Restaurants in Lake Como

This gem of a place—opened in mid-2013 by chef Paolo Arrigoni, who made his name at high-profile restaurants in Milan—is one that we really hope will stick around. Tucked inside a castle-like stone palazzo in the village of Mezzegra, Antica Trattoria del Risorgimento is a bit…

There are fancier places to eat in Varenna, but almost everyone who visits the picturesque village would agree that some of their most memorable eating—and especially drinking—wasn't at a traditional restaurant but at this lively lakefront café. Bar Il Molo offers a ton of…

In business since 1887, the traditional Barchetta is a great option for a cozy, unpretentious meal in Bellagio. Although there are no lake views here, the setting is lovely. In the midst of the stepped-stone alleys of Lake Como's best-known town, Barchetta offers dining…

There are several touristy restaurants on Como’s gorgeous Piazza del Duomo, all in a row and fairly interchangeable, but Da Pietro has long had the edge for friendliness and smooth service. It’s a perfect family pitstop for a lunch of decently cooked pasta or vast, crisp pizzas. You…

This panoramic, rustic spot in the hills above Tremezzo is a meat-lover's paradise. You'll find game, steak, and lakefish—but not a single pasta dish on the menu. (Although fear not, carb fans, you can order polenta.) Family-run and intimate, La Fagurida serves traditional…

La Polenteria’s menu beautifully highlights whatever is in season—in fall, perhaps chestnuts and chocolate (used to flavor the fresh pasta) or porcini mushrooms, or in spring, maybe snails or fish fresh from the lake. Vegetarians, however, may have a hard time here beyond the polenta…

Tucked away on a tiny street off of medieval Piazza San Fedele in the centro storico, this cozy little stone-walled locanda serves artfully presented seafood dishes and regional specialties—including typical dishes from the nearby mountains—as well as crispy pizzas. Try the “red…

Off the beaten track, in a residential neighborhood of Tremezzo about a 15-minute walk from the waterfront, this unassuming pizzeria is a place where you can find some wonderful local flavor. Local flavor as in: a friendly mom-and-pop atmosphere, and   most of the herbs and…

There’s not a prettier spot on the whole of Lake Como than this geranium-filled terrace belonging to the Hotel Excelsior Splendide. Perched over the shimmering waters of the lake, the restaurant concentrates on good local dishes, from polentas and pasta to giant prawns sizzled in…

If you're looking for generous portions of traditional Italian cuisine in a charming setting in the heart of Bellagio, and you don't need lake views to go with it, Trattoria San Giacomo is a great choice. Set at the base of a broad flight of cobblestone stairs, this…