I spent a long weekend spring skiing and doing a bit of rock climbing in Madonna di Campiglio in late March. Based on some recommendations from friends native to the area, here’s where to eat in Madonna di Campiglio.
Summary of where to eat in Madonna di Campiglio
- Ristorante Le Roi
- Ristorante Zanolini
- El Volt de Baita
- Ristorante Pizzeria al Pappagallo
- Chalet Spinale
- Ristorante Alfiero
- Hotel Cristal Palace
Ristorante Le Roi
Ristorante Le Roi is known for a casual atmosphere, risotto and pizza. It also seems to be one of the most popular places to eat in Madonna di Campiglio. In addition to it being the first to pop up on Google Maps, the concierge at our hotel recommended it as well as some local friends.
The first night we tried to pop in around 8 pm and it was fully booked, so we reserved for the following night. After aprés ski we were ravenous, and the place was buzzing with atmosphere.
We tried the mushroom risotto to start, which they graciously split between two dishes for us. This was my favorite part of the meal, so creamy and satisfying. We each ordered a pizza next.
I had the pizza primavera with prosciutto, arugula, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and tomato sauce. Julie had the spicy salame. We were so full after the risotto that we weren’t able to finish our pizzas but we took them home to enjoy the next day. I’d recommend getting a simpler pizza than the one I got, but if you like toppings, it was loaded with them!
Ristorante Zanolini
Of the restaurants we visited, Ristorante Zanolini was the most upscale. It is located in a 4-star hotel in town, Chalet All’imperatore. Despite this, the prices for some dishes were even more affordable than the casual spots in town. I think this was our favorite meal. We started with complimentary sparkling wine and an enormous assortment of bread and olive oil. The focaccia was the best of the lot.
Next, we ordered a half liter of the house white wine, a zuppa di orzo, barley soup native to the region and an eggplant parmigiana. The soup was a bit bland and the eggplant could have been hotter. The main courses made up for this.
I had the spinach gnocchi and Julie had the cacio e pepe with shaved truffle. Both were piping hot and delicious. Despite being terribly full, we split a tiramisu to finish. And to bid farewell, we were surprised with limoncellos.
El Volt de Baita
We went to El Volt de Baita on our first night in Madonna di Campiglio. The waiters were friendly, the food was good and the atmosphere was average. They had an interesting menu with a selection of classic Italian dishes, a heavy focus on fish and meat and strangely enough – sushi.
We stayed away from that and had the vegetable soup and onion soup to start and later two pasta dishes. While mine was good, the spinach dumplings, Julie’s pasta was rather dry.
We heard from friends that El Volt de Baita is known for their meat and fish. So I imagine we ordered the wrong dishes. I’d be willing to go back and try again.
Ristorante Pizzeria al Pappagallo
Ristorante Pizzeria al Pappagallo is perched on a hilltop overlooking the village. A friend and local ski instructor took us there for dinner. It’s his favorite place to go for lunch when he’s in Madonna di Campiglio.
We each ordered a pizza and of all the pizza I had in Campiglio, yes I had quite a few, this was my favorite. It’s a super thin crust, similar to a New York or Roman style pizza. I ordered the porcini mushroom pizza with mozzarella and tomato. A classic with a twist. In addition to pizza a lot of the traditional mountain dishes passing by looked delicious. I would definitely go back again.
Chalet Spinale
And the favorite for last.
The main reason we came to visit our friends in Campiglio was for a birthday party at Chalet Spinale. Chalet Spinale sits in the Dolomite mountains at 2100 meters high. And they’ve got a bit of everything, drinks, lunch, dinner, fine dining and most importantly – private parties and events.
Whether you are skiing or not, you can easily reach Chalet Spinale from a gondola. The views are worth it! Check the website to see which events are being held and head on up.
Secret: I did not actually eat anything at Chalet Spinale. But I sure enjoyed my fair share of Prosecco before skiing down for the evening. If you’re looking for fun vibes, Chalet Spinale is the place to be.
Where else to eat in Madonna di Campiglio
Ristorante Alfiero
Ristorante Alfiero was recommended by lots of friends and ranks top of most lists. Unfortunately they were closed for renovations.
Hotel Cristal Palace
We stayed at Hotel Cristal Palace. It’s perched on a hill just off the main road, making it easy to access the main roads and resorts from there.
But more importantly – the view! The hotel, especially the breakfast room, has an incredible view overlooking the village in the valley below. The mountains envelop the entire village, all around. You can watch skiers skiing directly into town. For that alone, it was worth staying here.
We did not eat dinner there, but the breakfast buffet was really wonderful. It was one of the highlights of our trip. A real 5 star experience. Excellent service, selection and care.
I checked out the menu for dinner and for the full four course menu, the price was only $45. Very fair for a ski resort town.
Even if you decide not to stay there, or can’t make a dinner reservation, I’d recommend visiting the bar for a drink or aperitif. The night we were there there was a live pianist playing for hours.
And that’s it for where to eat in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. Any favorites to add to the list?
