Frosch Restaurant

The story

Frosch Restaurant in Cavalese, Italy – Contemporary Italian Dining

Frosch Restaurant

In the sunlit hamlet of Varena, at the foot of the Corno Nero, Frosch Restaurant occupies a carefully restored building where ancient wood and stone tell the story of the valley. The dining room looks out onto a medieval church and the Lagorai mountain range, while the murmur of porfido fountains sets a quiet, unhurried tone.

Chef Sara Bertocchi brings a distinctive path to her cooking. Born in Milan in 1973, she spent years working with rare pigments and artists’ colours before turning to cuisine in 2010. Under the guidance of Massimiliano Aresi, a disciple of Gualtiero Marchesi, she learned precision cooking, respect for ingredients, and the balance between tradition and innovation. Her travels through Paris, London, and New York are translated into plates that weave local products with international influences, always following the rhythm of the seasons.

In April 2024, Sara was joined by chef patron Fabrizio Molteni, whose career includes a decade at the legendary Albereta and a Michelin star at La Speranzina. Together, they craft a contemporary Italian menu that honours the purity of the raw material.

The front of house is led by sommelier Giulia Valtorta, whose wine list spans the best of Trentino-Alto Adige and beyond, with a focus on natural producers and small vignerons. She also bakes the bread, grissini, and focaccia daily, and prepares the petite fours that close each meal. Katia Valtorta manages an extensive spirits selection with a passion for gin, and tends the organic vegetable garden, where cold-resistant varieties and forgotten crops are cultivated, supplemented by hydroponic flowers and shoots in winter.

Frosch’s recognition in the Michelin guide as Recommended for 2026 reflects the quiet ambition of this mountain restaurant. The kitchen’s contemporary Italian cooking is grounded in a deep understanding of the land and a refusal to cut corners. It is a place where the season, the view, and the plate are in alignment.