Lake Como, Italy Restaurant Reviews
One of my favorite parts of travel is trying amazing new food! We found some amazing spots during our trip to Lake Como, Italy. Fresh pasta, seafood and wine is definitely the way to this girls heart. I hope these reviews help to highlight a few of our favorites.
Osteria Quatro Pass
Address: Via XX Settembre 20 23829 Varenna Italy
Rating: 4/5 stars
We ate here our first night in the area as most of the other restaurants we tried were full and no longer seating as we went out later in the evening. The service was great and they were very accommodating with our limited Italian. We started with the lake fish starter of which the salmon was mine and my husbands favorite of all the fish. My husband got the beet ravioli with fish and I had the shrimp spaghetti with asparagus cream sauce. We fished the night with tiramisu which was delicious and very light which was a perfect way to end the meal. I loved the quaint setting in the alley which was so picturesque! This was a great first night to celebrate our honeymoon in Varenna.
Complimentary Ricotta Starter
Fish and beet ravioli
Outdoor seating in alley
Al Prato
Address: Piazza del Prato 6 23829 Varenna Italy
Rating: 5/5 stars
I am so glad we decided to splurge and treat ourselves to another nice dinner in Varenna. We tried to come our first night in the area and they informed us that they were booked and recommended setting a reservation for the following night which we accepted. My husband and I observed that it seems as they once do once round of seating per night which would explain why we were turned away the prior day. We started with the stewed octopus appetizer which was I would dare to say was the best thing I ate while in Varenna. So if they have it on the menu it won't disappoint so do yourself a favor and order it! For our mains we went with beef tartar and lamb chops which were both very good. We ended the night with a chocolate soufflé which had a delicious berry sauce I couldn't get enough of. I don't know they do to their strawberries in Italy but they are beyond delicious.
Enoteca Cava Turacciolo
Address: Salita Genazzini 3 22021 Bellagio Italy
Rating: 5/5 stars
Talk about an adventure with the best reward when we finally found this place. We were staying in Varenna during our honeymoon and decided to catch the ferry to check out Bellagio. I had found this place on Yelp and I knew I wanted to check it out. Once we got off the ferry I pulled up the directions on Yelp and we began our trek. We walked and walked and walked when the Yelp directions on my phone led us down a residential road and said we had arrived. This can't be right but at this point my husband and I were determined to find this place as we had worked up an appetite.
I pulled up the website copied done the address and plugged in into Apple maps. We walked and walked and found ourselves in a cool alley, walking back towards the center of Bellagio where we had caught the ferry. Then low and behold there it was, we had finally actually arrived! Yes, we have walked in probably what was a good 1.5-2 mile circle.
This place was perfect on a hot day because you are entering what looks exactly like a cave or wine cellar with a few tables set up. We each ordered a glass of wine and decided to spilt a charcuterie board. The board was a delicious assortment of meat and cheese, yet the best part was the local honey that was served on the side. I was shocked how well it complemented the meat and cheese assortment.
If you are in the area this place is not to be missed! I hope we can come back again. I would just recommend pulling this address up in a map other than the one linked through Yelp unless you feel like you need to really earn that wine with a 2 mile trek.
Entrance
Amazing charcuterie
Have any favorite spots that I missed? Please share in the comments so others can check them out and I have another reason to go back to Lake Como!
Cheers!
-Jessica