An upscale restaurant inside Gubbio's Park Hotel ai Cappuccini, a converted 17th-century monastery. A seasonal Umbrian tasting menu with truffle and game offers a formal alternative to the central trattorie.
Nicolao is the fine-dining restaurant of the Park Hotel ai Cappuccini in Gubbio, a luxury hotel set in a converted 17th-century monastery on Via Tifernate, a short way below the medieval centre. It offers a more formal, hotel-restaurant alternative to the trattorie of the old town, with the polish and quiet comfort of its grand setting - cloistered architecture, manicured grounds and a serene dining room. The kitchen builds a seasonal Umbrian tasting menu around the region's defining ingredients, with black truffle from the surrounding hills and local game recurring through the year, alongside refined pasta and produce-led plates. Cooking is precise and contemporary while remaining rooted in Umbria, and presentation reflects the restaurant's upscale position. The dining room is calm, spacious and quietly formal, suited to an unhurried, special-occasion dinner; noise level is gentle and dress is smart. The wine list is extensive, with strong Umbrian representation - Sagrantino, Grechetto, Montefalco reds - and broader Italian and international labels, supported by attentive sommelier-style service. Nicolao typically serves dinner, roughly 7:30PM to 10PM. Prices sit at the top of Gubbio's spectrum, the highest bracket in this guide, reflecting the hotel-restaurant setting and the tasting-menu format. Because it is a destination dining room within a luxury hotel, reservations are recommended, especially for non-residents, weekends and holiday periods; hotel guests have the convenience of dining in-house. The autumn and winter truffle season is the ideal moment to visit for the tasting menu at its richest. Diners seeking a refined, leisurely evening with a sense of occasion - rather than the bustle of a central trattoria - will find Nicolao the natural choice in Gubbio.
Signature dishes
- Seasonal Umbrian tasting menu
- Truffle dishes
- Game
Good to know
- Known for
- Refined Umbrian; known for seasonal Umbrian tasting menu
- Hours
- Typically dinner approx 7:30PM-10PM
- Reservations
- Recommended
Location
Via Tifernate, 06024 Gubbio PG, Italy
43.3585, 12.5760 View on map
Highlights
- Fine dining inside a converted 17th-century monastery hotel
- Seasonal Umbrian tasting menu built on truffle and game
- Refined, produce-led contemporary cooking
- Serene, quietly formal dining room with cloistered grounds
- Extensive Umbrian and Italian wine list with attentive service
Tips for visiting
- Reserve ahead, especially as a non-resident and for weekends or holiday periods.
- Visit in autumn or winter for the truffle-rich tasting menu at its best.
- Choose the tasting menu to see the full range of the kitchen.
- This is the top price bracket in Gubbio - come for a special-occasion dinner.
- Dress smart; the room is quietly formal.
When to visit
Autumn and winter bring truffle and game to the tasting menu at their richest. Dinner is the main service, so reserve an evening table ahead.
Accessibility
As part of a luxury hotel in a converted monastery, the restaurant is more likely than central trattorie to offer step-free access and adapted facilities, but the historic building has some level changes. Contacting the hotel ahead to confirm specific needs is recommended.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nicolao?
It is the fine-dining restaurant of the Park Hotel ai Cappuccini, a luxury hotel in a converted 17th-century monastery just below Gubbio's medieval centre.
What does it serve?
A seasonal Umbrian tasting menu built around black truffle, local game and refined, produce-led plates.
Can non-guests dine there?
Yes, though reservations are recommended for non-residents, especially on weekends and during holiday periods.
Is it expensive?
Yes, it sits at the top of Gubbio's price spectrum, reflecting the hotel-restaurant setting and tasting-menu format.