Must-see restaurants in Lake Como

  • Il Comacino

    Como

    A new venture affiliated with the plush Avenue Hotel, Comacino offers food as theatre, especially if you sit at the chef’s table (technically a couple of…

  • Osteria Sali e Tabacchi

    Lake Como

    Tucked away in the hamlet of Maggiana, signposted 3km uphill from lakeside Mandello del Lario (home to the legendary Moto Guzzi motorcycle manufacturer),…

  • Cascina Respaù

    Como

    Amid the lush greenery high above Como, this small rustic restaurant feels like an idyllic escape from the sometimes maddening crowds along the lake…

  • Osteria del Gallo

    Como

    An ageless osteria (casual tavern) that looks exactly the part. In the wood-lined checker-clothed dining room, wine bottles and other goodies fill the…

  • Trattoria al Porto

    Lake Como

    In the sleepy village of Careno, this charming spot serves up excellent lake fish. When the wind is high, take refuge in the atmospheric stone-walled…

  • Natta Café

    Como

    Atmosphere counts for a lot in this old stone-arched cafe-cum-bistro-cum–wine bar. Add mood lighting, mezzanine tables, and a trance-y music soundtrack to…

  • Ittiturismo da Abate

    Bellagio

    Most dishes at Slow Food–focused Da Abate feature fish that's been caught that day in the lake (the restaurant will only open if they've caught enough),…

  • R37D9K Varenna Caffe, Bistrot. Outdoor restaurant terrace. Varenna, Province of Lecco, Lombardy, Italy, Europe
R37D9K
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    Varenna Caffè Bistrot

    Lake Como

    Should you need ‘una pausa’ while you’re waiting for your Varenna ferry, enter this nouveau-rustic bistro-cafe and peruse the cake case ...

  • Ristorante Silvio

    Bellagio

    Clocking up 100 years of service in 2019, all of them under the same family tutelage, Silvio continues to serve simple lake-to-table food at reasonable…

  • Ristorante da Rino

    Como

    When the (acclaimed) specialities of the house all involve truffles, you know you're onto a good thing. They're all over the menu here, including truffles…

  • Il Cavatappi

    Lake Como

    Set along a narrow pedestrian lane in the upper part of Varenna, Il Cavatappi is an intimate spot with just seven tables set amid arched ceilings and…

  • Enoteca 84

    Como

    Set outside Como's pedestrianised core, Enoteca 84 is a snug local restaurant carrying a well-curated list of local wines. It serves a handful of…

  • Crotto del Sergente

    Como

    Although it's a bit of a trek (4km southeast of Como's centre), the delectable Slow Food cooking at this characterful crotto ('grotto') makes it well…

  • Mystic Burger

    Como

    Come the weekend and you’ll be hard-pressed to squeeze into the grotto-style dining room of this burger joint where young comaschi come to down Baladin…

  • Osteria Quatro Pass

    Lake Como

    Places that don't have a lake view in Varenna are at a distinct disadvantage, which is why this place works just that extra bit harder with the food and…

  • Cavallino

    Lake Como

    Ironically, it's lake-fish specialities that pack the menu at 'the Little Pony', a Slow Food eatery set on Varenna's quay. Among the highlights are…

  • Ristorante Bellavista

    Como

    Ride the funicular up to Brunate to dine in this peaceful historic villa a few steps up from the top station, with great views over the lake. The place is…

  • Castiglioni

    Como

    Going strong since 1958, Castiglioni's wonderful deli has evolved to include an enoteca (wine bar; situated 50m around the corner) and a lunch-only…

  • Sartoria Ciclistica

    Como

    Sartoria is part cafe plying its own coffee beans (backed up by muffins and toasted panini), and part bike store selling cycling paraphernalia – we’re…

  • Agriturismo Giacomino

    Lake Como

    Set 1100m up a mountain and surrounded by pine forests, this delightful agriturismo offers awe-inspiring views of Lago di Mezzola. The delicious country…

  • Pronobis

    Como

    Set in a quiet side-street, this self-styled bottega con ristoro (wine shop with refreshments) serves a quality short menu featuring excellent cold cuts…

  • Hotel Ristorante Vapore

    Lake Como

    At the north end of Torno's lakeside square, this family-run hotel-restaurant has an elegant dining room and an even lovelier lakeside terrace. Both make…

  • Ristorante Sociale

    Como

    A workaday street round the back of the Duomo is an unlikely spot for such a bewitching restaurant. The menu is packed with local meat and lake produce,…

  • Gelateria Ceccato

    Como

    For generations comaschi (Como residents) have turned to Ceccato for their Sunday-afternoon gelato and then embarked on a ritual passeggiata (stroll) with…

  • Ristorante La Vista

    Lake Como

    The fabulous views from the terrace high in Varenna's old town are only half the story at this highly creative restaurant affiliated with the Albergo…

  • Il Pinzimonio

    Como

    Enter via the pizza oven (not literally) into the modern two-level space of Pinzimonio with its casual demeanour and simple Mondrian colour aesthetic. The…

  • Terrazza Barchetta

    Bellagio

    This intimate terrace just above a meeting of laneways in Bellagio's old town is a fine place for a meal. The restaurant has been around since 1887, which…

  • Vecchia Varenna

    Lake Como

    You can't get closer to Lake Como than these 15 or so tables set on a terrace suspended over the water. Which means you can dine on lake fish, duck breast…

  • Osteria Angolo del Silenzio

    Como

    The 'Corner of Silence' lives up to its name with a succession of dining rooms and a fine rear garden. Locals mix with the occasional celeb hoping to pass…

  • Ristorante Antico Pozzo

    Bellagio

    They do the simple things well here – think pizza, pasta and other Italian staples served on an agreeable open courtyard.

  • La Vita è Bella

    Como

    For something a little different, head to this congenial, easy-going spot near Como's waterfront. Famed far and wide for bountiful, creatively topped…

  • Mercato Mercerie di Como

    Como

    Fresh fruit, vegetables and delicacies abound at Como’s food market outside Porta Torre.

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