Where to eat in Andalo: the best restaurants chosen by Gambero Rosso

Andalo is considered a family-friendly destination, thanks to numerous dedicated services, starting with the Andalo Life Park, a 100,000-square-metre area offering various sports activities and entertainment options for children. The ACQUAin wellness centre with indoor pools is also located here. The town is part of the Andalo-Paganella ski circuit, boasting 19 lifts and 50 kilometres of slopes, as well as cross-country skiing and sledding trails. Local gastronomy is rich in products found on the table in flavourful and tasty dishes. Here are the 8 best restaurants chosen by Gambero Rosso.

Where to Eat in Andalo: The Best Restaurants

Al Faggio

Trattoria. In the historic centre, an old renovated farmhouse has become one of the most appreciated addresses in the village. Stone vaults, terracotta floors, and rustic wooden furnishings blend well with a culinary proposal closely following tradition, fully satisfying. After starting with typical cured meats, you can enjoy dishes such as pumpkin and speck gnocchi, pappardelle with game ragout, polenta with beef stew, and venison tagliata with berries. To finish, the inevitable strudel with vanilla sauce. A decent selection of wines is also available, with the opportunity to taste by the glass.

Al Faggio – via Fovo, 11 – 0461 585308 – Pagina Facebook 

La Lanterna

Trattoria. Just outside the centre, a valid address for enjoying local cuisine in an informal, warm, and relaxed atmosphere without breaking the bank. On the table, a succession of tasty and flavorful dishes unfolds, such as polenta with goulash, shank or mushrooms, carpaccio of carne salada, canederli in broth, tagliatelle with venison ragout, and platters of cold cuts and cheeses. To end on a sweet note, there's apple strudel and apple-blueberry cake. There's also a decent pizzeria section with local ingredients.

La Lanterna – via Bortolon, 9 – 0461 585761

Lucin – Food & Flower

Bistrot. An out-of-the-ordinary address that combines a flower and plant shop, wine shop, gastronomy, a store of mostly regional sweet and savoury specialty foods, and, last but not least, a dining place where you can order dishes based on traditional but high-quality ingredients. Examples include carne salada carpaccio, Val di Gresta potato gnocchi with veal ragout and chanterelles, deer piccatina in Teroldego sauce, salads, burgers, mixed cheeses, and more. A more than adequate selection of labels is available.

Lucin – Food & Flower – via Crosare, 18 – 351 1876986 – www.lucin.it

Agritur Maso Grezi

Agriturismo. The Maines family has been leading this establishment for three generations, operating as a farm, educational farm, dairy, sales point, and refreshment area. Come here for a sweet or savoury snack, to purchase their own dairy products and cheeses, or, by reservation, to enjoy simple and genuine homemade cuisine. Among the specialties are potato tortel with cured meats and cheeses, pappardelle with game ragout, polenta, canederli, sliced beef with potatoes, and venison stew. Homemade desserts and some good wine complete the picture.

Agritur Maso Grezi – via Laghet, 8/A – 0461 585875 – www.agriturmasogrezi.it

Rifugio Dosson

Restaurant. A modern structure at 1,450 metres, easily accessible thanks to the intermediate stop of the Andalo-Doss Pelà cable car. The splendid panorama, comfort, and good taste of the surroundings are combined with a respectable menu, following tradition but with successful creative touches. Examples include a mix of cold cuts with potato tortel, carne salada carpaccio, purple potato ravioli with veal ragout and chanterelle powder, tagliolini with porcini Trentingrana and rosemary, stewed deer cheek with carrot puree, and herb-roasted lamb with mashed potatoes. Good wine selection.

Rifugio Dosson – località Dosson – 0461 1636246 – www.paganellarifugi.it

Cover photo by a Rifugio Dosson

Rifugio La Roda

Restaurant. At 2,125 metres above sea level, reachable with ski lifts, it is a safe "refuge" managed by the Giovannini family. It offers a magnificent view and a characteristic, very welcoming atmosphere, a worthy setting for typical Trentino cuisine based on quality ingredients. Bread, fresh pasta, preserves, jams, and sweets are all produced on-site. The menu varies based on market availability, but carne salada (excellent), polenta, goulash, game stew, Sacher cake, and strudel are ever-present. House wines are also available.

Rifugio La Roda – Cima Paganella – 340 5841890-348 8939544 – www.laroda.it      

Chalet Tower Pub

Restaurant. This popular establishment has three facets: an evening meeting place with a disco pub, a pizzeria with round pizzas prepared with organic flours and selected toppings (such as the Andalo with smoked Dop buffalo mozzarella, potatoes, Alto Adige Igp speck, and thyme oil), and last but not least, a satisfying restaurant that follows tradition. On the menu, sparkling butter strangolapreti, chestnut ravioli with Igp speck and Puzzone di Moena cheese, braised deer osso buco in Teroldego, Andalo plate (grilled lucanica with Storo polenta, potato tortel, mushrooms, and grilled melted cheese).

Chalet Tower Pub – piazzale Paganella, 6 – 0461 585237 – www.chalettowerpub.it

Zambanini

Gourmet Break. A sales point of the parent company in San Lorenzo Dorsino (TN), this bakery and pastry shop is rightly known for the large number of self-produced delights. Zambanini has been baking about 30 types of bread, with a special mention for those with mullets and Ciuìga (the former is the solid residue obtained from olive pressing, and the latter is a sausage, both part of the tradition). Sweet and savoury cakes (including smacafàm and strudel), biscuits, brioche, krapfen, zelten, and much more are also available.

Zambanini – via Perli, 4 – 340 0928815