Nestled in a green oasis on the very edge of Como town, this romantic spot showcases the stylings of Chef Andrea Casali, who has assembled one of the youngest brigades in the business. Every dish on this playful menu delights the eyes before the palate. Every ingredient distilled to its very essence and curated with finesse. In line with Casali’s respect for nature and its cycles, ingredients are local, seasonal and sustainable – some grown in his own biodynamic garden (a great spot for pre-dinner drinks!). The tasting menus and a la carte dishes, with some of the best food on Lake Como, cater for both omnivores and vegetarians; the wine list contains multitudes.

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.

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.

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.