Best Vegetarian and Vegan Places in Como Worth Visiting
Words by
Giulia Rossi
The best vegetarian and vegan places in Como are not hard to find once you know where locals actually eat, not just where tourist brochures point you. I have spent years wandering the cobblestone lanes of this city on the lake, and the plant based food scene here has quietly grown into something worth writing home about. Whether you are a committed vegan or just curious about meat free eating Como has to offer, the spots below are the ones I return to again and again, each one rooted in the character of this lakeside city.
1. Osteria del Gallo Nero — Via Vittorio Emanuele II
I walked into Osterio del Gallo Nero on a Tuesday evening last month and the owner, Marco, was hand-rolling fresh pappardelle in the open kitchen while his wife managed the front of house. This small trattoria sits on Via Vittorio Emanuele II, just a few steps from the Duomo, and it has been serving Como residents for over thirty years. What makes it worth going to is their vegetable tasting menu, which changes weekly based on what arrives from the farmer in Bellagio that morning. Order the tortelli filled with ricotta and sage butter, and ask for the seasonal vegetable plate, which in late spring might include wild asparagus, baby artichokes, and a drizzle of local olive oil from the Tremezzina coast. The best time to visit is between 12:30 and 1:30 PM on a weekday, when the kitchen is at its calmest and Marco himself often comes out to chat. Most tourists never know that the back room, accessible through a narrow corridor behind the bar, has a private garden terrace that seats only eight people and is available by request.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask Marco about the 'menu del contadino' — it is not printed anywhere, but he prepares a five-course vegetable-only tasting for groups of four or more if you call the day before. He sources everything from a single farm in Cernobbio."
If you want a quiet, unhurried meal that feels like eating at a friend's home in the hills above the lake, this is the place.
2. L'Orologio — Via Bernardino Luini
L'Orologio sits on Via Bernardino Luini, in the heart of the old town, and it has been one of the most reliable vegan restaurants Como has had for the past decade. I stopped in for lunch last Thursday and the place was already half full by noon, which tells you something about its reputation among locals. The interior is modest, with wooden tables and a clock collection on the walls (the name means "the clock"), but the food is anything but plain. Their seitan stew with polenta is the dish I always come back to, and the raw vegetable lasagna made with zucchini ribbons instead of pasta sheets is something I have not found anywhere else in the region. The best time to visit is for Sunday lunch, when they serve a fixed-price plant based menu that includes dessert and a glass of local wine for under fifteen euros. Most tourists walk right past the entrance because the sign is small and the awning is faded, but the line out the door on weekends gives it away.
Local Insider Tip: "Sit at the table by the window on the left side — it has the best light for photos of the food, and the waiter there knows the off-menu daily soup, which is always vegan and usually the best thing on the menu."
This is the kind of place where the portions are generous, the prices are fair, and nobody asks why you are not eating meat.
3. Ristorante Sociale — Piazza Cavour
Ristorante Sociale occupies a corner of Piazza Cavour, the main square that faces the lake, and it has been a fixture of Como's social life since the 1950s. I had dinner here on a Saturday night in August and the terrace was packed with families, couples, and a group of university students celebrating the end of exams. While it is not exclusively vegetarian, their commitment to meat free eating Como residents appreciate is real — the kitchen prepares a separate vegan menu that is not listed in the main book. Order the risotto with porcini mushrooms from the Valchiavenna, and the grilled vegetables with balsamic reduction, which uses a twenty-year aged vinegar from a producer in Modena. The best time to visit is for an early evening aperitivo between 6:00 and 7:30 PM, when the piazza is golden and the lake is at its most photogenic. Most tourists do not know that the building's basement, which you can ask to see, once served as a meeting place for the resistance during World War II, and there is a small plaque near the restrooms.
Local Insider Tip: "If you ask the owner, Signora Paola, about the history of the building, she will show you the original 1920s espresso machine in the back, which still works and is used on special occasions. She also keeps a handwritten list of seasonal specials that never makes it to the printed menu."
The connection to Como's past is palpable here, and the food carries that same sense of continuity.
