Ristorante Materia Cernobbio

This aesthetically simple bistro-style restaurant, spruced up with modern art, draws a mainly local crowd for some of the most inventive food creations and presentation in the Como region. The imaginative vegetable-focused cuisine makes good use of local ingredients, and the frequently changing surprise five- or seven-course tasting menus are a particular delight, especially when paired with the mostly natural wines on offer.

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His passion for vegetables, substantiated by his own greenhouse, shines through in each of his dishes, as does the elegance of the presentations. His excellent technique, honed over the course of numerous experiences in Italy and abroad, allows him to elaborate unusual combinations (linguine, butter, garum agon and amchoor) using local and international ingredients without hesitation. He is not afraid to push on flavour, as in the lamb, peppers and black olives, and on bitterness (the very good pigeon on the spit with chicory and anchovies), to create dishes that are in any case extremely balanced and pleasing.

If you’re a Michelin pilgrim, the lake’s other starred restaurants are Il Sereno al Lago in Torno, Kitchen in Cernobbio, Trattoria Contemporanea in Lomazzo (south of Como city), and Il Cantuccio in Albavilla (in the Larian Triangle). As you might already know, the Michelin guide can be somewhat political and may dethrone a restaurant (at times, seemingly unnecessarily) for whatever reason it deems necessary. Mistral at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio lost its star last year, but don’t let the demotion discourage you if you’re considering it–it’s still great.

Casual and warm Michelin-level dining can be experienced if you dine at Ristorante Materia. Vegetables, spices, and aromatic herbs abound on the menu, and the chef makes excellent use of them to create dishes with intense flavors that draw inspiration from Italian traditions. This is the place to go if you like to try new things, as many of the dishes – even the desserts – feature novel flavor combinations, some of which are quite bold and complex, with acidic and bitter notes.

Davide Caranchini grew up in the hills overlooking Lake Como before going on to work in some of the world’s most famous kitchens, including Copenhagen’s Noma. He returned in 2016 to open fine diner Ristorante Materia, which among other offerings has a plant-based tasting menu showcasing veggies grown in the Materia’s own greenhouse. Caranchini’s unfettered imagination and precise execution make this one of the best restaurant’s of Lake Como.

Una stella Michelin, il ristorante Materia è il laboratorio creativo dello chef Davide Caranchini, che lavora in equilibrio tra prodotti locali che arrivano da piccoli produttori della provincia di Como. Al fianco di Caranchini, in quest'avventura all'insegna dell'alta cucina, la responsabile di sala Ambra Sberna, mentre Luca Sberna si occupa dei vini. MateriaVia Cinque Giornate, 32 Cernobbio (Como), Italia

The “Materia” restaurant, with one Michelin star, is the creative laboratory of chef Davide Caranchini, who works with local products (including much of the vegetable raw material that comes from his garden). Davide Caranchini is young but has a very respectable curriculum. And in his restaurant “Materia” in Cernobbio, he amazes with a technical cuisine that is at the same time all oriented towards taste.

Located in the popular tourist destination of Cernobbio, Materia Michelin star restaurant in Lake Como boasts one of the youngest chefs in the industry – Davide Caranchini. After completing his culinary education in Como, Davide expanded his expertise by working in London and Copenhagen. He acquired his love for herbs from his grandmother and implemented them as significant elements in his cooking.

Retreating from Cernobbio’s sprawling waterfront isn’t easy–unless Materia is involved. This past August, chef Davide Caranchini reopened his Michelin-starred and World’s 50 Best Discovery restaurant in a roomier digs outfitted with a research laboratory. The elegant white-walled interior is warmed by light wood floors and provides an apt minimalist backdrop to spotlight the food.

If you dare to try a very innovative kind of cuisine you can’t miss Ristorante Materia (Via 5 Giornate 5, behind the City Hall, in the street heading to Switzerland) where the young but already famous Chef Davide Caranchini will surprise you experimenting with unusual pairings, with special attention for your eyes and your taste.

The only limit imposed to creativity is the absolute rigor in only picking the finest seasonal ingredients. Ristorante Materia is a lighthouse of gastronomy in Cernobbio, proudly gleaming with the brightness of 1 Michelin Star, and proposing an enlightening, almost spiritual food adventure.

Under renowned chef, Davide Caranchini, Materia values using fresh local ingredients and sources produce from the surrounding area. They even use herbs and vegetables grown in a greenhouse adjacent to the restaurant. I was very impressed by this restaurant when I dined here.

The reasonably priced one Michelin star restaurant, Materia in Cernobbio, has gorgeous small batons of sourdough bread, one for each guest, as part of the ‘coperta’ cover charge which is so moorish you risk filling up before the main acts arrive!

The best Michelin-starred restaurant on Lake Como for intrepid food lovers. Via Cinque Giornate 32, 22012 Cernobbio Closed Monday and Tuesday. One of Lake Como’s top restaurants, Materia is the brainchild of Davide Caranchini.