Como, my Italian happy place, UPDATED

Revisiting Nicole’s Como

Strolling through my happy place with a friend recently I was inspired when she said to me, “you know, you need to put all these places you are sharing with me somewhere for everyone to see! A Nicole’s Como sort of list”.

Happy with my original post about Como (still below), I am glad to add this update - the list my friend suggested - places that contribute to Como continuing to be my happy place, organized according to ‘theme’. Each suggestion is linked.

“Como, more than just a lake”

Presents for you and your beloveds

Grand tour lake Como silk design and production

David, Massimo & Ettore seem to be singlehandedly revitalizing the art of silk making in Como. Inspired designs, custom printing in a local workshop, and hand finishing make their designs wearable works of art.

Note on Como and silk:

Long before Como was my happy place, it was the seat of silk making in Europe. Beginning in the 14^th century the Visconti family began cultivating mulberry trees. Then in the 15^th century Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, accelerated the industry by promoting mass planting of mulberry trees around Lake Como to support silkworm rearing. Fast forward to the 18^th & 19^th centuries, the golden age for Como silk. At the beginning of the 20^th century the production of silk in Como was said to be greater than that of China or Japan. Somewhere between then and now, the art began to be exported to cheaper production and slowly the silk industry in Como declined, with a few remaining shops. Grand tour lake Como invites us to relive the golden age of Como silk, even if you buy nothing, stop by their shop and give yourself the gift of experiencing Como silk at its finest.

Places I like to eat and drink in Como “ellerinize sağlık”health to your hands One of my favorite Turkish ways of saying thank you, specifically to someone who has cooked you a delicious meal.

Slightly off the beaten path, Enoteca 84, while it is still in the capable hands of Chiara, gives me a chance to exclaim “ellerinize sağlık” every time. Just outside the city walls, a literal ‘hole in the wall’ if you blink you will go past it. Discovered thanks to the suggestions of a colleague in my tourism world, I have had the great joy to eat at Enoteca 84 alone with a friend, and in groups of up to 14 – and every time, it was wonderful. There in September 2025 on tour with 10 guests

Pizza THIN crust – Comocafé

Straight forward, full of locals at lunch time and to be counted on for a good pizza any time of day. My go to place in Como just off piazza volta (steps from giudi gelato)

Good pizza and solid pastas and second dishes – fish and meat - Locanda Barbarossa, is another go to especially in winter. Off piazza San Fedele, in summer 2025 they had also created an outside seating area.

Our favorite bartender, Mirko, master mixologist, has opened his own place outside the city with his companion Francesca – Privativa. Having followed him around IN Como, we now trek to his new place when we can, his cocktails are that good.

As of this writing the only place, in my humble opinion, IN Como worth having a cocktail is Hemingway. While the name is not so original, their innovative cocktails, great atmosphere – inside for a cozy before or after dinner cocktail – outside in the piazza volta are a must whenever I want a cocktail in Como.

For a baked good snack, excellent pastry, and their specialty cake the Nuvola – Beretta is my GO TO place for oven baked goods.

If you want fresh pasta, Pastaficio Braglia is THE place. Original, consistently delicious and fresh. Via Francesco Muralto, 11, 22100 Como CO, Italy.

Two favorite ice cream spots Giudi is near piazza volta and is my number one pick ge.lab is fabulous, a close second for me.

Left Cernobbio in winter on the lake; middle Brunate in spring; right window art that called our souls in Como center.

Como is, geographically, my happy place. Thirty minutes by train from our home, I regularly go there for a breath of air. Italian air. Sometimes I only go as far as Cernobbio, a pre-grocery shopping treat. Directly to Como the train is convenient, and I love to park at Villa Olmo and walk along the lake into the city center.

The walk from Villa Olmo, top, to the city center is populated with my favorite tree right; beautiful lakeside view middle; and a seaplane port bottom​.

The coffee is a big draw too. In fact, the majority of the time I enjoy in Como centers around eating and drinking. Over the years I have created a few routines for my Como excursions and while I am constantly on the lookout for new places to eat, drink, and shop – my special favorites are listed here.

Sipping coffee by the lake may be tempting, I gravitate to my preferred place any time of year, Luisita. Inside this place still offers the old fashioned atmosphere and friendly service that many call “the Italy of la dolce vita”. Just across the street is my favorite bakery Beretta. Even before I have a coffee, I go to Beretta and purchase fresh bread, torta salata (Italian style quiche), in season Halloween cookies, chestnut cake, and whatever else catches my fancy leaving it all there while I have my walk about.

