Location: Varenna
Top Restaurants in Varenna
Top Things to do in Varenna
- 1. Ristorante Il Caminetto Cookery Lessons
- 2. Taxi Boat Varenna - Day Tours
- 3. Boats 2 Rent
- 4. Villa Monastero
- 5. Giardini Botanici - Hotel Villa Cipressi
- 6. Sentiero del Viandante
- 7. Chiesa di San Giorgio
- 8. Green Way dei Patriarchi
- 9. Paul DEMARIA - The Open Lake & Landscape Studio d’Arte
- 10. Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista
Countries
Lombardy, Italy Food Guide: 10 Italian food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Varenna
Find out what Italian restaurants to try in Varenna. Varenna is a slow-paced destination—most visitors come here to relax by the lake. But even if "Working on my tan" is the #1 thing on your itinerary, take some time to explore the area. There’s the Castello di Vizio, a medieval fortress surrounded by an olive grove. And you’ll want to view the old, tiered gardens at the Villa Cipressi—they stretch all the way down to the water. Finally, visit the source of the Fiumelatte, a peculiar river—it’s only 250 m long and disappears from October to March.
Things to do in Varenna
10. Ristorante Du Lac
Overall Ratings
4 based on 227 reviews
Reviewed By MoniquedG
This was our second dinner at this restaurant. The first time we stayed in a different hotel, but had dinner here one evening. It was so good (and more refined than other restaurants in Varenna) that we wanted to eat here again.We had booked a table in advance and had a lovely dinner on the terrace. The staff is friendly and attentive. This time we opted for a 3 course dinner. On our first visit we took 4 courses and that was too much for us. All courses were very good, especially the chocolate soufle! You can order wines by the glass, by the caraf or the bottle. We ordered some carafs so we could drink white wine with the starter and red with the main dish.
9. Varenna Mon Amour
Overall Ratings
4 based on 638 reviews
Reviewed By erikl802
This restaurant is probably the best example that a ton of TA stickers doesnât mean itâs a great place.Menu is average. Plates are adequately prepared and pasta are perfectly cooked. Too much salt, perhaps to compensate a lack of herbs and seasoning that would make the plates great.Deserts like the two cheesecakes made with pana cotta could be original, wouldnât it be too much sugar; like the salt above. We found the two senior staff/owner rude with their personal -thinking we didnât speak Italian. Thatâs was really unfortunate and left us with an unpleasant image of the place.Itâs very unusual for me to end a review without a positive note. But there isnât. mi dispiace ma noi non abbiamo avuto nessuna persona da Ginevra il cameriere conosce tutte le pronunce
8. Hosteria del Platano
Overall Ratings
4 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By charlieworldtraveler
We rented an apartment for 5 days in Fiumelatte about a 2 minute walk away and ended up eating here several times. Super fresh fish, perfectly cooked, both persico and lavarello. Delicious pasta dishes, one a spaghetti with fresh porcini mushrooms, the other a ravioli with wild spinach. Nice wine selection. Friendly and attentive service. Very good food at a very fair price, served with a warm smile. Truly, a special find, the kind of authentic Italian restaurant that makes you want to return again and again . Mille grazie a Norma e tutta la squadra!
7. Ristorante La Vista
Overall Ratings
4 based on 599 reviews
Surrounded by the Pre-Alps and one of the most striking views of Lake Como, at La Vista Restaurant you can dine in the open air admiring spectacular sunsets, making you soothed by the magic of summer evenings where dominating is the lake's atmosphere. The
Reviewed By 864sl
The view here is incredible, and the maitre d working when we visited was excellent. Unfortunately the rest of the wait staff let this place down. We ordered drinks and mains and our mains arrived before our drinks....we also had a long wait in getting the bill (3 tables were waiting in total to pay). The food was fine and the wine selection very good.
6. Varenna Caffe Bistrot
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1043 reviews
Exclusive Lake View, Light Lunch & Dinner, Continental Breakfast
Reviewed By MoniquedG
We had lunch here on our arrival day and were so inspired by the lovely combinations on the bruschetta's that we even made them at home as a starter one day. We also had dinner here on another day which was lovely.
5. Osteria Quatro Pass
Overall Ratings
4 based on 895 reviews
Reviewed By travelingjim53
The food was very good and the staff were great and cared well for us. The salad was very good to start and vegetables were also. We had the perch and it was also good.
4. Al Prato
Overall Ratings
4 based on 921 reviews
Ristorante posizionato in una piazzetta riservata a due passi dal lungolago di Varenna. Facilmente raggiungibile anche dalla piazza S.Giorgio (piazza principale) . Serviamo piatti tradizionali e fuori carta ci sono delle varianti a secondo della stagione,
Reviewed By JOHN B
A shopkeepper recommended and was spot on. my wife had the ravioli stuffed with minced shrimp specialand i had the lake fish dinner which was 5 filets of different fish with some zucchini and scalloped potato. couple glasses of localwine and total 51 euros.
3. Il Cavatappi
Overall Ratings
4 based on 859 reviews
Reviewed By longmayyourun
I made a reservation weeks before we arrived in Italy, based on a very positive review by a recognized restauranteur in the Washington, DC metro area. We were thrilled to arrive (6 hours late) after our delayed flight from Newark, grabbing a ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and then huffing and puffing our way up the hill to Il Cavatappi, working off the calories we would eat a bit later.Loved the size and decor of the interior, which seats 14 diners and there are an additional 3-4 tables outside, in the alley. Understated and tasteful, the dining room is warm and one side of the dining room allows a view of the chef and sous chef hard at work. Ricardo and Guiseppe are co-owners and have been at this location for 6 of their 22 years as owners.My husband RAVED about his pasta with duck ragout, declaring it the best pasta he has ever tasted.....and we have pretty good Italian food in NJ and NY. He cleaned his bowl, which is highly unusual. My burrata with oils and diced tomatoes was almost too beautiful to eat, but somehow I polished off the entire thing, rationalizing that because I have celiac disease, I was going to get my fill of rich cheese in lieu of gluten-free pasta.We loved the vibe of Il Cavatappi and I was very touched that they had a selection of gluten-free crackers they brought to me, when they delivered my husband's bread basket. Very thoughtful. I do wish there was some way they could offer a GF pasta, as it is very difficult to crave the special sauces you create and not be able to have them over pasta, due to a disease (which is not fun to have in the first place). It would be a nice addition to your already impressive cuisine and hospitality. Great meal. Beautiful decor. Grazie.
2. Ristorante Alkimia
Overall Ratings
5 based on 16 reviews
Cozy, romantic restaurant offering elegantly simple Italian cuisine on the eastern shore of central Lake Como.
Reviewed By Marassa
Had a great dinner there, it was expensive but worth every eurocent, starting with complimentary appetizers through the main fish dishes and dessert. Great wine selection. Exceptional service, perfect (native?) English spoken. The location a bit off the main drag and across a street from the lake did not seem as good as more central restaurants but it turned out very quiet and cozy there. Recommended!
