One of Lake Como’s top restaurants, Materia is the brainchild of Davide Caranchini. His passion for cooking took this Como native to Paris, London and finally the Nordic cuisine mecca of Noma. He returned to Cernobbio keen to elevate the food of his homeland with all he learned, opening Materia and its sanctuary-like greenhouse. The minimal décor and tableware allow his daring dishes to shine in all their fermented, smoked, moussed and pulverized glory. The à la carte & tasting menus are amazingly affordable, even when paired with sommelier Luca’s selection of (mostly natural) wines.

Start your day with breakfast at the charming Pasticceria Poletti in Cernobbio: here, beignets, cream horns, croissants, and many more sweet (and salty) delicacies are freshly baked everyday. Best paired with a frothy cappuccino.

Villa d'Este is one of the world’s most celebrated hotels because of its most gorgeous location on the lake and charming interiors with unique works of art & glittering chandeliers.

Forget the hushed museum rules: at CASABIANCA, there are no labels, no prescribed route and no curator telling you where to look. Instead, Paolo and Antonella De Santis have opened the doors to part of the contemporary art collection they have been building since the 1980s, with around 50 works spread throughout their 1930s villa on Como’s lakefront. Think Pistoletto, Kiefer, Abramović, Merz and Paolini, alongside their furniture and personal belongings. Designed by Piero Ponci, the villa has lived several lives – family home, textile headquarters, showroom and bank – before the De Santises gave it a new one in 2024. After wandering around the collection, stay for a coffee at Cova downstairs or book one of the suites for an artful night.