Ristorante Vecchia Malcesine — Restaurant in Malcesine

A refined dining experience in the charming village of Malcesine, perched just above Lake Garda with lovely views both over the lake and the picturesque castle framed by a tree-lined path that leads up to the restaurant.

The service was truly attentive throughout the evening. The restaurant offers two tasting menus as well as à la carte options with the flexibility to build a two- or three-course meal and add dessert, which is what I opted for.

The meal began with amuse-bouches: a tomato in trompe-l’œil style that was actually a fish tartare in jelly, and an artichoke-based bite. Both were visually intriguing and pleasant in taste, although they could have been pushed slightly further to truly awaken the palate.

As a starter, I chose homemade tortellini with shrimp and snails, accompanied by pesto. The pasta was excellent — delicate and fresh — and the seafood well-prepared, though the shrimp might have benefitted from a slightly shorter cook for a more tender texture. The pesto had a nice flavor but was a touch oily for my taste.

My main was catfish, served with a broccoli preparation, mushrooms, and a sauce. The fish itself was flavorful but just slightly overcooked, with a firmer texture than ideal. Still, the dish was satisfying and well-executed overall.

Before dessert, a creative pre-dessert in trompe-l’œil style arrived — I recall mandarin among the flavors, and it was a nice and refreshing transition.

For dessert, I selected the “apple” — another visual illusion — composed of various fruit elements. It wasn’t the most memorable in terms of flavor intensity, but it showcased great technical skill and was enjoyable.

To finish, the restaurant offered a selection of biscuits accompanied by a sabayon — a warm, comforting and indulgent finale.

All in all, this is a high-level restaurant with evident culinary craftsmanship. The price point may feel slightly elevated for the overall value, but the Michelin star is certainly justified. The chef briefly came to the dining room to greet guests, which was appreciated, even if the interaction was brief.

One small area for improvement: the restrooms could use higher-end hand towels or cloths instead of simple paper, to better match the overall standard...

This was our first visit to vecchia having wide experience of michelin starred restaurants. The restaurant has a great setting with views of lake garda. The food was in general good with many interesting and innovative dishes. However, the high standard did not apply across the menu. We had the classical menu which was varied and interesting but the snails were over cooked and the petit fours were awful which was a shame as the desserts were excellent. The pasta was indifferent. The staff were friendly and helpful. The atmosphere should have been very good but was ruined by a large party who clearly had no idea how to behave in a restaurant. The staff did their best but were ignored. When we arrived as the restaurant was opening we were left outside in heavy rain despite the staff being aware of our presence. So generally not what we expected and the high priced evening was disappointing. Good job for Vecchia that we were not michelin inspectors. I do not think this restaurant warrants it one...

Booked here as a solo traveller staying in Malcesine for 2 nights. Opted for the 10 course Qcina menu. I wasn't drinking alcohol so the lovely hostess prepared a large glass of a refreshing fruit based drink. Every course was art on a plate and tasted exquisite. There were items I had not tasted before but had every faith in the chef that they would be beautiful. That faith was repaid with wonderful flavours and textures. The bread selection provided with the anchovy butter was again outstanding. The ladies serving made the whole evening an event by explaining all courses and making the experience memorable. They are a credit to the restaurant. The setting, slightly up hill overlooking the lake, perfectly completed what was a memorable evening. Highly recommend a visit to this beautiful restaurant to experience some of the finest food you will find. You will not be...