Gluten-Free Lake Como: Where to Eat from A Celiac Traveler

Gluten-free and traveling to Lake Como? Are you looking for how to eat safely while you’re there?

These are the restaurants I ate at while I was traveling in Lake Como. Plus, a few tips about planning your trip so you can make it easier on yourself. Italy is so easy for gluten-free travel. But Lake Como gluten-free was a little bit harder than the rest of the country. It was still easier than it would be in my hometown, but the bar is high in Italy!

So, these are the places I ate and the ones that I had on my list that I didn’t get to. Plus, how to make sure your trip to Lake Como isn’t ruined by your gluten-free diet

Gluten-free restaurants in Lake Como

With only three nights in Lake Como, I didn’t need a lot of options. I like going back to places that make me feel confident. So, I was fine knowing there were a couple of places I could trust. That made me feel okay about having a hotel in Lake Como and not seeking out a place to stay with a kitchen.

There were some options I didn’t get to try that I was interested in. I’ll list those for you, too.

There aren’t many AIC-certified restaurants in the area. The AIC is the Italian Celiac Association. They are exceptional, and I write a lot about them in my guide to being gluten-free in Italy.

You’re going to want to check out dedicated gluten-free or AIC-certified restaurants as much as possible.

Ristorante in Teatro

Ristorante in Teatro is an AIC Certified restaurant. So, they have great practices and training to handle cooking for celiacs. 

This restaurant sits in the main plaza in Como. The location is the perfect outdoor-cafe-in-a-plaza vibe. Enjoying a safe gluten-free meal on the plaza in one of the prettiest parts of Italy I’ve been to made this restaurant experience even better than it would’ve been in another setting.

They are most well-known for their gluten-free pizzas. But I was in the middle of a trip and desperate for some veggies. So, I ordered a salad. I love a crunchy gluten-free crouton on a salad because it’s so unusual. This one was very good. The fresh veggies and outdoor seating made it a very refreshing lunch in Como. 

They also have a gluten-free tiramisu. I don’t know that it was my favorite one I’ve had. But I ate all of it. So… it wasn’t bad!

If you’re in Como, this would be my top pick for a restaurant.

Fontana D’Oro

This was a last-minute decision after a day visiting the smaller towns. It started raining, a lot, on the ferry ride back. So, we got back to Como, it was chilly and rainy. And, I was hungry. So, I didn’t want to walk back to the hotel in the rain and try to convince myself to leave again. And, for once, I didn’t have a great plan for dinner.

Thank goodness for Find Me Gluten Free. I found Fontana de Oro, read the reviews, and decided to give it a try. 

Before I ordered, I confirmed that I was gluten-free and that the gluten-free pasta was celiac-friendly. To which the waiter replied, “Of course it is!” 

Italians just don’t realize how special it is that they don’t usually label things gluten-free that aren’t gluten-free. But, that’s a soap box for another day. The staff was helpful and answered my questions patiently, even though they had it under control.

I had a gluten-free arrabiata pasta and some gluten-free bread. 

On a sunnier day, the street-side seats or the interior courtyard would’ve been a great place to eat. I’m a little sad I only got to experience it in gloomy rain.

This restaurant has a view of Lake Como. If you want a lakeside dinner, I’d start here.

Ristorante/Pizzeria Il Sogno

This restaurant is an AIC-certified pizza place that is not in Como proper. It’s easily accessible by the C74 bus that you can pick up in the city center (or in front of the Hilton). I’m normally skeptical of how easy it is to navigate on a bus. But this one was easy.

It’s about a 20-minute ride from Como. It’s not too far but it does require a bit more planning with the bus schedule. Use your maps app to follow the bus along the route so you don’t miss your stop.

My partner found it and was so excited about so we gave it a try. I always go to great lengths for good gluten-free food, and it was a direct bus.

The pizza was very good. So was the wine. My favorite part of this restaurant, other than how safe it was for gluten-free, was that it was unique. It took me a few extra minutes to decide on a pizza because the options were different than the standard options you see at every other restaurant.

It’s in a little town outside of Como, so it sees some tourists, but nowhere near what you’d see in the other town. It felt more like a place locals come to and we saw a lot of that.

I was skeptical on the bus out. But I’m so glad we made the journey.

Gelateria Lariana

Gelateria Lariana is right along the water near the ferry terminal in Como. So, it is popular. Expect a long line and a crowd of people enjoying their gelato outside. Even though the line is long it it moves pretty quickly. There is a walking path across the street that makes it easy to eat and walk if you prefer that option.

I’d just eaten a tiramisu, so I only tried some of my partner’s gelato here. It was so busy that I would normally have concerns about cross-contamination if they didn’t take it so seriously when you brought it up. I knew I would try a bit of the gelato, so I asked about the gluten-free option. They took care of me even though the line was long.

They were also patient with us, asking about dairy-free options even though they were busy.

Gelab Gelateria

I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I realized this was a 100% gluten-free gelato place when I was in Como. Otherwise, I would’ve visited because I always try to support a good gluten-free restaurant.

They also seem to have a good selection of dairy-free/vegan ice creams, which is great because I usually avoid dairy. My partner always avoids dairy. 

So, give this place a try and let me know how it goes. I’ll try it if I’m ever back in Lake Como.

Other Options in Como

Other restaurants in Como can accommodate gluten-free diets. Many had gluten-free pasta options, and some had gluten-free pizza options.  I think there are a few others I’d consider visiting. But, I’d have to ask a few questions before I would recommend them to you without having experienced it.

If you visit any others and have good luck, let me know so I can add them to my list of places to try out if I go back.

Gluten Free Bellagio

Visiting Lake Como means exploring the picturesque little towns that line the water. They are stunning, and you need to visit them!

