Fine Dining on Lake Como: 
Exclusive Experiences rooted in Italianità, Convivialità, Villeggiatura

At Passalacqua, we believe that exceptional hospitality has three key ingredients: Italianità, Convivialità and Villeggiatura. These values guide us in everything we do, including our exclusive dining experiences on Lake Como—from early-morning breakfast to candlelit dinners under the stars. 

Italianità is our commitment to the region’s highest quality seasonal ingredients, sourced from top local producers. We celebrate the centuries-old recipes and time-tested traditions that have shaped Italy’s renowned food culture—paired, of course, with the iconic Italian views that accompany every plate. This is fine dining, Lake Como style, at its very best.

Convivialità is all about connection—the pleasure of coming together, not only to share a meal, but also to cook, mix drinks or taste wine with loved ones. At Passalacqua, you can dine in our gourmet restaurant, learn insider techniques from our resident experts and simply savor the culinary moments of our “Every Day is a Gift” program with fellow guests.
 
Villeggiatura reminds us of the age-old tradition when noble Italian families would leave the city behind for a summer full of simple pleasures in the countryside. They never left home without their personal chefs, classically trained masters versed in regional flavors who fulfilled the family’s every culinary whim. At Passalacqua, we are blessed to have celebrated chef Viviana Varese revive this grand tradition on Lake Como.

A “Day in the Life” of fine dining on Lake Como 

9 am – Colazione
You’ll be greeted by name and escorted to a sun-kissed table either al fresco in the garden or under the watchful gaze of the gods and goddesses on our dining room ceiling. After placing your coffee order, wander through our open kitchen breakfast spread: freshly baked crostata made with jam from our orchard, perfectly scrambled eggs with melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto, yogurt topped with fresh fruit and homemade granola, artisanal breads, charcuterie, freshly squeezed juices…and an array of butter croissants with tempting fillings. Ah well, no need to be hasty with this fine dining experience. We’re here until 11, and you can return to the buffet as many times as you like…

11:30 am – What’s cooking?
You’ve been for a swim, read a few pages in your bestseller and even though breakfast was mere hours ago, you could do with a little snack or at least a coffee to tide you over to lunch. In keeping with our home-away-from-home vibe, you are invited to wander into the Passalacqua kitchens whenever you like—try doing that in Lake Como’s other gourmet restaurants! As luck would have it, one of our chefs de partie is busy rolling trofie by hand for today’s lunch, and he’s more than happy to chat—pasta geek to pasta geek—about flour types, hydration and resting time. Maybe you don’t need a coffee after all.

1 pm – A pranzo: Poolside in the Winter Garden
For lunch, slip into our poolside Winter Garden, one of Lake Como’s most enchanting fine dining experiences. Set in a greenhouse reimagined by JJ Martin from La DoubleJ, the space is a veritable Wunderkammer of bold patterns, lush succulents and whimsical pottery—the perfect side dish for your creamy-crunchy Caesar salad. 
As you savor every bite, you overhear your neighbors raving about the seafood at Da Giacomo al Lago, an easy boat ride away at our sister property Grand Hotel Tremezzo. A collaboration with Milan’s iconic Da Giacomo, their lobster roll is said to be the best this side of the Atlantic, served with views of the Grand’s floating pool and Bellagio beyond. That’s tomorrow’s lunch plans sorted!

3 pm – Cosi fan tutti: Cooking class
It’s time to trade the napkin for an apron and start cooking. In our hands-on cooking class, you’re invited to prepare a classic Italian meal start to finish: handmade trofie with pesto alla Genovese and cotoletta alla Milanese, finishing with a traditional tiramisu. The tips and tricks from our chefs are pure gold (like the ideal Parmigiano-Pecorino ratio for pesto or sweetening espresso when soaking the ladyfingers for tiramisu). By the end, you have all you need to treat your friends back home to a fine dining experience of your own.

5 pm – Every Day is a Gift
Our changing roster of daily activities at Passalacqua allows guests to rub shoulders with the staff, peak behind the scenes and learn new skills. Depending on the day, you could be mixing cocktails with our expert barmen, making gelato alongside our pastry chefs, or sampling some of Italy’s finest wines with our in-house sommelier.  

6 pm – Aperitivo time
Few moments are as quintessentially Italian as the evening aperitivo: handcrafted cocktails paired with as many nibbles you can manage while talking with your hands. Each signature cocktail at Passalacqua tells its own story—try our Rum Caramel Old Fashioned, infused with our pastry chef’s homemade salted caramel syrup, or sip a Rose Petal Martini inspired by—and garnished with—the fragrant roses from our garden. 
For tomorrow’s aperitivo experience, we recommend hopping a boat to Kincho—the Best Hotel Bar at last year’s Como Lake Cocktail Week and one of our sister properties. Be sure to taste their signature “Tom & Berry” cocktail, a heady blend of smoked Campari, gin and saké foam topped with a crisp rhubarb curlicue.

8 pm – A tavola!
Dinner time at Passalacqua is a festive affair, whether you dine by candlelight under a garden pergola or in a cozy corner of our smoky-blue dining room. Bringing Viviana Varese to Lake Como has taken our gourmet restaurant to new heights and her cuisine mirrors Passalacqua’s signature vibe—laid-back luxury with an eclectic, whimsical note: duck breast and foie gras jazzed up with barbecued beets and sour cherries or her nostalgic pasta con le patate infused with charred garlic, just like Mamma used to make. Each bite embodies what luxury dining on Lake Como should be.
If you are looking to explore other luxury dining experiences in the area, look no further than our sister properties—each a quick boat ride away—for two of Lake Como’s best restaurants. In nearby Como, Michelin-starred Kitchen spotlights one of the area’s youngest, most dynamic brigades that elevate seasonal ingredients into edible art. At Grand Hotel Tremezzo, La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to taste dishes by the legend himself—think Jackson Pollock-inspired Dripping di Pesce to his iconic gold leaf risotto.

A taste of Lake Como like no other 

Whether you’re sipping a lakeside aperitivo, learning the tricks of the trade from Chef Viviana Varese or simply plucking a sun-kissed kiwi straight from the vine, Passalacqua offers a tapestry of luxury dining experiences you won’t find anywhere else. From the moment you walk through our historic wrought-iron gates, you’ll discover why our concept of fine dining on Lake Como isn’t just about eating a meal—it’s a celebration of life, Italian style.