8 Unmissable Restaurants in Bolzano for Traditional Tyrolean Food
Located in the South Tyrol province in northern Italy, the city of Bolzano (or Bozen in German) is the largest city in the region and a hub of activity especially in winter.
Year round, it’s a popular destination for travelers seeking a good base from which to explore the Dolomites — an incredibly stunning range in the surrounding Italian Alps.
Set in a valley surrounded by mountain scenery, lush vineyards, and towering peaks, Bolzano is so worth a visit to experience the unique Italian-German culture, and one of our favorite ways to do this is by eating the traditional Tyrolean food.
This unusual blend of cuisine influences results in some amazing delights for any Italy Foodie!
where is Bolzano?
Check out a map of the Italian Alps, you’ll see this impressive range of mountain peaks cupping northern Italy like a gentle hand that stretches the entire width of the country.
Tucked inside the palm of this metaphorical hand are the cities of Turin to the west, Milan in the middle, and Bolzano to the east — all of them backdropped by the mountainous Alps and the Italian Lake district.
Picture this for a moment and it’s easy to understand the watershed influence the Alps have on this wine-growing region.
The vineyards that stretch southeast through Lombardy, Veneto, and into Emilia Romagna benefit from a built-in irrigation system the way Mother Nature intended.
Like a fringe of fluffy white fur adorning the top of Italy’s boot, it’s also easy to imagine why this part of Italy is famous for its winter activities, including famous European Christmas markets.
In fact, Bolzano has the largest Christmas market in Italy. The Bolzano Mercatini is why the city is known as the Italian Capital of Christmas!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Northern Italy Food Culture
Bolzano and South Tyrol are more European than Italian. Talk with any local and they’ll describe themselves as German-speaking Italians, though English is also widely-spoken in urban centers.
This unique culture makes Bolzano an excellent year round destination. Summertime is verdant and green, with mountain meadows blanketed with natural herbs and flowers.
Local mountain huts are strewn together by a network of hiking trails which give you the most amazing vistas up close.
Winter is an outdoor-lovers paradise with ski resorts in full swing and winter hiking a popular sport.
All of these influences play a part in the type of food you’ll find in South Tyrol — fresh seasonal offerings in warmer months; lots of hearty fare heavy with meats and cheeses and weighty pastas and dumplings that linger in your tummy a while to keep you warm, and sleepy, in the wintertime.
Wash it all down with a cold beer or crisp local white wine, and you have yourself a good afternoon in South Tyrol.
It may not be the typical Italian food you’re used to or looking for in Italy, but in many ways, it’s even more exciting.
It truly is a great place to visit in Italy for foodies as the food variations are so distinct through the seasons, and the Germanic influence on the food brings a real multi-cultural feel to this city.
So where are our favorite restaurants in Bolzano? There are several excellent choices to try that range from casual fare to upscale and modern.
Most of the restaurants we list here offer traditional, local food even if some do add a creative twist. From small bakeries and pasticceria to a Michelin bib gourmand eatery, these 10 Bolzano restaurants are some of the best in the city.
8 Must-Try Bolzano Restaurants
1. Cavallino Bianco Bolzano
Via dei Bottai, 6, 39100 Bolzano
This comfortable restaurant is bustling with activity most any time of day, and despite its spaciousness, the restaurants features lots of smaller rooms you’ll see if they seat you way in the back — which was fine with us, as it gave us a good chance to see not only the different rooms but the delicious meals at each as well.
The food at Cavallino Bianco is very traditional and filling, but there are plenty of offerings if all you want is lighter fare.
Don’t miss the Canaderlo with speck in brodo, or the fresh smoked ham (carré di maiale affumicato) with sauerkraut and potato salad.
2. Cafe Monika
Via Goethe, 13, 39100 Bolzano
This spacious coffee house/pasticceria in a quiet part of the town’s historic center is perfect for something sweet or savory any time of day.
Grab a drink at the bar, or opt for a table — there are two floors and outdoor dining overlooking the busy pedestrian street or a pretty little garden.
The business is owned by Monika though it was her great-grandparents who owned the building which was destroyed by bombs in WWII.
This interesting history makes you appreciate a relaxing afternoon savoring some of the house specialties of the quiet square not far from Piazza Walther.
3. Restaurant Laurin
Laurinstraße, 4, 39100 Bolzano
You don’t have to be a guest of the Parkhotel Laurin to enjoy Restaurant Laurin at this beautiful and historic hotel. It’s worth a visit for any occasion with original art nouveau decor that’s beguiles as you arrive at your table.
