10 Great Restaurants in Como

Kitchen Restaurant is a top choice for proper fine-dining buffs. It sits between the swaying stone pines of its own private parkland to the north of Como town. It takes about 35 minutes to get here on foot on the pleasant lakeside path, or else it's a 10-minute taxi ride. Look for the place all lit up by twinkling lights opposite the Sheraton Hotel.

With Michelin-star pedigree, the tasting menus here reel off some seriously eye-catching dishes. Plates include pickled Japanese ume fruits with caramelised sesame, egg caviar with Parmigiano Reggiano, and zucchini yuzu with chicken gravy. Head chef Andrea prioritises the use of home-grown ingredients, many of which are plucked from the vegetable garden out back.

Ristorante Sottovoce is one of the few rooftop restaurants on offer in Como, and it's one with serious style – how does a Michelin Guide recommendation sound? Look for it up on the top floor of a building on grand Piazza Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, a short walk from the ferry port and Piazza Duomo alike.

Dishes are inspired by the seasonal produce of Northern Italy and put together by masterful Chef Stefano Mattara. Patrons choose between curated tasting menus or ala carte offerings, with tempting dishes of curious flavour combos – think pomegranate and octopus, Linguine pasta with turnip and gorgonzola, and veal with almonds and cinnamon and Dijon mustard.

Il Diavolo L'acqua Santa is perched on the hillsides north of Como. It's just about as close as it's possible to go to the Swiss border without hopping over into the land of fondue and chocolate. You can get there on the A9 road that weaves north from Como town, taking 15 minutes to reach the grand, villa-style dining room on Via San Giacomo.

Haute cuisine is the order of the day. Get ready for plates of finely sliced Carpaccio salads, burrata, and squid-ink pastas. All that's served in a moody eating space with rough-stone walls and dim lighting. The wine list is suitably high-class to match.

A long-established name on the Como gastronomy scene, Lo Storico occupies a medieval building in the heart of the old town. The joint is tucked behind a stone façade along Via Filippo Juvara, less than 5 minutes' walk through the centre from the Piazza del Duomo. Go inside and you'll be greeted by red velveteen walls and twinkling lights. There's also a charming terrace in the courtyard out back.

Food-wise, Lo Storico is a seafood joint first and foremost. There are spice-infused risottos with king prawns and plates of sizzled calamari, along with daily offerings of fresh fish fillets. All that's backed up by a medley of surf and turf and a series of fish soups and seafood broths inspired by the wonderful Amalfi Coast.

La Costa is a homegrown Lombard osteria-cum-trattoria that sits on the side of a small village to the south of Como town. The drive here will whisk you along the wooded hills of Montorfano to a tavern that has views of the rising foothills of the Alps to the north. We're talking 15 minutes on the road from the lakeside.

What awaits is a dose of simple yet excellent northern Italian cooking. Frittered fish is served alongside meatballs in broth. There are truffle pastas and classic arrabbiata penne, along with gnocchi with mountain funghi and other seasonal delights depending on the month. The menu changes daily and there's one seriously fantastic wine cellar to get stuck into.

Feel Como is firmly established as one of the leading lights on the Como fine-dining scene. It's tucked into the southwest side of the old town, about 10 minutes' walk from the ferry terminals on the lakeside. Go there to be welcomed by a beautifully elegant bistro with glass frontages and tree-filled gardens ringing its front.

Menus change with the seasons – there are different ala carte options for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. That's because of the reliance on locally sourced ingredients and foraged goods. Creativity is the buzzword to it all. Expect dishes in the ilk of gnocchi with baked chestnuts, lake fish with sage, and wild herb tempura.

Osteria I Gradoni is a local favourite. It sits on a small piazza amid the Como new town, about 25 minutes' walk from the heart of the historic centre. Keep an eye out for the unassuming stone steps that lead the way in, past a sprinkling of fairy lights and a small patio that's usually filled with diners and drinkers in the summer months.

They have a menu that specialises in offering the delights of the Lake Como region. That means freshwater fish in highland herbs, smoked trout tartar, and cream of pumpkin soup. You can match those dishes with an artisan beer, since Osteria I Gradoni has a rotating selection of craft ales and IPAs from right across Lombardy.

Crìanza is a must-stop for anyone craving a taste of south Italy while holidaying up between the snow-topped Alps and freshwater lakes of Lombardy. Tucked into the streets just east of the Como train station, the spot is easy to reach. Meanwhile, the menus are all about showcasing the crème-de-la-crème of Apulian cuisine.

Get ready for buttery Adriatic mussels in garlic broth, meatballs in Pugilese tomato sauces, and hearty bean salads made with herbs and lemon juice. There's a wine list of crisp, summery whites to match the seafood, along with indoor and outdoor seating areas to take care of both seasons.

Drop into il Birrivico for casual eats in a lively setting. That's the name of the game at this part-tavern, part-eatery on the western edge of the Como old town. Just steps from the station and far enough away from the mainstay sights to remain a bit of a hidden gem, it's often buzzing with local life come a weekend evening.

Many will come just for the beer. There's a fine selection, ranging from big-brand Pils and stouts like Guinness to locally made craft ales from independent breweries. Match that with the tempting pub grub, which comes in the form of in-house pizzettes (mini pizzas), burgers with chips, and all manner of small sharing plates.

Quatar Pass hides behind an unassuming entranceway on the main road that leads up to Villa Olmo and the beautiful Parco del Grumello to the north of Como. You can walk here from the town centre, though – it takes roughly 10 minutes starting at the ferry port and the Giardini del Tempio Voltiano.

Seafood plates tend to take centre stage. You can order up salty risottos with prawn tops or selections of deep-fried calamari and shellfish. They're backed up by a truly enticing desert selection that hops from wobbly panna cottas to fruit tarts. A mix of limoncello and grappa beckons to cleanse the palate once it's all done and dusted.