21 of the best Lake Como restaurants

While the best restaurants in Lake Como are well and truly excellent, food is rarely the first thing that comes to mind when planning a visit here – even though it is, after all, in Italy. Travellers flock to Lake Como for the cinematic vistas, blooming botanical gardens, stately villas rising from the water’s edge, leisurely boat rides and the occasional beach day. But it would be a shame to overlook the unsung local cuisine: la cucina lariana, rooted in Lombard tradition and shaped by the surroundings.

Most seasoned travellers know what to order in Rome, Bologna and Florence: cacio e pepe, tagliatelle with ragù and bistecca alla fiorentina. But Lake Como remains somewhat of a culinary blind spot. Few, if any, visitors know which specialities to seek out, so eating well can be tricky, leaving them vulnerable to tourist traps that lure passers-by with familiar but uninspired dishes.

The lake and its hinterland preserve a bountiful pantry: freshwater fish, alpine cheeses, polenta, olive oil, herbs and locally raised meats, poultry and game – all tied to a long tradition of hearty cooking. Over the past decade, a wave of innovative chefs has started reinterpreting these ingredients with creativity and confidence, elevating the dining scene and boosting its popularity among food-savvy Italians. Amid this culinary evolution, though, unfussy homestyle cooking continues to endure alongside the refined kitchens. From traditional fish taverns to no-frills panoramic eateries to fine dining establishments, try this mix of the best Lake Como restaurants.

Brillo Osteria

Brillo Osteria has quickly become one of Como’s most vibrant dining spots, tucked just beyond the walls of the city’s medieval historic centre. The restaurant blends the warmth of a traditional osteria with a contemporary sensibility, recalling the enoteche con cucine (wine bars with kitchens) that are shaping Milan’s contemporary dining scene. Canadian chef Joachim Hayward’s menu changes daily and spans roughly 20 dishes that revisit Italian tradition: cutlet-sized Roman-style fried gnoccho with greens and jalapeno mayonnaise; roasted squash with broccoli rabe, gorgonzola and hazelnuts; strascinati pasta with ossobuco ragù and porcini mushrooms and octopus with chickpea cream and ‘nduja. Graphic art decorates the walls; a plush sofa is tucked into the back corner, flanked by a rustic wood credenza topped with a vinyl turntable and bottles of natural wine line the shelves, with eight to ten available by the glass and listed on a chalkboard. Drop by for an aperitivo and a light bite or settle in for dinner.

Address Via dei Partigiani, 4, 22100 Como CO, Italy
Website instagram.com/brillo.osteria

Ittiturismo Ristorante Mella

When in Lake Como, feasting on lake fish is essential, and one of the finest places to partake is Ittiturismo Ristorante Mella. Owned by local fisherman Alessandro Sala and his family, the ittiturismo (a fish-tourism concept) is situated in the fishing village of San Giovanni, just a 15-minute walk from Bellagio. The menu is crafted around Alessandro’s daily catch, and the warm, familial atmosphere feels like a visit to someone’s home. Rice with pesce persico (perch fish), missoltini (dried lake shad) with polenta, a mixed fish fry and fresh pasta with lake fish ragù are among the classic preparations. There’s also a concise non-fish menu that’s primarily meat-based, featuring sous-vide beef in gin sauce with polenta, alongside a few vegetarian options, such as risotto with squash and zincarlin, a local cheese. The lake fish tasting, which runs from €32 to €42, lets patrons experience the full range. Footsteps from the water, the restaurant is one part of the family’s ittiturismo. Guests can combine a one- or two-night stay with a fixed-price tasting menu for two.