Bunny with her coffee and crumbs of a finished pastry from Luisita.

When I take the train, just along the way to the city center is the Posta Design Hotel, a recent find, this place has a lovely terrace on the Piazza Volta in the good weather and the café inside on fall and winter days is a treat as well. Coffee is wonderful and their pastries are tasty too. Despite being a hotel, each time I am there (especially inside) it is filled with locals. I often write in this café surrounded by Italians. This is one of the reasons I come to Como, even though it is a seriously tourist town, people still live here. This may sound odd, and just visit the magic of Venice or the center of Florence and my meaning will become clear.

A few times Bunny and I have enjoyed Como with one of our Fairy Godmothers, Elisabeth, world traveling friend, who will feature as a guest blogger. On occasion we enjoy the creative bistro Pane e Tulipani (UPDATE: this place no longer exists 12.25!), perfect for a coffee, a sweet treat, an apero, and the occasional ladies lunch. Elisabeth as well shared one of her local favorites, LÁngolo del Silenzio. A seriously old-fashioned place filled with Italians, especially weekends at lunch.

On my last visit there with Elisabeth, we shared a terrine of foie gras with brioche bread as a starter, followed by the best elephants ear (orecchio degli elefanti) I have ever eaten. This spectacular little gem of a restaurant is a precious reminder of the best of Italy. Tucked away just outside the city center, it is worth wandering a bit astray.

Center Elisabeth and Bunny at Pane & Tulipani; top left elephants ear at Angolo d’Silenzio; middle entrance to our favorite clothing shop gianoli and me trying on one of their original creations.

My go to place in Como for lunch or dinner, anytime of the year, is Numero Nove (UPDATE 12.25, this place is still there and it is no longer my go to place). For special occasions, once for our meeting anniversary with Claudio; alone with a book, or with a friend, this is the place I enjoy bubbles, their style of focaccia served with walnuts, pizza, and any plate that catches my fancy. Their garden is like a fairytale and inside is as well warm and cozy. Once I was walking down the street on my own in Como and learned that my dear friend Diana had just married, I went to Numernove and had bubbles for lunch in her honor. Most recently we were also there with Elisabeth.

Numeronove center with Bearli & Bunny gazing on at our anniversary lunch; top left Claudio is wowed with his Milanese; below Elisabeth shares her opinions over our lunch; bottom features our dishes; left corner the ceiling inside the refurbished old building which is Numeronove.

The most touristic place I enjoy in Como is da Pietro. At this writing it is managed by a cosmopolitan hipster named Nathan. With English, German, and Italian roots, this ginger haired young man has turned this café in front of the Duomo into something worth visiting for more than the view. Service can be spotty, and the dishes are not a value AND the view, the menu, and the ambiance are all worth it. UPDATE 12.25 Nathan is gone, da Pietro is still there, inconsistent and still worth it 80% of the time. The service is fabulous, the location unbeatable and surely the only place I will go to in the piazza duomo.

Enjoying a birthday meal midday in the shade of a warm day with Bunny center, bottom right gazing at the Duomo in the cold December air while the lights dance off the Duomo in early evening with a glass of fizz, all other photos views of the Duomo on random days when I’ve enjoyed at daPietro.

Marie Jeanne is one of the finest cooks I have ever met and sharing a meal with her is always a heavenly experience, in her home or out. When she suggests a place, I am ready to go. For a special occasion, something like celebrating the joy to be alive, we splashed out for dinner at a chic place just outside the city center in Como, The Market Place.

Center Mariejeanne and I enjoying cocktails at Vespers, bottom left me with my exotic cocktail all to to start Mariejeanne’s birthday celebration. All other photos are creative dishes from The Marketplace.

A seasonal favorite, a short scenic ride up the funiculore, the Belvedere in Brunate. Just as the season began I shared this place with two fellow adventurers, Angela and Francesca. The entire journey, to Como, up the funicuore, the lunch itself, the view, and especially the company were a day full of joyous miracles. UPDATE 12.25 STILL love this place!!

A dazzling day in Como, center Angela, Francesca, and I strike a post over lake Como; top left Francesca and I on the funicular up; middle left fennel and orange salad with fresh cheese; bottom left mouthwatering lard with walnuts, pomegranates, and local honey; bottom middle Francesca & Angela always lovely; bottom right toasting the view and the miracle of our day.

Always more to come on the Como front. Watch this space, meanwhile, go enjoy Como!