The restaurant at Hotel Promessi Sposi in Malgrate joins the prestigious selection, recognising a culinary vision that brings together Lake Como and Sicily
Just three years after opening, Lisander Restaurant, located inside Hotel Promessi Sposi in Malgrate, has been selected for the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026, marking an important milestone in its culinary journey.
The recognition celebrates a project created with the aim of showcasing the local area through contemporary, distinctive cuisine that combines technique, research, high-quality ingredients and respect for the foundations of Italian culinary tradition.
Being included in the MICHELIN Guide also represents a significant achievement for the Lake Como East Side hospitality project, which in recent years has invested in creating an increasingly complete experience where hospitality, wellness and gastronomy are deeply connected to the local area.
Lisander Restaurant is open not only to guests staying at Hotel Promessi Sposi, but to everyone wishing to enjoy a distinctive culinary experience on Lake Como.
A cuisine between Lake Como and Sicilian roots
At the helm of the Lisander Restaurant kitchen is Chef Roberto Pirelli, who over the years has developed a personal and recognisable culinary identity.
His cuisine is born from the encounter between the place that is now his home – Lake Como and Lombardy – and his deep Sicilian roots. Two identities that coexist in his dishes through a balance of memory, seasonality and research.
The ingredients and traditions of the Lake Como area become a source of inspiration for contemporary cuisine, enriched by the chef’s Mediterranean soul, which brings warmth and personality while remaining firmly rooted in the principles of Italian cooking.
In just three years, this approach has attracted an increasingly diverse clientele, including international guests as well as diners from the local area and across Italy.
A recognition that celebrates teamwork
For Fabio Dadati, Sole Director of C&D Srl, Lisander Restaurant’s inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide is above all a recognition of a shared vision and of the people who contribute to the restaurant’s growth every day.
“The MICHELIN Guide is the world’s leading reference for the restaurant industry, and seeing our Lisander Restaurant, which opened just three years ago, included in the 2026 selection fills us with joy. This recognition confirms that we are on the right path: we continue to invest in quality, while closely following the evolution of the restaurant industry and the context in which we operate, fully aware of the value that the recent recognition of Italian cuisine as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage represents for our entire sector.”
Dadati emphasises that the achievement is, first and foremost, the result of a strong team effort:
“I would like to thank Chef Roberto Pirelli, Susanna Invernizzi, who leads the front-of-house team with great professionalism, and Sabrina Frigerio for the design and identity of the project, together with the entire brigade and everyone who, every day, contributes in some way, whether big or small, to making this achievement possible.”
The focus, however, is already on the future:
“This recognition is not a final destination, but another milestone along our journey: we want to continue growing and improving. This autumn, we will unveil important new developments that will make the Lisander Restaurant experience even more complete and engaging.”
Roberto Pirelli: a cuisine shaped by territory, memories and people
Chef Roberto Pirelli also expresses great satisfaction, viewing the restaurant’s inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide as the result of a journey built day by day together with his team.
“This recognition is a source of great pride and represents an important milestone in our journey. First of all, I would like to thank the owners, who believed in our vision of cuisine from the very beginning and gave us the trust and freedom we needed to grow and improve every day.”
At the heart of the chef’s words is the importance of teamwork:
“A special thank you goes to my brigade: without a close-knit, skilled and passionate team, no achievement would be possible. Cooking is always a collective effort, built on daily commitment, sacrifice, professionalism and sharing.”
His relationship with Lake Como, which has become an integral part of his culinary identity, is equally important.
“I would also like to thank this extraordinary region, which inspires us every day through its ingredients, landscapes and traditions. My cuisine is born from the encounter between the flavours of Lake Como and those of my Sicily: two identities that I carry with me and that I try to express in every dish.”
A restaurant open to everyone wishing to discover a new culinary experience on Lake Como
Being selected by the MICHELIN Guide is an important achievement, but for Chef Pirelli the main goal remains taking care of every person who chooses to dine at Lisander Restaurant.
“Being included in the MICHELIN Guide makes us very happy, but above all it reminds us that our greatest commitment is to take care of everyone who chooses to sit at our table, ensuring that every visit becomes a moment of pleasure, conviviality and genuine hospitality.”
Lisander Restaurant is not exclusively reserved for guests staying at Hotel Promessi Sposi. The restaurant is also open to external guests and aims to be a culinary destination for anyone wishing to discover Lake Como through a cuisine that tells both the story of the region and the personal journey of its chef.
Being included in the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026 therefore marks a new chapter in the journey of Lisander Restaurant, Hotel Promessi Sposi and Lake Como East Side. An achievement that looks towards the future, with the ambition to continue growing and offering an increasingly complete experience centred around people, the local area and a cuisine that continues to evolve without ever forgetting its roots.