During the season, their truffle dishes are a favorite, with weight sold by the kilo depending on how much you have them shave on top of your entree.
So pay attention— it’s easy to become mesmerized by the shaving action and you could end up spending a fortune for your pasta!
The cuisine is fresh and innovative, if somewhat over the top with technique — the light and airy sweet dessert molecules (the only word I can find to describe them) that topped my ice-cream dessert seemed to evaporate in my mouth. It was heavenly.
Parkhotel also has the more exclusive ConTanima restaurant onsite, which offers a unique experience for all senses.
The food philosophy here is based on fresh, seasonal products sourced from attentive local producers and small businesses in South Tyrol, Tuscany, Veneto and Austria.
Where to Stay in Bolzano?
You guessed it — our favorite place to stay in Bolzano is the historic Parkhotel Laurin for its exceptional accommodations, service, and dining. It’s hard to find fault with the level of service here.
And bonus, the comfortable wood-paneled Bar Laurin is the perfect respite at the day’s end to unwind with a classic cocktail made by bartenders who know their craft. Overall, a great hotel in Bolzano!
4. Osteria Dai Carrettai
Via Dr. Josef Streiter, 20/B, 39100 Bolzano
If you’re looking for a local foodie experience, Osteria Dai Carrettai is worth a visit, especially for lunch or afternoon snack.
This is the place to come for the small plate offerings and cicchetti you’d find in Venice, or the open-faced sandwiches we savored in Austria, or the tapas you’ve likely tried in Spain.
Order a few bites from the waiter’s tray if you can grab him before they’re gone, or from the bar.
It’s delicious and casual, and nibbling on these small bites with a glass of local wine is the best way to savor Bolzano.
5. Peter Pasticceria
Piazza delle Erbe, 20, 39100 Bolzano
If you’re dying to try the local pastry in South Tyrol, we highly recommend Peter Pasticceria for homemade cakes, tortes, and strudels.
Their carrot cake and apple strudel are especially delicious, and they also have decadent little homemade chocolates to try there or take with you.
Or you could really take ANY of these decadent desserts with you with a fork and eat as you stroll the town.
6. Vögele
Via Goethe, 3, 39100 Bolzano
Want to try a Michelin rated restaurant in Bolzano but don’t want the fuss or expense? Vögele is the perfect place.
It may not have a Michelin star, but rather it’s a Michelin bib gourmand, which are restaurants that Michelin deems a good value.
What does that mean to you — what is “a good value”? It refers to restaurants where you can get two courses and a glass of wine or a dessert for around $40 or less, excluding tax and tip.
And a good value it is! The food is so traditional, but with unique offerings you’ve probably never eaten before in German or Austrian cuisine. The blending of Italian and German cultures is evident in the food at Vögele.
The restaurant is casual so you could pop in off the street at off-times of the day, and if you can score a table you’d feel dressed appropriately.
But you’ll need reservations for lunch or dinner during peak hours as it’s truly one of the best restaurants in Bolzano, and favorite among locals, which is always a good sign.
7. Grandi Bakery
Via dei Bottai, 18, 39100 Bolzano
This casual walk-in bakery is definitely a know-what-you-want-going-in kind of place, because there’s often a line of patrons clamoring to order.
It’s one of the best bakeries in the city with fresh baked goods like croissants, baguette, and crusty seeded rolls that go well with a cappuccino or coffee.
From pastries to small savory pizzas and other bites, this is a great place to stop in when you’re out exploring Bolzano. Grandi always satisfies.
8. Hopfen & Co.
Piazza delle Erbe, 17, 39100 Bolzano
If you’re shopping the local Mercado delle Erbe off the city center, be sure and stop in Hopfen & Co. for lunch.
You can’t miss it — the bright yellow building is on the corner of the market street and in the winter the facade is adorned all over with red wrapped Christmas packages.
It’s cozy inside and the food is hearty and very good, from the schnitzel to the traditional gulash. For something more unique to the bar, try the "Maccheroni alla birraia" (wirtshausnudeln in German).
It may look like a typical pasta dish in Italy, but the bacon and locally-made cheese puts it over the top!
And don’t forget to order the apfelstrudel for dessert!
What Bolzano restaurants did we miss?
Bolzano is filled with lots of great restaurants for every budget and taste. We hope this gave you 10 good ideas for where to eat in Bolzano, or at least where to begin!