Il Sereno hotel made a splash when it opened a few years ago, bringing a sleek sense of style to the lake. Its restaurant, Il Sereno al Lago, has been just as much of a trendsetter, with chef Raffaele Lenzi quickly winning a Michelin star for his creative cuisine making it one of the best restaurants in Lake Como. As remarkable as what is on the plate is the restaurant’s enviable location. It is not just the views of the lake framed through ancient stone arches that are so enticing, but also the fact that in summer this spot is bathed in sunlight until late into the evening. serenohotels.com/it

Many of the best lunches on Lake Como offer a view of the glittering lake but there is only one where you can dine in the middle of the lake. La Locanda dell’Isola sits on the lake’s only island, Isola Comacina, and is a predictably popular lunch spot. The staff are busy but friendly and have their routine down pat, serving up a set meal that never seems to end. The food is good rather than great, but the experience is what makes this one worthy of a spot on a best restaurants in Lake Como list. lalocandadellisola.com

Now here is a great local-boy-made-good story. Davide Caranchini grew up in the hills overlooking Lake Como before going on to work in some of the world’s most famous kitchens, including Copenhagen’s Noma. He returned in 2016 to open fine diner Ristorante Materia, which among other offerings has a plant-based tasting menu showcasing veggies grown in the Materia’s own greenhouse. Caranchini’s unfettered imagination and precise execution make this one of the best restaurant’s of Lake Como. ristorantemateria.it

Many visitors leave Lake Como without ever exploring the mountains that ring the lake and that’s their loss. The lovely hillside hikes are a great way to work up at an appetite which you can then sate at one of the rifugios or rustic mountain huts that dot the hills. Rifugio Martina, above the town of Lezzeno, has been a favourite restaurant among Lake Como locals for almost a century, with a menu dedicated entirely to a variety of polenta dishes. rifugiomartina.com

The views are stunning, the food is excellent but the real reason George Clooney is a regular at this Lake Como restaurant comes down to location. Il Gatto Nero is just 15 minutes away from his villa, and Clooney’s seal of approval has drawn a range of other celebrities, from model Molly Sims to rocker Liam Gallagher. If you can tear your attention away from your fellow diners, their pasta (try the tortellini) is as superb as their seafood making it one of the best restaurants to dine (and people watch) at in Lake Como. ristorantegattonero.it

It is no surprise that many of the restaurants lining the edges of Lake Como specialise in seafood: there is something tremendously appealing about eating fish while looking out at the waters from which it was caught. If, however, you have a hankering for red meat, L’Antica trattoria in Como is the place to come. The heart of the action is the wood-fired grill over which a range of cuts expertly finished. Excellent service is an added bonus and make it deserving of a spot on the best restaurants of Lake Como list.

Tremezzo is home to one of Lake Como’s most glamorous hotels, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, but in the hills above town you will find the family-run farmhouse kitchen of your dreams. Tucked into a stone cottage, La Fagurida specialises in hearty fare like T-bone steaks, roasted rabbit and grilled vegetables, with magnificent views across the lake thrown in as a bonus. Get a taxi to drop you off then walk off your lunch with a stroll from the retsaurant back down to the lake. lafagurida.it