Enjoying yourself at bar Il Giardino al Lago in Carate Urio… At Lake Como, the temptation of a bright orange Aperol, a sparkling glass of prosecco, a creamy gelato or a crispy bruschetta topped with fresh tomatoes is never far away. Anyone who tries to resist it is a fool. Find yourself a terrace along the shores of Lake Como and simply give in. If you hear that call in Carate Urio, we can recommend an excellent address: Il Giardino al Lago, located on Piazza Luigi Minoletti, right across from the now seemingly closed Hotel Fioroni.
Winding along the Vecchia Regina, Il Giardino immediately catches the eye. A narrow traditional three storey building painted in a fresh shade of white with pistachio green shutters. On the left, across the street, lies the Chiesa dei SS. Giacomo e Filippo and on the right, Lake Como shimmers in the sunlight. Park an old Fiat 500 or an original Vespa PX against the façade and you instantly have the perfect vintage postcard.
Old photographs reveal that the building has had a long and rich history with various uses, including a hotel. Today, however, Il Giardino al Lago is a fun and stylish bar offering cocktails and drinks, ice cream, aperitifs, breakfast and light dishes.
In elegant letters on a yellow base, Il Giardino al Lago is written. We walk inside and are immediately charmed by the cozy pergola terrace. Green tables and chairs sit on white-grey pebbles. Charming string lights are casually draped around the plants. Wisteria and grapevines wind their way through the pergola toward a sunbeam. And all of this comes with a stunning view of the gently rippling waters of Lake Como. That’s postcard number two!
A friendly young lady brings us a menu. We order two drinks and let our eyes wander over the dishes. Aperitif boards with local cheeses and charcuterie, snacks, bruschettas, vitello tonnato, caprese with burrata, or beef tartare. There are also various salads and a few desserts.
At Giardino al Lago, it is Italy meets South Africa. Owner Maxine Fioroni spent most of her life in South Africa, but a few years ago decided to return to her hometown of Carate Urio to breathe new life into the historic family restaurant. That international background is also reflected in the interior of Il Giardino al Lago. The building is beautifully and thoughtfully decorated. The fresh green tones from the exterior reappear inside, complemented by elegant golden accents. You could almost recognise the colours of South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks, in the design.
Il Giardino al Lago also operates a B&B in the same location, with three rooms: “Lario,” “Sereno,” and “Stella.” That rings a bell. A few years ago, we stayed in one of those rooms -which has since been refreshed- when we were staying at Hotel Fiorini.
While we are still chatting about our lovely introduction to the Chilometro della Conoscenza earlier that morning, two delicious bruschettas are served. Little explosions of flavour in their elegant simplicity. Il Giardino al Lago presents classic Italian delicacies with a touch of Como flair.
And, as any good bar should, Il Giardino al Lago also serves delicious ice cream. So don’t forget to pay a visit to this lovely spot to relax or simply enjoy yourself when you’re in Carate Urio.
