On Lake Garda an osteria with a terrace over the water, on Lake Como a veranda facing the lake, on Lake Maggiore a gourmet table looking out to the Islands: where to dine after your round without straying far from the courses.
After five hours on the course, the best table is the one a few minutes from the clubhouse with the water in front of it. On Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, three hotels have restaurants overlooking the lake, and the neighbouring golf clubs have tables of their own. Menus, prices and opening hours change from season to season: ask when you book.
Lake Garda: Grand Hotel Fasano, in Gardone Riviera
The Grand Hotel Fasano stands on the Brescia shore. In 1888 the Austrian imperial family built a hunting lodge there; the building is now a national monument. The dining has several levels:
- Il Fagiano, the gastronomic table: chef Maurizio Bufi holds one Michelin star, awarded in 2024 according to the hotel. According to the Guide the cooking is creative and contemporary, with echoes of the chef's native Apulia and of the lake; in summer you dine on the panoramic terrace.
- Osteria Il Pescatore: the hotel's website describes it as a terrace over the waters of the lake, with Mediterranean cooking reinterpreted in an international key by chef Valerio Dallamano.
- La Terrazza, for a break by the water, and the Bistrò 1888, in the garden with glimpses of the lake.
The hotel has no course of its own. Among the courses on the Brescia shore recommended by the hotel is Golf Bogliaco, open since 1912 and presented by the hotel as the third-oldest course in Italy: the club has a restaurant open to everyone every day from 12 to 9 pm. Another is GardaGolf in Soiano del Lago, 27 holes, host of three Italian Opens, with panoramic terraces over Lake Garda and the Bucadiciannove restaurant run by chef Piercarlo Zanotti, serving the cuisine of Brescia and the Garda shore.
Lake Como: Villa d'Este, and the lake from the green
For Villa d'Este, in Cernobbio, the choice depends on the season. Veranda is the gastronomic restaurant: the hotel describes it as "fine dining with a view of the lake", with executive chef Andrea Guerini, ingredients from the sea, the land and the lake, and a wine list that the hotel calls one of the most prestigious in Europe. Il Platano, open in summer, combines Mediterranean flavours with Japanese techniques and has a terrace over the lake. The dress code is explicit: at Il Platano smart casual is required, and at dinner gentlemen wear long trousers and closed shoes; at Veranda, smart casual at lunch and elegant at dinner.
The home club, the Circolo Golf Villa d'Este in Montorfano, has a restaurant of its own, La Terrazza al Golf, overlooking the 18th hole and open to members and non-members, for lunch and dinner.
On the other arm of the lake, the Menaggio & Cadenabbia, founded in 1907, entrusted its restaurant in 2026 to chef Andrea Bombana, with cooking based on produce from the Lario: breakfast with a view of the lake, afternoon tea, aperitivo on the terrace and dinner.
Lake Maggiore: Villa e Palazzo Aminta, in Stresa
Villa e Palazzo Aminta has two restaurants: Le Isole, the gourmet table, with a terrace over the lake, and I Mori, an Italian bistro between tradition and creativity. For an aperitivo there is the I Principi bar. The hotel says it caters for coeliac, vegetarian and vegan guests on request.
Among the nine affiliated clubs listed by the hotel, the closest to Stresa is the Golf des Iles Borromées, about 5 kilometres away: 18 holes, par 72, at about 600 metres above sea level, with a view that on clear days reaches four lakes: Maggiore, Varese, Monate and Comabbio. The club has a bar and restaurant; to reach the restaurant, call 389 0585574.
Lake Mergozzo: the nineteenth hole
Those looking for something simpler can turn to the Golf & Sporting Club Verbania in Fondotoce: 18 holes, par 69, flat, along the shores of Lake Mergozzo, with Verbania-Pallanza station a few metres from the entrance. At the table you choose between the gourmet restaurant Il Salotto di Mondogatto, which the club presents as the owners' tribute to their mother, and the golfer's bistro, conceived as a "nineteenth hole" with a Golfer's Menu.
How to choose
| Lake | Where to dine | What sets it apart | Nearby course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garda | Grand Hotel Fasano | One Michelin star (Il Fagiano) and a terrace over the water (Il Pescatore) | Bogliaco, GardaGolf |
| Como | Villa d'Este | Veranda with a view of the lake, Il Platano with a terrace | Villa d'Este, Menaggio & Cadenabbia |
| Maggiore | Villa e Palazzo Aminta | Le Isole with a terrace over the lake | Golf des Iles Borromées |
A practical tip: book your table before fixing your tee time and check the restaurant's dress code, which at Villa d'Este is explicit.
Curiosities
- An imperial hunting lodge. The Grand Hotel Fasano began in 1888 as a hunting lodge of the Austrian imperial family.
- One restaurant, two chefs. At La Terrazza al Golf in Montorfano, chef Orazio Stella works under the supervision of Villa d'Este's executive chef.
- Four lakes from the 10th hole. From the 10th tee at Golf des Iles Borromées, in clear skies, you can see the skyscrapers of Milan and four lakes.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you eat well on the lake after golf?+
On Lake Garda at the Grand Hotel Fasano, on Lake Como at Villa d'Este and at Menaggio & Cadenabbia, on Lake Maggiore at Villa e Palazzo Aminta.
Does Il Fagiano at the Grand Hotel Fasano have a Michelin star?+
Yes, according to the hotel and the Michelin Guide it has one star; the chef is Maurizio Bufi.
Is there a dress code at Villa d'Este's restaurants?+
Yes: at Il Platano smart casual is required, and at dinner gentlemen wear long trousers and closed shoes; at Veranda, smart casual at lunch and elegant at dinner.
Are the golf clubs' restaurants open to non-members?+
Some are: the restaurant at Bogliaco is open to everyone every day from 12 to 9 pm, and La Terrazza al Golf at Villa d'Este is open to members and non-members.
Does Menaggio & Cadenabbia have a restaurant with a lake view?+
Yes: according to the club, in 2026 it serves breakfast with a view of the lake, tea, aperitivo on the terrace and dinner.
Is it worth booking?+
It is prudent, especially at hotel restaurants, which have different seasons and opening days (at Villa d'Este, for example, Il Platano is open in summer). Up-to-date hours are those published by each venue.
