Autumn on Lake Como has a flavour all its own. It is the season when polenta returns to the table, alongside mountain cheeses, wild mushrooms, chestnuts and a style of cooking that becomes richer and more comforting as the first cooler days arrive.
But discovering Lake Como’s culinary traditions also means going beyond restaurants: visiting a local market, seeking out a small producer, stopping at a mountain refuge or tasting something that tells the story of the mountains just a few kilometres from the lake.
Here are 10 food experiences to enjoy this autumn.
1. Try polenta uncia
One of the most iconic dishes of the Como area, polenta uncia combines polenta, butter, cheese and garlic in a rich recipe rooted in the culinary traditions of the mountains surrounding the lake.
Autumn is the perfect season to try it, perhaps after a day spent outdoors.
2. Discover cheeses from the Lake Como mountains
Travel just a few kilometres away from the water and you will find mountain pastures, alpine farms and small local producers.
Look out for cow’s and goat’s milk cheeses, Taleggio, alpine cheeses and other local varieties that change from valley to valley.
A selection served with honey or preserves is a perfect introduction to the more mountainous side of Lake Como.
3. Taste the flavours of the woods
Mushrooms and chestnuts are among autumn’s most characteristic ingredients. During the season, they appear on the menus of local trattorias and restaurants, while also providing the perfect excuse to explore the higher areas of the eastern shore.
If you are planning to pick mushrooms or chestnuts yourself, always check local regulations and permit requirements beforehand.
4. Try freshwater fish
Missoltini, whitefish and perch are an important part of Lake Como’s culinary heritage.
But you don’t have to look only for traditional recipes. Today, many chefs work with freshwater fish using contemporary techniques and combinations, offering new interpretations of ingredients deeply connected to the lake.
5. Stop at a local market
One of the simplest ways to understand a destination is to see what appears on its market stalls.
Markets and small food shops are great places to discover seasonal produce, cheeses, cured meats, honey and local specialities — and to take home something more meaningful than the usual souvenir.
6. Have lunch in the mountains without leaving the lake behind
One of the most distinctive features of Lake Como’s eastern shore is how quickly the landscape changes.
From the waterfront, you can head towards Piani Resinelli, Valsassina or Monte Barro and find yourself surrounded by a completely different mountain environment.
Lunch at a mountain refuge or traditional trattoria, perhaps after a walk, is one of the best ways to experience these two sides of the region.
7. Discover a contemporary take on local cuisine
Tradition doesn’t have to remain unchanged. At Lisander Restaurant in Malgrate, Chef Roberto Pirelli brings together his Sicilian roots and Lombardy in contemporary cuisine focused on seasonality and carefully selected ingredients.
It is a different way to discover local products and influences through a more refined gastronomic experience.
8. Enjoy lunch by the lake, even in autumn
Clear days in September and October can still bring pleasantly mild temperatures. When the weather allows, take advantage of them with lunch or an aperitivo by the water.
On Malgrate’s lakeside promenade, Da Giovannino Bistrot combines its cuisine with beautiful views across the water towards Lecco and the surrounding mountains.
9. Make aperitivo part of the food experience
A gastronomic experience doesn’t necessarily have to begin with dinner. A well-made cocktail accompanied by a few bites can be the perfect transition between a day spent exploring and the evening ahead.
People Cocktail Bar & Café in Malgrate is a great stop to include in a weekend dedicated to discovering Lake Como through its food and drink.
10. Take a taste of Lake Como home with you
Before leaving, look for something that will remind you of your journey once you are back home: a local cheese, honey, artisan preserves, chestnut products or another speciality discovered during your stay.
Because experiencing a destination through its food also means discovering what is produced there, the people behind it and the traditions that continue to live through every ingredient.
