6 Best Restaurants in The Dolomites, Italy

The more casual little sister to long-standing favorite Vögele serves coffee and croissants for breakfast, plus all manner of focaccia, ice cream and cake, and aperitivo (think stuzzichini, or savory Italian snacks, and Aperol spritz) all day long. The prime spot on bustling Piazza Walther is perfect for people-watching while catching some rays.

Ask locals where they like to dine out, and odds are they'll tell you Vögele, one of the area's oldest inns, where the menu features Tyrolean standards such as canederli (bread dumplings) with speck and venison. The classic wood-paneled dining room on the ground level is often packed, but don't despair—the restaurant has two additional floors.

Locals hold animated conversations over pints of beer in this modern take on a traditional stube. Tasty South Tyrolean specialties include bierspeckknodeln (homemade beer bacon dumplings) and bauerngröstl (beef, onion, and potato fry-up), and there's also a wide menu of salads, pastas, and burgers.  This is a good place for a late bite, as food is served until 1 am most nights (midnight on Sunday).

Fried white würstel (sausage), sauerkraut, and grilled ribs complement the excellent home-brewed Austrian-style pilsner and wheat beer at this bustling pub-restaurant. Hopfen & Co. attracts Bolzano's students, young professionals, and tourists alike.

A spacious, comfortable dining room near Via dei Portici is a dependable favorite with locals and visitors alike. A wide selection of Italian and German dishes are served to large tables of families enjoying their meals together.

Traditional Tyrolean opulence and attentive service set the stage for some of the best food in town. Appetizers might include potato blini with salmon caviar, and marinated artichokes with butter (not to be missed if available); main dishes, such as veal with black-truffle-and-spinach canederli, make use of ingredients from local valleys. This place is popular with local businesspeople.