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.
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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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.