4. Pasticceria Monti — Via Vittorio Emanuele II
Pasticceria Monti is on the same street as the Gallo Nero, but it serves a completely different purpose. I stopped by one morning last week for a cornetto that turned out to be one of the best vegan pastries I have had in northern Italy. This bakery has been here since 1932, and the Monti family still runs it, now in its third generation. Their vegan cornetti, made without eggs or dairy, are flaky, buttery in taste (using a plant-based margarine from a Swiss supplier), and cost about two euros each. Order the torta paradiso, which they can prepare with a vegan version if you ask the day before, and the ciambellone, a ring-shaped cake that is naturally egg-free. The best time to visit is between 7:00 and 8:30 AM, when the pastries are fresh from the oven and the espresso machine is just warming up. Most tourists never know that the original oven, still in use, was imported from Milan in 1948 and runs on wood during the winter months.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the 'cornetto del nonno' — it is a slightly larger, less sweet version of the regular cornetto, made with a touch of lemon zest, and the older customers have been ordering it for decades. It is not on the display case but they always have a few in the back."
This is the kind of place where the pastries are made with the same care as they were seventy years ago, and the line of locals waiting at 7 AM is proof.
5. Il Giardino di Silvia — Via Armando Diaz
Il Giardino di Silvia is on Via Armando Diaz, a quiet street that runs uphill from the lake, and it is one of the best vegetarian and vegan places in Como for a relaxed afternoon. I visited on a Wednesday afternoon last month and the garden was in full bloom, with tables under a pergola of wisteria. Silvia, the owner, grows most of the herbs and some of the vegetables herself in a plot behind the restaurant. The menu is small but thoughtful — the chickpea flour fritters with rosemary are crisp and light, and the farro salad with roasted peppers and capers is something I think about often. The best time to visit is between 1:00 and 3:00 PM on a weekday, when the garden is quiet and you can hear the church bells from the Duomo. Most tourists never find this place because it is not on the main tourist route and the sign is easy to miss.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask Silvia about the herb garden — she will walk you through it if the weather is good, and she often gives small bundles of fresh herbs to regulars. She also makes a lemon granita in summer that is not on the menu but is available if you ask."
The garden feels like a secret, and the food tastes like it was made by someone who cares deeply about every ingredient.
6. La Cucina di Pippa — Via Cinque Giornate
La Cucina di Pippa is on Via Cinque Giornate, a residential street in the Camerlata neighborhood, and it is the kind of place that makes you understand why meat free eating Como has become so popular. I went for dinner on a Friday night and the small dining room was full of families, which is always a good sign. Pippa, the chef, trained in Bologna before returning to Como, and her cooking reflects that northern Italian precision. The eggplant parmigiana is layered and not greasy, the way it should be, and the vegan tiramisu made with cashew cream is genuinely impressive. The best time to visit is for dinner between 7:30 and 8:30 PM, when the kitchen is in full swing but the rush has not yet peaked. Most tourists never venture this far from the lakefront, but the neighborhood is safe, well-lit, and a short bus ride from the center.
Local Insider Tip: "Pippa sometimes prepares a vegan version of her grandmother's tortellini broth using vegetable stock and dried mushrooms — it is not on the menu, but if you mention it when you reserve, she will often make it for you. The broth takes her three hours."
This is plant based food Como does at its most personal, and the care in every dish is obvious from the first bite.
7. Gelateria Daniele — Corso Italia
Gelateria Daniele sits on Corso Italia, the main lakeside promenade, and it has been serving gelato since 1987. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon last week and the line stretched down the block, which is normal for a sunny weekend. What makes this place worth going to for vegans is their fruit sorbetto selection, which is extensive and made daily with real fruit. The lemon sorbetto, made with lemons from the Amalfi coast, is sharp and refreshing, and the dark chocolate sorbetto, made with water instead of milk, is rich enough to satisfy anyone. The best time to visit is between 3:00 and 5:00 PM on a weekday, when the line is shorter and the sorbettos are at their freshest. Most tourists do not know that the gelato maker, Daniele's son Alessandro, sources his pistachios directly from a small farm in Bronte, Sicily, and the pistachio flavor, while not vegan, is worth mentioning to any non-vegan companions.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the 'coppa del lago' — it is a cup that combines three fruit sorbettos of the day, and it is a house specialty that is not listed on the board. Alessandro will make it for you if you ask, and it is the best way to taste the seasonal fruit."
