The historic Palazzo Wimmer in Gardone Riviera is preparing to open its doors to an exclusive fine dining experience. Following the launch of the Massari family’s enogastronomic project, the upper floor of the monumental building will host a new gastronomic restaurant led by the acclaimed chef Alessandro Proietti Refrigeri.
A Michelin-Starred Journey to Lake Garda
Born in Rome in 1988, Chef Proietti Refrigeri brings a wealth of international and high-level culinary experience to the shores of Lake Garda. He earned his first Michelin star in 2019 at Villa Naj in Stradella and a second one in 2023 at La Coldana in Lodi. His impressive career also includes tenures as a sous chef at Noma in Copenhagen and at La Pergola in Rome alongside Heinz Beck. The menu at Palazzo Wimmer will blend Italian traditions with distinct nods to the Garda territory and Brescian culinary heritage.
The 25-Year Concession of Palazzo Wimmer
This new culinary venture is part of a 25-year concession granted by the Municipality of Gardone Riviera to the Massari family’s company, involving the master pastry chef Iginio Massari and his children Nicola and Debora. The multi-level building facing the lake will feature the family’s signature pastry shop on the lower level, while the upper floor will accommodate the 40-seat fine dining restaurant.
From Kurhaus to Cinema and Fine Dining
Built in 1909 as a Kurhaus, Palazzo Wimmer served as a place of leisure and entertainment for the international clientele that transformed Gardone into a renowned health resort. Over the decades, it hosted concerts, balls, and even a casino room before becoming a cinema after World War II, which remained operational until 2004. Carefully restored between 2015 and 2021, the Art Nouveau building will officially open to the public between late September and early October 2026. This prestigious opening further elevates the cultural and touristic offering of the town, sitting just a short distance from the monumental Vittoriale degli Italiani.
