A Taste of Bellagio: Lunch and a Stroll by Lake Como

It's strange how travel myths can shape our perceptions. I always believed the grand Italian lakes were only for the wealthy and famous, not for someone like me. As it turns out, nothing could be further from the truth. On my third day in Italy, my friend and I travelled to the delightful village of Bellagio, perched at the tip of the promontory dividing the two southern arms of Lake Como.

While we didn't have lunch with George Clooney, we enjoyed the most perfect day

Our journey that morning had taken us first by train to Lecco and then by ferry across the lake to Bellagio. As we stepped off at the ferry terminal, we were immediately swept into the hustle and bustle of the village. Without any real plan, we found ourselves drawn up this flight of stone steps.

It was just around lunchtime, and we’d fully expected to spend a fair bit of time searching for somewhere to eat. But then we turned and spotted the unassuming Trattoria San Giacomo at the top of the steps.

We received a warm welcome and soon found ourselves sipping chilled water and nibbling on antipasti as we watched the world go by outside.

One of the culinary highlights of my trip, recommended by my lovely friend, was the laziale dish cacio e pepe, a beautifully simple combination of black pepper, pecorino romano and spaghetti. The version at Trattoria San Giacomo was superb.

After lunch, feeling content and well-fed, we set off to explore the village. We paused for a moment at the top of the steps to glance back down Salita Serbelloni towards the lake, then turned and wandered further into the heart of Bellagio.

Everywhere we looked, there were winding paths and narrow passageways, each one tempting us to see where it might lead. Occasionally, we caught glimpses of the lake shimmering between the buildings.

Some of the houses were quite magnificent, beautifully kept and picture-perfect.

Before long, we stumbled upon another set of old stone steps and followed them downwards towards the lake.

At the bottom, we came across the most delightful little Italian pavement café, situated along the edge of the narrow lane.

Soon we were back at the lakeside, gazing out across the shimmering teal water to the majestic mountains beyond.

We turned and began walking south along the shore of Lake Como. As we strolled, we passed the derelict Grand Bretagne hotel which is being restored and will reopen as the Ritz-Carlton, Bellagio in 2026.

The lakeside path was especially lovely, lined with elegant trees, climbing roses, vibrant flower beds and classic lampposts.

We were making our way towards the Giardini di Villa Melzi, a place so enchanting it deserves a post of its own. With one final look towards the Lido di Bellagio, we stepped into the peaceful beauty of the gardens.