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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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