This Georgia Italian Restaurant Turns Into A Magical Alpine Christmas Village Every Winter

Every winter, an Italian restaurant swaps its Tuscan vibe for fur throws, twinkling lights, and outdoor igloos. Yes, igloos.

In Georgia.

The holiday pop-up calls itself a cozy mountainside escape. It brings rustic lodge style and festive pasta to a historic town square.

I like how it mixes two dream trips into one dinner.

The Italian side stays strong all year, too. A chef from Florence runs the kitchen, and pasta gets tossed inside a giant cheese wheel right at your table.

Then a gelato cart rolls over for dessert.

An Italian Kitchen Goes Full Ski Lodge When The Weather Turns

Gianni & Mac’s Ristorante Piazza Nostra pulls off a seasonal costume change that’s hard to top. Each winter it becomes The Tipsy Chalet: Snowed In, a mountain-inspired holiday pop-up.

The holiday transformation takes place during the winter season, with exact opening dates announced by the restaurant. That gives you plenty of time to plan a festive night out before the holiday rush gets wild.

The goal is simple and pretty charming. It aims to feel like a European alpine escape, right in the middle of Georgia.

Rustic lodge style takes over the space. Fur throws, twinkling lights, and outdoor igloos set the scene for cold-weather dining.

Those igloos might be the biggest surprise of all. Snow isn’t exactly a sure thing in this part of the South, so the restaurant brings the winter mood itself.

A past version of the pop-up even had an Apres Ski area in the back. The theme clearly gets plenty of love from the team.

Plan ahead if you want the full chalet experience. Seasonal spots like this tend to fill quickly, so booking early makes good sense.

Who knew a ski trip could start with a plate of pasta? You’ll find it at 85 Church St, Marietta, GA 30060, right on Marietta Square.

Holiday Pasta And A Ski Gondola You Can Share

Winter menus usually mean a new soup and a cinnamon candle. The chalet season here goes much further than that.

Festive pasta dishes join the lineup during the pop-up. Handmade pasta already shines at this kitchen, so a holiday spin feels right at home.

Hot chocolate also gets a starring role. Nothing says alpine lodge quite like a warm mug held with both hands.

Then there’s the shareable ski gondola. Yes, a drink served in a ski gondola theme, built for passing around the table.

It’s the kind of detail that turns a regular dinner into a story. Your group chat will probably hear about it before dessert arrives.

My advice is to bring friends who enjoy a little whimsy. Shared items work best with people who don’t guard their plate like treasure.

The seasonal menu changes the whole feel of the evening. You still get real Italian comfort food, just wrapped in a cozy winter bow.

Order something seasonal at least once. Regular favorites will still be waiting in January, but the chalet treats won’t stick around forever.

Santa Has A Dinner Reservation Too

Kids write letters to the North Pole all December. At this restaurant, they can skip the mail and share a meal with the big guy.

Dine with Santa events pop up during the holiday season. The restaurant has hosted seasonal dining events with Santa, with dates and availability varying by year.

Having both lunch and dinner options is a smart move. Little ones with early bedtimes can still join the fun without a meltdown.

Pair Santa with the alpine decor and the whole visit feels like a storybook. It’s easier to believe in snow when fur throws and twinkling lights surround you.

Families also get Italian food that pleases picky eaters and food lovers alike. Wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta make that balance much easier.

A tip for parents: reserve early. Holiday events with Santa usually go fast, and nobody wants to explain a sold-out sign to a hopeful six-year-old.

Bring a camera, or at least a charged phone. Santa photos in a cozy chalet setting beat the mall line any day.

Grown-ups can enjoy the magic too. Nobody checks your age at the cozy factor door.

A Florence Chef And A Local Restaurant Pro Teamed Up

Behind the twinkling lights sits a pretty great partnership. Chef Gianni Betti and Randy Mac McCray co-own Gianni & Mac’s Ristorante.

Chef Betti hails from Florence, Italy. He has opened multiple restaurants across Europe and the United States.

His cooking focuses on heart and family traditions. That means recipes rooted in the kind of meals Italian families have shared for generations.

McCray brings deep local experience to the table. He’s an Atlanta-based restaurateur also connected to Mac’s Chophouse and Mac’s Raw Bar near Marietta Square.

So one partner knows Italy inside and out. The other knows how to run a busy restaurant on this exact Georgia square.

The restaurant opened on January 20, 2025. It’s still young, yet it already earned the Best Italian Restaurant 2025 award from Click360 Awards.

That’s a fast start for any new spot. It also explains why the chalet season feels so polished.

Fun fact: the name Piazza Nostra means our square in Italian. Considering its spot on Marietta Square, the name fits like a well-made glove.

Pasta Gets A Spin Inside A Giant Wheel Of Cheese

Cheese lovers, brace yourselves. Homemade taglierini gets tossed tableside inside a massive hollowed-out wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano.

