Osteria del Teatro

In the heart of the village of Isola Bella, just a few steps from the more secluded exit of the gardens of Palazzo Borromeo, on the side of the Elisa greenhouse, stands the new Osteria del Teatro.

The restaurant overlooks a small, intimate square called Piazza del Teatro, named after the theatre of the Palace on Isola Bella, commissioned by Vitaliano VI Borromeo in 1665. It was a private place of culture, considered at the time one of the most distinguished by the Lombard aristocracy. It is said that right in front of today’s osteria stood the “theatre door”, as the inhabitants of the village called it, through which one could access either the stalls or the stage.

Today, that intimate atmosphere can be found in the completely renovated Osteria, which offers a menu designed for true pasta lovers. The concept is authentic Italian cuisine: four pasta shapes — tagliatelle, maccheroncini, gnocchi and taglioline — paired with traditional sauces and served directly in pans. Although pasta first courses are the speciality, the menu also includes platters, salads and delicious desserts. To accompany the dishes and small bites, there is a wine list with a wide selection of labels, as well as beers and aperitifs.

The setting is defined by an essential style, with milk-coloured tables and red-and-white striped napkins that welcome guests with exquisite simplicity.