We spent one day in the Lake Como area in May 2024. I did a lot of research into where I could safely eat gluten free while travelling to Italy. Consistently, bloggers and websites said it would be easy and safe to eat in Italy – and it was in the cities! It was a bit more difficult to find places to eat in the small towns, like those that surround Lake Como. Even more difficult was, if you visit on specific days of the week, you’re likely to find many of your options closed (like we did). Be prepared to stop by a grocery store to pick something up if necessary (Carrefour is a good option).
In Italy, restaurants get certified by the AIC (Italian Celiac Association), which basically means they have passed certification and training as a safe place for people with celiac disease to eat. They do have a paid app you can download, but we weren’t in Italy for long, so I didn’t try it. Note: Be cautious when visiting gelato shops if you are celiac, as cross-contamination is likely. Of course, do your research, ask questions ahead of ordering, and reach out to restaurants ahead of time when needed.
There are more options than I have listed below (as this is just where we ate). I have I have included a map at the end of everywhere I had found that I considered to be good options. We have many more gluten free Italy guides, too.
Gluten Free Lake Como
Ristorante Middle East (Como)
A Lebanese restaurant with a well-marked menu (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options). They also have an allergens list at back of menu. I know, I know – you’re in Italy and went for Lebanese?! But the day we were, there many safe restaurants were closed or not open until much later, and we were hungry. We tried the appetizer platter and a chicken and rice dish. The food was all fantastic! Very nice family-owned restaurant.
Ge.lab (Como)
An almost 100% gluten free gelato place. We ate here twice! All the gelato is gluten free, including the cones, and they have gluten free brioches. Our favourite gelato place on our 3-week Italy trip. Highly recommend!
La Vita e Bella Ristorante – Insalateria (Como)
This restaurant serves mainly salads and bowls, but they have many first and second dishes as well. Well-marked allergens on menu, and most of the salads are gluten free. Let them know you’re celiac, as they’ll bring gluten free bread instead of regular bread at the start. The salads are huge! If you are visiting the area in high season, you will want a reservation.
Bistro Varenna (Varenna)
This small café has a few gluten free options. I had spinach and ricotta cannelloni. They also had lasagna and gluten free bread for toasts. One of the few spots open on the day we visited with gluten free choices!
Oakberry (Como)
This is a chain that has gluten free options for smoothies and açai bowls. They have an ingredients list online, since they are an international chain. The açai is gluten free, as are all fruits, proteins, and dairy add-ins. This location didn’t have gluten free granola like other locations sometimes do. It’s a bit expensive for what you get, and weird that the “bowls” come in a regular smoothie cup, but it’s a filling and relatively healthy option.
Map of Lake Como Gluten Free Options
If you want more options, here is the Wanderlog map I made of everywhere I could find that had good gluten free reviews, labelled menus, and/or indications that gluten free was safe at their restaurants. Please note that I did not personally eat at all these restaurants, so do your own due diligence and reach out or check their websites/menus ahead of your visit.
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one category at a time or see all the categories on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
