Restaurants on Lake Maggiore: our honest selection
The short answer: in Maccagno itself you can walk to dinner – pizza by the lake, simple local cooking, a grill up at Lago Delio. For a proper evening out, drive 10 minutes to Luino, which has everything from a fish trattoria to a steakhouse. And if you want the other side of the lake, take the ferry to Cannobio – 15 minutes across the water instead of 50 minutes around it.
Where to eat well around Maccagno – sorted by town and by occasion, with no paid recommendations.
Maccagno – walking distance from the camp
You can reach all of these without a car. That is the real luxury here: you can share a bottle of wine and still walk back to your tiny house.
Ristorante Pizzeria Lido di Maccagno
Pizzeria on the lake
The busiest place in the village, right on the water. Pizza and Italian standards, large terrace. Full on summer evenings – book if you want a table. Google Maps
La Concordia
Ristorante-pizzeria
A classic pizzeria with regional dishes alongside. Unshowy, solid, open year-round. Google Maps
La Gabella
Ristorante-pizzeria with terrace
A wide menu and a terrace looking out over the lake. Good when everyone in the group wants something different. Google Maps
Ristorante Maccagno
Ristorante-pizzeria
Smaller and quieter than the Lido. More of a dinner for two than a table for ten. Google Maps
Giona Beach Lounge
Beach spot
Right on the beach at the mouth of the Giona. Aperitivo, a snack and the sunset rather than a full menu. Google Maps
Il Cinzanino at the Palestra di Roccia
Simple and inexpensive
The little restaurant at the climbing wall. Short menu, fair prices, plenty of locals – the right place after a day on the rock. Google Maps
Ristoro Lago Delio
Grill in the mountains
Up at Lago Delio, the reservoir above Maccagno. Grilled food, simple and cheap. Worth it as the destination of a walk or a drive, not as dinner around the corner. Google Maps
Luino – 10 minutes by car
Luino lies about 6 kilometres south along the same shore. It is the largest town nearby and the place where you actually get to choose. Wednesday is market day – the streets are packed and parking is a fight; for dinner the day of the week does not matter.
Trattoria da Elia e Ugo
Fish
A small trattoria serving fish from the lake and from the sea. Few tables, so book early. Google Maps
Osteria Al Cantinone
Lombard cooking
Regional cooking in the oldest wine cellar in town. The address for finding out what people here actually eat. Google Maps
Ristorante Pizzeria Il Vecchio Granaio
Pizza
A pizzeria with remarkably consistent reviews. The uncomplicated family evening. Google Maps
Due Scale
Mediterranean, upscale pizza
Inside the historic Palazzo Due Scale. A step up from an ordinary pizzeria without being stiff. Google Maps
Tiffany Restaurant Villa Porta
Fine dining
The most expensive address on this list and the right one when the evening is an occasion. Fish and classics, a villa with a park. Google Maps
Steak House Ristorante Trippolini
Meat
For everyone who wants a steak after a week of fish and pizza. Google Maps
CUBO Cucina e Bottega
Light cooking
Lighter and more modern than the rest of the list. Pleasant at lunchtime. Google Maps
Trattoria Pizzeria Manzoni
Pizza
A down-to-earth trattoria-pizzeria, big enough for groups. Google Maps
Cannobio – 15 minutes by ferry
Cannobio sits on the opposite, Piedmontese shore. By car it is roughly 48 kilometres and just under 50 minutes around the lake – by ferry from Maccagno about 15 minutes. Take the ferry. Sunday is market day in Cannobio, which makes the trip worth twice as much.
Trattoria Cannobio da Ale & Vale
Fish
The best-reviewed trattoria in town. Fish, friendly, small – no chance in summer without a reservation. Google Maps
Ristorante Grotto Sant'Anna
Grotto by the gorge
Above the town at the Orrido gorge, spectacularly placed. If you only eat at one place in Cannobio, make it this one. Google Maps
Osteria Vino Divino
Osteria
A small osteria in the lanes of the old town, with a focus on wine. Google Maps
Scurone Ristorante e Dimora
Ristorante
A little more upscale, a broader menu, and fine for guests with less Italian palates. Google Maps
Ristorante Antica Stallera
Ristorante with courtyard
A traditional house with a green inner courtyard, quietly located. Google Maps
Ristorante Pizzeria L'Imbuto
Pizza
The pragmatic choice with children on board. Google Maps
Before you set off
- We are not paid by any of these places. No commission, no partnership, nothing in return. If one of them disappoints, it comes off this page.
- Opening hours are deliberately not listed here. They change constantly in this region, and a wrong time is worse than no time at all. Call ahead or check Google Maps before you go.
- The closing day is usually Monday or Tuesday. Out of season many places only open at weekends, and some close entirely from November to March.
- Book in July and August. The small trattorias in particular have ten to fifteen tables, no more.
- The kitchen closes earlier than you think. Set off at 21:30 and in many places you will find the kitchen already shut.
- Just ask us. At reception we know who is open this week and where the cooking has changed.