Albergo Civico 7

When you dine at Leon D’Oro, you feel as though you’re visiting old friends thanks to the attractive, rustic-style atmosphere, with two elegant dining rooms and a welcoming garden for summer evenings. The cuisine is regional yet also includes fish and seafood, with traditional recipes featuring alongside more modern and creative fare on the menu. There are two tasting options, both dedicated to the sea and water, while the extensive à la carte includes superb delicacies such as marubini pasta with a Marsala reduction and parmesan cheese, and sturgeon au gratin with a Mediterranean battuto, mil

Three-starred since 1996 – a record in Italy – and approaching its centenary, this restaurant is an unmissable landmark for understanding the history of Italian gastronomy. In Runate, a small hamlet in the countryside between Cremona and Mantua, a family osteria of long standing has been transformed into a place of rare elegance and genuine hospitality. In the dining room, Antonio Santini, flanked by his family, welcomes guests with warmth, while in the kitchen a tradition of rigour, sensitivity and continuity is lovingly perpetuated. The interiors, balanced between memory and contemporaneity,

An Italian‑French couple runs this charming villa with a classic atmosphere on the outskirts of Brescia, with some tables set in bay windows overlooking the garden. Miramonti l’Altro has made history in Brescia and Lombardy dining by bringing together diverse gastronomic traditions: chef Philippe Léveillé’s French origins introduce some of the finest ingredients from across the Alps, combined with reinterpretations of classic Italian dishes, including Mediterranean favorites. Not to be missed is the glorious and essential cheese cart, extraordinarily well‑stocked.

A true classic of Italian dining, Esplanade has held its star since 1992 and is so renowned among food lovers that it has become synonymous with Desenzano del Garda itself. Beyond its splendid lakeside setting, separated only by a well-tended garden (the summer terrace is unmissable), the spotlight remains firmly on the cuisine. The menu is among the most extensive and refined in Italy, balanced between meat and fish, rooted in both Italian and local traditions, and always attentive to seasonal ingredients. It is a classic style of cooking, respectful of the past yet nuanced with a modern touc

Having successfully been in business for over 40 years, this restaurant continues to shine for its top-quality traditional cuisine, priding itself, as it has always done, on its love for local specialities. Goose dishes take centre stage on the menu (the area is famous for its goose), alongside an excellent selection of traditional boiled meats all of which are sourced locally. There’s also a good choice of wine, which is skilfully displayed and served from a trolley in the dining room from which wines are served by the glass.

Le Due Colombe boasts a picturesque setting in a charming village in the heart of the Franciacorta region. The main dining room, housed in an old hay barn, boasts stone walls, a ceiling with wooden beams and a parquet floor, all of which add to the intimate and welcoming atmosphere. The fine cuisine celebrated here includes historic dishes that have become classic favourites and which can be chosen from the three tasting menus. A good example is the beef cooked with olive oil and served with polenta: “Nonna” Elvira made this dish in the post-war period and her grandson Stefano follows the same

Situated outside the centre in the equally typical and historic Borgo Trento district, this restaurant has all the warm ambience and character that you would expect of a traditional trattoria. The regional cuisine includes a remarkable array of charcuterie, as well as dishes such as tripe in Brescia-style broth, beef in olive oil and the typical local bocciolo di rosa dessert with zabaglione ice-cream.