The food festival was part of a press trip with Visit Trentino, but, as always, everything written here reflects only my personal thoughts and opinions.
When the summer tourists have packed their swimsuits and the mountains around Lake Garda have been powdered with the first layer of autumn snow, Riva del Garda reveals its gastronomic side. In Trentino, autumn is the beginning of a different kind of pleasure. We are talking about The month of taste - Mese del Gusto. Under Mese del Gusto Around twenty food festivals gather on Lake Garda, spread out from late September to early November. It is a way to experience the local cuisine, traditions and gastronomy of the entire region through tasting menus, markets and guided tours.
I visited Riva del Garda during the fish festival Festival del Pesce d'Acqua Dolce, which leaves you wanting more to experience even more of the region's gastronomy.
The events within Mese del Gusto are spread around the towns of Riva del Garda, Arco and Torbole. The events have different touches, but the common thread is that you try and enjoy what is currently being harvested and experience the local cuisine. Often dishes and menus are served that only exist during these weeks and are created specifically for the festival. The flavors can be prepared by Michelin chefs, but it doesn't have to be fancy. The important thing is that you meet, eat well and have a good time.
Mese del Gusto has become a big favorite in the area for both locals and tourists and the festival celebrated its third year in 2025. Exact content for the year may vary, but there are usually around 20 different events in the area around Riva del Garda.
Two evenings with freshwater fish – Festival del Pesce d'Acqua Dolce
During my visit to Riva del Garda the first week of October during Mese del Gusto, I got to experience Festival del Pesce d'Acqua Dolce– a tribute to freshwater fish. Over two evenings I got to taste the breadth of Lake Garda and the surrounding alpine lakes' range of different fish, most of which are species that I don't even associate with lakes. Did you know that there are sardines in Lake Garda? A legacy from the time when Lake Garda was connected to the sea.
First evening – Creek & Chic at Palazzo Martini
My introduction to the food month began elegantly in a palace. In Palazzo Martini in the center of Riva del Garda, we were greeted by the event "Creek & Chic” – an aperitivo event with clear gastronomic ambition. Chef Stefano Rossi from Lido Palace had created a menu of small tapas based on local freshwater fish, with everything from smoked char with Jerusalem artichoke mousse to grilled pike in a “lobster roll” with pickled cucumber. For vegetarians there was a pumpkin pie with pecorino and truffles and for dessert a fruit cake. A cocktail menu had been created to accompany these dishes, where a unique drink was recommended for each dish.
The concept of the event itself was that for your booking you get a number of coupons, which you then redeem for the different snacks and drinks based on your taste and preference. If you like a dish a little extra, you can choose to just eat that dish. If you don't like another dish, you skip it. Free choice according to taste. Personally, I tried everything I could try. The sushi was really good. The "Lobster roll" on pike was incredible. The only thing I could have changed for something else was probably the dessert, but that was mostly because I'm generally not a fan of fruit cakes.
The DJ played nice music and the glasses clinked. Conversations flowed between the tables in the beautiful rooms. A very well-organized and enjoyable event!
Read more about Stafano Rossi's cooking here: Discover pasta bliss at Lake Garda – On a cooking class in Italy with Stefano Rossi
Second evening – Lake Zen
My second gastronomic evening began as dusk fell over the water and Andrea De Lillo (from the Michelin restaurant Nin) and Giada Miori (from restaurant The Casina) cooked at Spiaggia degli Olivi in the port of Riva del Garda. Here in the pavilion by the lake, Asian cuisine and local fish met in an inspiring way. Sashimi, ramen, yakitori, tataki and bao – Asian with an Italian local twist, simply put.
The concept during the evening's dinner was finger food and here too we bought food vouchers for the four different stations. The best were undoubtedly the tataki and the ramen. The most interesting was the yakitori, which in addition to pike with pumpkin also had skewers with marinated entrails from trout and fried small fish with shiitake. The sashimi was a bonus dish, with large, lovely slices of fresh fish.
Unlike the event at Palazzo Martini which ended at 22pm, Lake Zen ended at 20pm, so you could proceed to your dinner reservation afterwards. A nice event with ambitious chefs!
More food and taste experiences during Mese del Gusto
I would have loved to have stayed longer and experienced more of the area's delicacies and food festivals. In particular, I would have liked to have visited the open olive presses, tasted Bleggio walnut products and perhaps even visited the potato festival – because how often do potatoes get to play the lead role at a festival?
To see this year's upcoming activities and events as they are presented, read more at: Mese del Gusto: a gala of flavor in Garda Trentino.
Festival del Pesce d'Acqua Dolce – Freshwater Fish Festival
Riva del Garda, Arco and Torbole
A celebration of all the fish from the area's lakes and waterways, the program mixes innovative dishes with classic Garda flavors in delicious venues.
Frantoi Aperti – Open olive presses
Riva del Garda / Arco
During these two days, the region's olive presses, including Frantoio di Riva, Madonna delle Vittorie and Maso Bòtes, will open their doors, offering olive oil tastings, olive grove walks and visits to the oil presses.
Read more about my hike in the olive groves around Arco here: The Olive Trail in Arco – A taste of Italy on the edge of the Alps.
Festa della Zucca e degli Ortaggi Invernali
The donkey
Pumpkins take center stage during the festival's two days filled with activities, workshops and food experiences. Here, the autumn vegetable shows its breadth – from rustic home cooking to more creative interpretations.
Milk Festival – Festa del Latte
Fiavè
Milk and cheese are celebrated in Fiavè, where farms and restaurants collaborate to tell the story of traditions and taste experiences of fresh milk.
Lomaso Potato Festival
Comano Terme
A two-day festival that focuses specifically on local potatoes grown at high altitudes using natural methods. The potatoes are celebrated through food experiences and guided tours.
Reboro, Territory & Passion
Vezzano
Wine is a big part of the area's culture and identity. The Reboro wine is created from Rebo grapes that are dried and then aged for three years in oak barrels. A wine with a lot of elegance, body and structure. During the two days, wine tastings, wine walks and gourmet dinners are offered.
Maroni in Festa – The Chestnut Festival
Drena
The Chestnut Festival in Drena celebrates the typical fruit of autumn – the Drena chestnut – with colorfully decorated streets, music, workshops and food experiences over two days.
Walnut Festival – Festa della Noce
Cavrasto (Bleggio Superiore)
The Festa della Noce in Cavrasto transforms the village into a large food and wine community where visitors can discover local products based on the Bleggio walnut, such as cookies, bread, nocino liqueur and walnut salami. The event offers tastings, guided walks and craft workshops for both children and adults.
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