Solarium Predaia
Solarium Predaia is a restaurant located in the municipality of Predaia in the Non Valley (Val di Non) of Trentino, northern Italy. Set in the southern Alps at an elevation that affords panoramic views, it serves the traditional mountain cuisine of Trentino, a region where Austrian and Italian culinary traditions have long intertwined to produce a distinctive alpine table.
At a glance
- Type
- Alpine restaurant · Trentino mountain cuisine
- Location
- Predaia, Val di Non, Trentino, Italy
- Coordinates
- 46.3264° N, 11.1408° E
- Altitude
- Non Valley upland zone, southern Alps
Overview
Solarium Predaia occupies a position in Predaia, a municipality formed from the merger of several traditional Non Valley communities, in the heart of one of Italy’s most celebrated apple-growing regions. The restaurant draws on the produce of its immediate landscape — mountain cheeses, cured meats, game, freshwater fish, and the famous Golden Delicious and Renetta apples of the Non Valley. Its name references the elevated, sun-facing position typical of alpine architecture designed to maximise light at high latitudes.
History
The Non Valley has been settled since prehistoric times and formed part of the historical County of Tyrol before becoming Italian territory after the First World War. Its food traditions reflect this layered identity: canederli (bread dumplings, cognate with Tyrolean Knödel), polenta, local trout, and aged alpine cheeses are as characteristic as distinctly Italian preparations. Predaia as a unified municipality was created in 2016 through the merger of several neighbouring communities, though settlement in the valley is ancient.
What you see
The restaurant’s setting in a sun-exposed Alpine position means panoramic views of the Non Valley below and the surrounding Dolomite and Rhaetian Alps peaks. The menu typically features seasonal mountain produce: Val di Non apples (IGP-protected) appear in both savoury and dessert preparations, alongside locally cured speck, mountain cheeses, and game in autumn. The architecture is characteristic of Trentino rural building traditions, with timber and stone construction suited to the mountain climate.
Cultural significance
The Non Valley’s apple orchards are among the most productive in Europe and central to Trentino’s agricultural identity, with Val di Non Apples holding IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) status. Restaurants like Solarium Predaia serve as custodians of a culinary tradition that bridges the alpine cultures of Austria and Italy, keeping alive recipes and produce that define this border region’s heritage.
Practical information
- Address
- Predaia, Trento (TN), Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
- Hours
- Check official website for current opening hours and seasonal closures
- Reservations
- Recommended, especially in summer and autumn peak seasons
Getting there
Predaia is accessible by car from Trento (approximately 35 km north via the SS43 Val di Non road) or from the A22 Brenner motorway. The nearest railway station is Mezzocorona on the Trento–Malles line, from which local buses serve the Non Valley communities. Cycling routes along the valley floor are well developed for summer visits.
Sources & resources
- Val di Non: Wikipedia — Val di Non
- Predaia municipality: Wikipedia — Predaia
- Cultural Heritage Online — curated guides to Italy’s food and cultural heritage