A passion for food
Food and drink are at the very heart of Italian culture. Our area boasts some of the finest Italian cuisine, and is home to a number of world-class restaurants. With good food and family being the cornerstone of Italian life, it's no surprise that there are dining options to suit every occasion and budget nearby.
RISTORANTE LA TARANTOLA
Ristorante La Tarantola is about a 10-minute drive from il Ronco. We highly recommend it for dinner.
The menu at Tarantola changes with the seasons and they pride themselves on using the highest quality ingredients.
LOCANDA DELL'ISOLA COMACINA
Locanda dell'Isola Comancia, located on the mysterious wooded island Comacina, has served the same delicious set menu since 1947 and is a great stop after exploring the island. At the end of every meal, the proprietor performs a fire ceremony 'exorcism' to rid the island of a curse dating back to the 12th century.
We recommend Locanda dell'Isola Comacina especially in May/June or September/October as it gets very crowded in the height of summer.
RISTORANTE MOMI
Momi is a talented chef who, in the best tradition, grows his own vegetables in a patch just up the road from the restaurant. The menu is seasonal and offers traditional dishes with a new, lighter way to enjoy them as well as new inventive recipes. Please note that the last bit of road to get to it is narrow and winding.
As there is a good boat rental next door, we often will get there early, take a boat out for a few hours and then come back for a delicious lunch.
CROTTO DEI PLATANI
The Crotto dei Platani is an old family favourite. A “Crotto” is a traditional lake restaurant, basically the lake’s version of a Trattoria. Both the restaurant and the menu have been updated over the years, and the prices have gone up, but it remains a beautiful location and the food is delicious!
MATERIA CERNOBBIO
A new arrival in Cernobbio, the first town on the lake as you drive up towards Menaggio and home to the famous Villa d’Este hotel, Materia was set up by four young friends who believe in offering their guests an experience, not just a meal.
Fresh, seasonal ingredients, a wish to create new flavours and a very well-stocked cellar make for a really special treat. The restaurant is located in one of the small back streets of Cernobbio, out of the crowds that you find along the lakeshore, so you need to know about it to find it.
RISTORANTE GOLF CLUB PINETINA
Another great option for a local lunch on a sunny day. The restaurant at Pinetina Golf Club in Appiano is very close by.
RADICI RESTAURANT
This is a new discovery and well worth trying out if you like interesting and unusual combinations of flavours and very modern cuisine. The young chef trained mostly in London and Copenhagen where he picked up a passion for seasonal products, foraging, preserving and cooking on a live fire. The location itself is underwhelming and the first time we went we thought we might have got lost but the restaurant itself, located in a commercial site, is tastefully decorated and the food is really amazing.
LOCANDA LA TIRLINDANA
For lunch on a sunny day, we recommend La Tirlindana, which is about half-way up the lake towards Menaggio and a pleasant 30-minute drive from il Ronco.
HARRY’S BAR CERNOBBIO
Possibly the oldest restaurant on the lake square of Cernobbio and another family favourite, Harry’s bar is a traditional establishment, with a cuisine that is typical of the lake and a few more generally Italian dishes added on. The food is reliably good and the service is impeccable. There’s nothing quite like sitting outside with a nice martini cocktail and watching life go by in the square and on the lake. You will always find many locals eating here as it’s such an institution.
If you prefer to really get to know Italian cooking, why not book a cooking class with our chef, Marco?
Create a bespoke menu from a wide variety of dishes (carpaccio, fresh pasta and homemade pizza among them), and learn how to make your chosen dishes with Marco's help. At the end of the class, sit down to an Italian dinner party feast and enjoy the food you’ve made.