The promenade location makes this an easy stop during a walk along the lake, and the quality of the sorbetto is consistently high.
8. Mercato Comunale di Como — Viale Varese
The Mercato Comunale is on Viale Varese, about a ten-minute walk from the Duomo, and it is the best place in Como to understand where the plant based food Como residents actually eat begins. I go every Saturday morning, and the market has been running in some form since the early 1900s. The vegetable stalls are run by farmers from the surrounding hills, and the selection changes with the seasons. In spring, look for wild asparagus and violet artichokes; in autumn, porcini mushrooms and chestnuts. The best time to visit is between 7:30 and 10:00 AM on Saturday, when the stalls are fully stocked and the farmers are most willing to talk about their produce. Most tourists never find this market because it is not in the historic center and there is little signage in English.
Local Insider Tip: "The third stall on the left as you enter from Viale Varese is run by a woman named Carla who grows everything herself in Moltrasio. She will give you recipe ideas if you ask, and she always has a small basket of whatever is freshest that day, which she sells at a discount if you buy three items."
The market is where the food culture of Como is most alive, and spending a morning here will change how you think about eating in this city.
When to Go and What to Know
Como is busiest from June through September, and the vegan restaurants Como has to offer can fill up quickly during those months, especially on weekends. If you are visiting in summer, reserve at least a day in advance for dinner. The shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October are ideal for meat free eating Como style, because the local produce is at its peak and the crowds are thinner. Winter is quieter, and some smaller places reduce their hours, but the market and the bakeries remain reliable. Como is a walkable city, and most of the places listed above are within twenty minutes of the Duomo on foot. Public buses connect the outlying neighborhoods, and a single ride costs about 1.50 euros. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up the bill is appreciated. Water from the tap is safe to drink throughout the city, and many restaurants will fill a bottle for you if you ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water in Como safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
Tap water in Como is safe to drink and is regularly tested by the local utility, ComoAcqua. The water comes from Alpine sources and meets all EU safety standards. Most restaurants and cafes will serve tap water if you ask, and many public fountains throughout the city provide fresh drinking water. There is no need to rely exclusively on filtered or bottled water unless you have a specific medical sensitivity.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Como?
Como has a growing number of dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants, and most traditional Italian restaurants offer at least two or three plant-based dishes, even if they are not explicitly labeled as such. The historic center has the highest concentration of options, but neighborhoods like Camerlata and the area around Viale Varese also have reliable choices. Menus in Como often use the word "vegano" or "senza glutine" to indicate dietary options, and staff are generally knowledgeable about ingredients.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Como is famous for?
Polenta is the staple dish of the Como region, and it is naturally vegan when prepared without butter or cheese. The local version, often served with mushrooms, beans, or a vegetable stew, is a cornerstone of the traditional diet in the Lario area. For drinks, the local wine from the nearby Valtellina region, particularly the Sassella and Inferno reds, pairs well with plant-based meals, though these are not exclusive to Como itself.
Is Como expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier daily budget in Como runs approximately 80 to 120 euros per person, including meals, transport, and one or two activities. A vegan lunch at a casual restaurant costs 12 to 18 euros, while dinner at a sit-down place runs 20 to 35 euros including a drink. A gelato or pastry is 3 to 5 euros. Public transport is 1.50 euros per ride, and a day pass costs 5 euros. Accommodation varies widely, but a mid-range hotel or B&B averages 70 to 110 euros per night in the historic center.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Como?
Como is a relatively casual city, but locals tend to dress neatly, especially for dinner. Smart casual attire is appropriate for most restaurants, and beachwear should be reserved for the lakeside areas only. When entering churches, shoulders and knees should be covered. It is customary to say "buongiorno" when entering a shop or restaurant and "grazie" when leaving. Tipping is not mandatory, but leaving 5 to 10 percent at sit-down restaurants is a kind gesture.
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