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25 July 2026 · CineFood Italia Editorial Team

Lake Como on Screen: Where to Eat

Star Wars, 007 and House of Gucci: Lake Como is a movie star. Villas, locations and where to eat by the water.

A lakeside town in Northern Italy, between mountains and water reflections

Few places have a film career like Lake Como. Its villas, gardens and lakeside towns have appeared in Hollywood blockbusters and Italian films. Here are the most famous locations and where to eat with a view of the water.

A lake made for the big screen

  • Star Wars – Attack of the Clones: the Villa del Balbianello in Lenno is the planet Naboo, backdrop to Anakin and Padmé’s wedding;
  • Casino Royale (007): again Villa del Balbianello, where Bond recovers;
  • Ocean’s Twelve: the lake’s villas frame Danny Ocean’s crew;
  • House of Gucci: Villa Balbiano hosts the luxurious scenes of the Gucci family.

Where to eat on Lake Como

Lake Como cuisine is refined and tied to the lake. Try:

  • Risotto with perch, the signature dish;
  • Missoltini (dried shad) with polenta;
  • Pizzoccheri from nearby Valtellina;
  • The great red wines of Valtellina.

Many restaurants overlook the water directly, for a truly cinematic dinner.

An itinerary between villas and villages

Bellagio, Varenna, Lenno and Como are the classic stops, between ferries, gardens and historic residences. A weekend as elegant as the stars who chose it.

In short

Lake Como is an open-air set where the luxury of cinema meets the flavours of the lake. Discover the other films and their food locations.

🎟️ Live the experience

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#Lake Como#Star Wars#007#itineraries#film tourism

Frequently asked questions

▸ Which films were shot on Lake Como?

Star Wars (Villa del Balbianello), Casino Royale, Ocean's Twelve and House of Gucci.

▸ Where is the Star Wars villa on Lake Como?

Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, used as the planet Naboo.

▸ What should you eat on Lake Como?

Risotto with perch, missoltini with polenta and the wines of Valtellina.

▸ Is Villa del Balbianello the same location from Casino Royale and Star Wars?

Yes: the villa in Lenno appears in both Casino Royale (where Bond recovers after his torture) and Star Wars: Episode II, for Anakin and Padmé's kiss. It's open to the public from mid-March to November.

📖 Need a ready-made itinerary?

The CineFood Italia PDF Guide: every real venue with address, price and 3 ready-made itineraries, $9.97.

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