The pasta swirls around the wheel until it’s coated in rich sauce. It’s dinner and a show without any extra tickets.

This viral cheese wheel experience has become a signature move. It’s easy to see why phones come out the moment the wheel rolls over.

The rest of the pasta menu holds its own, too. Handmade options include Penne Vodka, Carbonara, Pappardelle Bolognese, and several kinds of ravioli.

Wood-fired pizzas round things out. They’re made with heritage dough in an oven built in Italy.

Classic entrees cover the comfort zone well. Chicken or Veal Marsala, Piccata, and Parmigiana all appear, along with seafood like Branzino Al Forno and Chilean Sea Bass Al Forno.

My suggestion is to order the cheese wheel pasta for the table at least once. Watching it happen is half the fun.

After all, how often does your food get a personal performance? Your regular weeknight spaghetti never put on a show like that.

Build Your Own Board At The First Charcuterie Bar On The Square

Gianni & Mac’s proudly calls this Marietta Square’s First Charcuterie Bar. Bragging rights like that deserve a closer look.

Guests can create personalized boards from imported meats and cheeses. Freshly made mozzarella joins the lineup, too.

Seasonal accompaniments add color and contrast to each board. Chef-curated pairings help if you freeze up at too many choices.

The best part is the control. Love salty meats but skip strong cheeses?

Build the board that matches your taste.

Boards are available for dine-in or to-go. That makes them handy for a picnic on the square or a holiday party at home.

A custom board also works well during chalet season. It’s a natural snack to share while sitting under twinkling lights.

Groups especially benefit here. Everyone can pick a favorite, and the board becomes a little edible group project.

Try starting with a board while you decide on dinner. It keeps hungry friends calm and gives the conversation something to chew on, literally.

Fresh mozzarella alone might be worth the stop. Few things beat it when it’s made right there.

Dessert Rolls Right Up To You On A Gelato Cart

Most restaurants hand you a dessert menu and wait. Here, dessert literally comes rolling to your table.

A gelato cart gets wheeled over so you can choose your flavors. Then you pick custom toppings for a finish that’s all yours.

Topping options include caramel balls, chocolate chips, mixed berries, and gummy bears. Kids will spot those gummy bears immediately, and so will plenty of adults.

The cart adds one more bit of tableside theater. Between this and the cheese wheel, your table stays pretty entertained.

Classic Italian sweets are also on the menu. Tiramisu and cannoli give traditional dessert fans a solid choice.

Can’t decide? Splitting a gelato and a cannoli is a perfectly reasonable plan.

Gelato might seem odd in winter, but stay with me. Cold dessert in a cozy chalet setting feels a bit like eating snow, only much tastier.

Save a little room no matter what. Skipping the cart would be like leaving a party right before the cake.

Your sweet tooth will thank you later. Probably loudly.

Velvet Seats And Exposed Brick Set A Trastevere Mood

Inside, the design leans classic with a warm, rustic twist. Hardwood floors run underfoot, while wood and exposed brick accents line the room.

The bar brings a touch of luxury. Its seating features cushioned velvet tops that invite you to stay a while.

The overall goal is a neighborhood bistro feel. Think of a cozy spot in Trastevere, the charming Rome neighborhood famous for its lively streets.

Soft lighting keeps things relaxed. It works for a quiet date night or a happy group celebration.

The sound level stays lively without taking over. You’ll feel the energy, but you can still hear your friend’s big news.

Big street-side windows give the building extra charm. Diners can watch the square go by while twirling pasta.

That warm base explains why the chalet theme works so well. Brick, wood, and soft light already feel halfway to a mountain lodge.

Add fur throws and twinkling lights, and the switch feels natural. The space basically trades its Roman scarf for a cozy ski sweater.

Grab a seat at the bar if you want the velvet experience.

The Biggest Patio Around Comes With A Historic Square View

Location might be this restaurant’s secret weapon.

The square is also known as Glover Park. It’s a busy gathering place surrounded by historic buildings, museums, and theaters.

Festivals, concerts, and markets happen here throughout the year. Dinner can easily turn into a full day out.

Gianni & Mac’s boasts the largest patio in the Marietta Square area. It overlooks the square and a newly developed park.

The patio is built for year-round dining. During chalet season, the outdoor igloos make cold nights feel like part of the adventure.

A practical tip: give yourself extra time for parking. Downtown squares get busy, especially on weekends and holiday evenings.

The restaurant opens daily at 11 AM. The restaurant serves dinner until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, 9:30 PM on Thursdays, and 9 PM from Sunday through Wednesday.

Pair your meal with a stroll around Georgia’s prettiest town squares. Holiday lights and historic storefronts make the perfect dessert walk.

An Italian dinner, an alpine chalet, and a classic Southern square? That’s three trips in one evening.