hotel is illuminated with beautiful lights and there are street musicians performing just down the way, creating a fun, festive, party atmosphere.  I saw lots of couples in their twenties sipping cocktails and wine while chatting and flirting at the little tables that flow forth from the building into the main walkway.

As a mom with three kids, especially when my kids were young, I would probably have avoided this hotel for the same reasons why I am recommending it now.  

It would be very hard for small children to sleep with all of the noise from the busy, exciting street plus music and people drinking late into the night.  Especially at the height of the August heat, I cannot imagine trying to close the hotel windows to shut out all of the noise.  

So, this hotel is highly recommended for couples, single travelers and adult friends!  If you're a family with young kids or a more senior couple, consider a different hotel or an AirBNB.  Prices at Hotel Tripoli range from 127 - 200 euro for double occupancy.

Hotel Vittorio (reasonable)

Hotel Vittorio boasts an idyllic location looking straight out upon gorgeous Lake Garda. The views are spectacular!  The hotel's decor is modern and clean, with nice quality linens and quilts and beautiful wicker patio furniture. Everything is very tasteful and welcoming. The staff is highly rated for their courtesy and thoughtfulness, and the morning breakfast is plentiful and delicious!

Best of all... pop out the front door and already you'll already be strolling on the shores of Lake Garda!   Prices range from 105 - 150 euro per night for double occupancy.
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If you're planning a trip to Lake Garda you owe it to yourself to consider staying in the charming, vibrant town of Desenzano del Garda.  No matter how you spend your days on the lake, you'll love coming back to its delicious restaurants, excellent gelato options, reasonably priced hotels, and glorious views!

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Life is short.  Get out there and choose your own adventure! :)

Soaking up the sun and fun in Desenzano del Garda!

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