Top Lake Como Dining Experiences

Learn to create classic dishes of the Lombardy region with a small-group cooking class in Lake Como. A member of the acclaimed Cesarine network of chefs will welcome you into their home for a lesson in Milanese-style cuisine as you help prepare a 3-course menu featuring northern Italian favorites such as a seasonal starter, various kinds of fresh pasta, and a local dessert such as a *torta miascia*, *cutizza* pancake, or tiramisu. When the cooking’s done, sit down with your host and small group to enjoy the homemade meal with wine.

On your Lake Como vacation, make sure you see the lake from above to experience the natural beauty without the crowds. This small-group hike and picnic takes you high up into the hills near Varenna where the countryside and views take center stage. After a short hike, you’ll picnic on local food and wine from the Valsassina and Valtellina regions. Note that hotel pick up and drop-off are not included.

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic recipes from Lecco treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Make two fresh pasta dishes by hand during a small-group cooking class in Varenna, Lake Como. You’ll skip the impersonal feel of a larger cooking class, and rustle up creations in the home of a local, who is part of the Cesarine network of Italian home cooks. Prepare and eat pasta and a tiramisu as you learn about the wider Lombardy region in the best place — an Italian home kitchen.

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic recipes from Cernobbio treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Discover the enchanting beauty of Lake Como from a unique perspective. Enjoy an exclusive picnic with curated selection of dishes from local farm. Immerse yourself in an aesthetic and gastronomic journey. The uniqueness of the activity in a hidden tranquil place with stunning views of the lake, this is qualitatively different from the lake embankment with crowds of tourists. Also a gastronomic experience with the opportunity to try traditional northern cuisine in a unique setting.

Discover the highlights of Lake Como on this exclusive small-group tour, limited to 12 participants for a personalized experience. Travel by hydrofoil to the iconic Villa Balbianello for a guided tour of its stunning gardens and terraces, famous as filming locations for Star Wars and James Bond. Continue to the charming village of Bellagio for lunch and a walking tour before returning to Como by fast boat, taking in the lake’s most famous villas along the way.

Connect with a passionate home cook in Varenna on Lake Como to discover the secrets to making flawless pasta and authentic tiramisù from scratch. Join your host in her home kitchen to hone your skills at rolling and shaping fresh pasta and assembling luscious tiramisù, then relax over lunch or dinner to sample your handiwork served with local wines and Italian espresso.

Learn how to cook typical Italian dishes like a real Nonna at a private cooking class held in the home of a local chef. Make fresh pasta and a delicious sauce, and prepare a starter using seasonal vegetables and local produce. For pudding, create a traditional dessert such as tiramisu, then sit down around the table to eat what you’ve created. Round off your meal with a glass of local wine or a coffee.

Step into a local's home in Como to learn how to make fresh pasta and a classic tiramisu. In an intimately sized small group of just 12 people, you'll hear the tricks to roll fresh pasta by hand, and create two dishes as you learn about Lombardy food from your Cesarine host — part of a network of home cooks who preserve regional culinary traditions.

Immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Lake Como with an exclusive evening inside the private home of Count Claudio and his family. Meet in the beautiful Piazza San Giorgio in the heart of Varenna before a short walk to a historic villa, a treasured family residence passed down through generations. Welcomed by your hosts, you'll discover the villa's elegant rooms, family stories, and terraced gardens before settling onto a panoramic terrace with spectacular views over Lake Como, Bellagio, and Tremezzo. Enjoy a homemade dinner with an aperitivo and wine, garden vegetables, traditional Italian appetizers, seasonal risotto, and homemade tiramisu. Share conversations with lifelong residents of Varenna and experience genuine Italian hospitality in a setting few visitors ever have the opportunity to enter. More than a dinner, this is a rare cultural experience offering an intimate glimpse into the history, traditions, and everyday life of one of Lake Como's distinguished local families.

Get the full picture of one of Lake Como’s prettiest lakeshore towns with this unique walking tour that includes both sightseeing and food and wine tasting. Set off with your local guide and small group to stroll through the picturesque old town and take in the top sights, with stops along the way to snack on artisan cheeses, cold cuts, and local wines. Take in sweeping lake views and discover locally beloved eateries that most tourists miss.

Enjoy the treats and delicious local specialities of Lake Como on a food tour that explores the produce and recipes of this special northern region of Italy. Visit authentic bars and restaurants like a local, and find hidden gems where local food is served alongside regional wine and beer. Learn how the foods you try are made, and see picturesque views of Como.

Get off the tourist track on this private, half-day cooking workshop. Enjoy a fully bespoke experience in the home of a Lake Como local as you master recipes for three different pasta dishes. Then, sit down to enjoy your freshly-cooked meal, paired with red and white wines from regional cellars.

Pasta lovers—prepare to be amazed! This pasta-making class at a Cesarina’s home is the perfect way to learn new skills and taste incredible food too. Enjoy direct access to your teacher for questions during this small-group lesson. Learn the secrets of the region’s most loved pasta dishes, and make three recipes. The best thing about the experience is that you get to eat the food at the end with wine included.

Embark on a journey through top wines and Champagnes without having to leave beautiful Como with this guided tasting in the heart of the old town. Sip a variety of prestigious white, red, and sparkling labels and learn about their terroir and producers from your sommelier host at a local wine shop, plus sample a variety of local gourmet specialties from cheeses to charcuterie paired with each glass.

Join Valentina for a spread of her family's signature Italian dishes. Her home is cosy and colourful! You'll enjoy a 3-course meal, made from seasonal and fresh ingredients from the local market, before heading out for a walk by the nearby lake. You'll have plenty of time to get to know your host, to discover about life in Como and note down all her suggestions of places to visit in the area.

Become immersed in Italian culture as you learn to make traditional dishes during this cooking class in Varenna. This private class takes you to a local home where you can learn all about Italian cooking while making a number of dishes. Learn tricks and tips so you can recreate the dishes at home and sit down to the fruits of your labor paired with local wine.

Enjoy a mouthwatering introduction to local flavors on this food walking tour of Como. Get the inside scoop on the town’s foodie scene from a licensed tour guide; sample regional delicacies such as olive oils, local wines, focaccia, meats and cheeses, and finish with a gelato. Your guide also provides information on the local history, culture, and architecture while you walk around.

Learn to make a traditional Italian aperitivo during this small-group drinks workshop in Como. Immerse yourself in the Italian practice of sundowner drinks and learn the art of making the perfect one yourself. You’ll also learn to prepare some appetizers to go along with your drinks, sipping a selection of red and white Italian wines throughout the session.

Gain exclusive insight into the world of Italian cooking during a private dining experience in Como. You'll overcome the language barrier as you browse a local market with your private guide and then watch as they whip up a tailored 4-course meal for you to enjoy. Unlike other typical cooking classes, you'll assist in the preparation of food but leave the cooking itself to a professional.

Discover the flavors of Italy in this immersive pizza and tiramisu-making workshop in Como. Guided by a host with roots in both northern and southern Italy, learn the secrets behind making perfect dough, authentic pizza, and classic regional desserts. This hands-on class blends local tradition, heritage, and Mediterranean flair, offering not just recipes but lasting cooking skills. It’s a warm, intimate culinary experience that celebrates Italy’s rich food culture.

Italy’s most iconic dish by far is pasta, and with this hands-on cooking class, you can discover the secrets to turning out fresh pasta dishes like an authentic Italian “nonna” with a local chef. Learn how to prepare and roll out the “sfoglia”, or sheet of pasta, and then cut or shape it to suit your sauce. Once both pasta and sauce are ready, relax over lunch to enjoy what you’ve prepared.