WHERE TO EAT LAKE COMO

The Best Places to Eat in Lake Como Right Now

Lake Como doesn’t demand attention — it earns it, slowly. And its food scene is much the same. Beyond the postcard-perfect views and opulent villas lies a culinary culture rooted in simplicity, seasonality, and a deep reverence for quality. Whether you’re sipping cold white wine at a dockside table or sharing hand-rolled pasta in a restored stone house, the best dining here isn’t flashy — it’s thoughtful.

Here are four of the most beautiful, considered places to eat in Como right now.

Locanda La Tirlindana

A Hidden Gem in Sala Comacina

Tucked away in the tiny, peach-toned piazza of Sala Comacina, on the quieter western shore of Lake Como, Locanda La Tirlindana feels like a secret passed between friends. There’s no loud signage, no glossy façade — just a scattering of linen-draped tables under wisteria, overlooking the glassy lake and the tiny island of Comacina beyond.

This is the kind of place where time stretches. Where lunch drifts into late afternoon. The setting is pure cinematic romance, but the food is the real draw: simple, elegant and utterly faithful to the region.

The standout dish — tagliolini al limone — is as iconic as the setting itself. Delicate, zesty, impossibly fresh. Paired with a crisp glass of Lugana and a bowl of grilled lake fish, it’s the sort of meal that stays with you long after the last spoon of tiramisu is gone.

Inside, the interiors echo the outside world: whitewashed walls, soft stone, and windows thrown wide to let the breeze in. It’s unfussy, authentic, and deeply charming.

Locanda La Tirlindana is not about reinvention — it’s about preservation. Of recipes, of rhythm, of a way of dining that honours slowness. Come by boat if you can, or wander down through the village’s narrow lanes. Either way, arrive hungry and unhurried.

Locanda La Tirlindana, Piazza Matteotti 5, Sala Comacina

Open for lunch only. Reservations recommended.

Try: Lemon tagliolini, lake fish, tiramisu.

Instagram: @locandalatirlindana

La Darsena

Waterside Dining in the Heart of Tremezzo

If there’s one place on Lake Como that captures the art of slow dining — sun warm on your shoulders, wine glass sweating gently in hand — it’s La Darsena in Tremezzo. Perched right on the lake, with a dining terrace that floats just above the water, this elegant restaurant offers more than just a table with a view. It offers a moment — unhurried, quietly luxurious, and deeply rooted in place.

From the outside, La Darsena is classically Como: soft stucco, shuttered windows, light dancing on stone. Inside, the design is clean and contemporary — polished wood floors, neutral tones, large windows that frame the lake like a painting. But it’s the terrace that steals the show. Here, tables are set right against the water’s edge, boats drifting past, with the mountains rising quietly in the distance.

The menu blends tradition and refinement with just enough modernity. Fresh lake fish appears often — simply grilled or paired with citrus and herbs — alongside handmade pasta, delicate seafood, and produce sourced from the surrounding hills. The plating is elegant without being fussy. The flavours are balanced, bright, and seasonal.

Wine is carefully chosen, service is discreet yet warm, and everything moves at the rhythm of the lake — gently, without urgency.

Whether you arrive for a long lunch or a sunset dinner, La Darsena offers the kind of setting and simplicity that turns a meal into a memory.

La Darsena, Via Regina 3, Tremezzo

Lunch and dinner daily. Terrace tables book quickly.

Try: Homemade scialatielli with clams, grilled lake
trout, Amalfi lemon sorbet.

Website: ladarsena.it

Il Sereno Al Lago

Contemporary Calm on the Water’s
Edge

Minimalism meets mountains at Il Sereno Al Lago, the signature restaurant inside Lake Como’s most architecturally striking hotel, Il Sereno. Located on the peaceful eastern shore in Torno, this lakeside dining destination is a masterclass in considered design, seasonal produce, and unshowy excellence.

Unlike the grand villas and frescoed ceilings that often define Como’s dining scene, Il Sereno Al Lago feels distinctly modern — not cold, but calm. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, the space is a blend of natural textures, soft tones, and vast panes of glass that allow the lake to take
centre stage. The atmosphere is hushed, refined, and effortlessly elegant —like slipping into a silk shirt after a swim.

Chef Raffaele Lenzi brings a light, intelligent touch to the menu. Grounded in Italian tradition, the dishes are reimagined with creative finesse and plated with precision. Think: heirloom tomatoes with smoked almond, risotto with citrus and lake herbs, or melt-in-your-mouth veal paired with delicate jus and foraged greens. The ingredients are local, but the interpretation is global — layered, thoughtful, and never overworked.

The restaurant offers both à la carte and tasting menus, with optional wine pairings curated from a deeply impressive cellar. Whether you dine inside the airy dining room or on the terrace at golden hour, everything here is designed to slow you down — from the pace of the service to the quiet roll of boats outside.

Il Sereno Al Lago is not just a place to eat — it’s a place to arrive, exhale, and experience the lake through every sense.

Il Sereno Al Lago, Via Torrazza 10, Torno

Dinner daily, lunch on weekends. Reservations essential.

Try: Tasting menu with wine pairings.

Website: ilsereno.com

Al Veluu, Tremezzo

Elevated Dining Above the Lake

High above the terracotta rooftops of Tremezzo, where cypress trees meet crisp mountain air, Al Veluu offers a kind of luxury that feels both generous and grounding. Family-owned and unmistakably personal, this hilltop restaurant is one of Lake Como’s most beloved secrets — a place where dinner becomes ceremony and the view does half the talking.

The setting is cinematic: a soft gravel terrace framed by lavender, with uninterrupted views of the lake below and the Grigne mountains beyond. It’s the kind of place where time stretches — where aperitive’s slip into long, candlelit dinners, and every course feels like part of a larger, slower rhythm.

The menu, rooted in regional tradition, leans into earthy simplicity: homemade pastas, grilled meats, and wild herbs foraged nearby. Signature dishes like saffron risotto or veal with porcini are served without fuss, but with a clear sense of care and place. Much of the produce comes from the family’s own garden, adding a layer of intimacy that no tasting menu could replicate.

Inside, the restaurant balances rustic charm with polished details: white tablecloths, flickering votives, and a sense that everyone here — whether local or visiting — is part of something enduring.

Service is warm and generous, with owners Silvio and Lucia often present to welcome guests like old friends. It’s this blend of elegance and authenticity that makes Al Veluu so magnetic.

Come for the food, stay for the view, return for the feeling — of stillness, of connection, of being exactly where you’re meant to be.

Al Veluu, Via Rogaro 11, Tremezzo

Open evenings. Terrace seating recommended.

Try: Homemade ravioli, veal with porcini, tiramisu

Website: alveluu.com