I knew we’d be trying to see a lot, and I didn’t see a lot of great options for the day. Plus, we were traveling without a solid plan, and that’s when I always land myself in trouble. Without a plan, I push it too long and get stressed about finding a place I trust.

Since we didn’t have a dialed itinerary for the day, I packed a lunch.

I probably could’ve found something. I was more worried about experiencing the towns instead of navigating restaurants.

Smooth Operators

This is a very popular gelato shop in Bellagio. And, it earns it. The gelato is all gluten-free. Plus, they only use gluten-free cones. So, you can order gelato with no concerns about cross-contamination. They were geat for vegan/dairy-free flavors too.

Expect a bit of a line here. I waited in line even though it was only like 10:00 in the morning. I have no regrets about my morning gelato! We didn’t have time to go back in the afternoon.

It isn’t 100% gluten-free because most of the things in the case are not gluten-free. But it’s pretty close, and the cross-contamination concerns are managed. It’s an easy win for a snack while you explore Bellagio.

Salice Blu

Salice Blu is the only AIC-certified restaurant in Bellagio. It’s a fixed course menu that looks incredible. It’s just not what I was looking for when I was planning time in Como. We didn’t want a fixed schedule. But, you may be looking for something like this, and I bet it would be amazing!

I’ve found most restaurants that go through the trouble of getting AIC certified are worth it. If they want to do the gluten-free part well they usually pay attention to details in other ways too.

Other Options in Bellagio

Again, other restaurants in Bellagio can probably accommodate you safely.

Ristorante La Punta is one I considered. It just didn’t fit my schedule.

I don’t want to recommend something I’m not confident in. Unless it’s AIC-certified or dedicated, I don’t want to recommend them without having my own experience there.

Gluten-Free Varenna

I didn’t eat in Varenna, I packed my lunch because I wasn’t sure what our schedule was going to look like that day. We bounced around the little towns and planned to move on to the next one when we were finished. So, packing a lunch made that easier.

But, I don’t want to leave you with nothing. So, this is where I would consider eating. I don’t know that it’s a true recommendation. Just a place I’d start.

Locanda Cavallino

Locando Cavallino is one of the only options I’d attempt in Varenna. They don’t have gluten-free pizza, but seem to understand the ins and outs of making gluten-free pasta safely. Plus, they bring gluten-free bread to the table, which is a plus.

If you eat here, I’d ask questions and make sure to clarify that you’re celiac. Don’t just order a gluten-free entree and hope for the best (at least I wouldn’t do that). 

Gluten-Free Menaggio

I didn’t eat anything other than gelato in Menaggio because there were options in Como that I knew I wanted to try. Plus, it was looking like rain, so I wanted to head back to avoid getting drenched.

There are more options in Menaggio that I’d attempt, but just like with Varenna, I wouldn’t consider these recommendations as much as starting points. 

Gelateria Dulcis In Fundo

Two gelatos in one day is a good day. This gelateria is popular and is in the middle of one of the plazas along the water in Menaggio. You’ll likely see others order here.

They had good practices from what I observed, but they do serve both gluten-free and regular cones. 

The flavors are clearly marked with allergens, so you can tell what you’re ordering is safe for you. They can also confirm for you if you’re not sure.

They used a separate scoop, changed their gloves, and dipped ice cream from a place where it wouldn’t be at risk of cross-contamination from the other cones/scoopers. 

I felt safe and really enjoyed my afternoon gelato.

Trattoria La Vecchia Magnolia

Honestly, the bar is just so high in Italy. If there were a restaurant with these reviews and options in my hometown, I’d be thrilled.

They can do gluten-free pasta and seem to do it quite well. They also have a couple of gluten-free dessert options. 

Based on everything I’m reading, this would be a great place to start. But, since they aren’t dedicated or AIC certified, be sure to ask questions and speak up to make sure they understand and can accommodate your needs. 

Other Places I’d Consider

Del Tato and Ristorante Pizzeria could both potentially do gluten-free pizza well. But, I there are so many ways to get cross-contact with a pizza. So, I’d ask questions.

Pasticceria Cassera Moretti supposedly has frozen gluten-free croissants they can heat up for you (in a separate bag). So, that could be good for a snack in a pinch. But, stock up at one of the incredible bakeries in Milan instead.

Where to Stay in Lake Como if You’re Gluten-Free?

In the Lake Como area, 3 of the 4 AIC-certified restaurants are in Como, and one is in Bellagio. 

For this reason, I stayed in Como and explored from there. It wasn’t the most picturesque, but it was easy to get to. It was easy to eat. And, it was really easy to explore from there.

The Hilton Lake Como did a really good job with gluten-free options for me at breakfast. It was a bit out of the city center. The walk to the city is easy. You can walk along the waterfront path for most of it. But the bus runs right in front, so it was easy to get around if I needed to use the bus for some reason. This pick was mostly because we had Hilton Points.

If I was going back I’d probably look at something like this.

If you want to stay in one of the smaller cities. Bellagio is your best option to be able to find safe gluten-free food.  Mennagio could be good too.

Stay in an apartment like this in Bellagio. Especially since restaurants could be harder than the rest of Italy.

Or this option in Menaggio. There are more hotel options in Menaggio if you’re looking for a hotel over an apartment.

Looking for Things to Do in Como?

When you’re not eating, you’ll be exploring some of the most beautiful lakeside towns you’ll ever see.

If you’re ready for more information, here are some good places to get started.

• Check this out for a two-day itinerary in Lake Como.
• If you want to find some of my favorite ever gluten-free food, you can find it in Milan!
• Here’s a list of things to do in Milan.