A Luna Park for the senses, Parkhotel Mondschein

It’s a real pleasure to go out for a good meal, isn’t it? How about a table at the newly opened Luna Restaurant in Bolzano? A retreat in the centre, an Italian feast with international guest performers, a highlight of the Parkhotel Mondschein. Do we want to sit inside under the glass ceiling? Or outside on the terrace with a view of the park?

The Luna Restaurant…

…lies in the centre of Bolzano and yet hidden away.

To get there, you either walk along Bindergasse through one of Bolzano’s gates. Or through the park of the Parkhotel Mondschein. How charming and mysterious.

It is one of the oldest inns in the town. Built around 1320.

For 700 years…

people have been dining here under the still-preserved glass ceiling with its scroll pattern and red tulip-like flowers.

It is elegant and classic here. Italian cuisine is served, as well as international specialities. Meet locals and non-locals. You have a good time. Even alone.

Buongiorno

Start the day with a cappuccino. Would you like today’s newspaper with it? Si, grazie. And a copy of THE Stylemate, per favore.

After frühstückare comes pranzare. And then cenare. Can anyone actually resist handmade pasta? We don’t think so. Followed by fresh fish from the Adriatic coast or meat from the local butcher. And vegetables from Villa Arnica‘s own garden in Lana. What a treat.

ach kommt pranzare. Und dann cenare. Kann jemand eigentlich handgemachter Pasta widerstehen? Wir glauben nicht. Danach noch einen frischen Fisch von der Adriaküste oder ein Fleisch vom lokalen Metzger. Und dazu Gemüse vom hauseigenen Garten der Villa Arnica in Lana. Welch’ ein Genuss.

Che buono!

Mathieu Domagala, a South Tyrolean with French roots, is the head chef at Luna Restaurant. He conjures up sophisticated, authentic dishes from regional ingredients, such as fusilloni with black cabbage and pecorino romano, fillet of local beef with hollandaise sauce or red wine jus, stockfish ‘alla ghiotta’ with tomatoes, Taggiasca olives and sultanas. And of course there is tiramisù. Each plate is an attraction that is as exciting as it is unobtrusive. As are the drops in the wine glass. And the soft, warm-hearted Italian music in the background.

Another round?

Si! Finally, we make a detour to the Luna Bar. For a Negroni. Or two. A presto!

photos: Letizia Cigliutti