Como, Italy – Gluten Free Guide
Gluten Free Como
Once upon a time, the words ‘gluten free’ and ‘Italy’ would not have coexisted in my mind. Lake Como was my first stop in Italy and also served as my introduction to Italian gluten free food.
I must admit, at first I was skeptical. Would Italy, the land of pasta and pizza, really provide tasty gluten free foods that are safe enough for a Celiac? I know multiple online sources have confirmed that many restaurants in Como, Italy offer gluten free options, but as a Celiac I always read these with a grain of salt..
When looking at a map, it’s easy to see that Como, Italy is relatively small compared to other well known Italian cities. Which made it easy for my husband and I to fit in all the sights during our short stay here. So, after doing a fair amount of research, and with only 1 night in Como before traveling on to Florence, we hit the ground running!
Before jumping to the gluten free restaurants, I think it is important to share one of my favorite things I learned while in Como, Italy. The Associazione Italiana Celiachia (Italian Celiac Association) is prominent in the Italian restaurant scene. Restaurants take being gluten free very seriously and will get recognized by the Associazione Italiana Celiachia as a safe place to eat. Next time you’re in Italy, look for this logo on the doors/entrances of restaurants and you’ll know it’s a safe place for a Celiac to eat.
Ristorante In Teatro
This place was definitely my favorite while in Como! The menu highlight was the gluten free pizza, it was perfectly crisp and delicious! We found this place just by walking by and noticing the menu had GF pizza.. And honestly I’m soo happy we walked by. The flavors and ingredients were very fresh and flavorful. We originally ordered one pizza to share.. But it was sooo good we ended up getting another. Plus, it’s hard to top having dinner while staring at Catterdrale di Santa Maria Assunte (Duomo di Como). Great food, great views and not too expensive. Each GF pizza was about 10 euro. They also list on their menu which dishes contain gluten. (check out my Instagram Post HERE to see the views and pizza)
Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, 11, 22010 Como CO, Italy
La Vita è Bella Ristorante – Insalateria
This place doubles as a sit down restaurant and salad bar. They have a cute glass enclosed outdoor seating area with a view of the water (not sure if you’re considered outdoor if completely enclosed by glass? But I digress). We found this place on google because it came up for high reviews and lots of salads (easy to go to as a celiac). When we arrived on a Friday evening, it was packed! I highly recommend if you decide to go here, to set a reservation beforehand. We got lucky and got a table for the two of us. The menu is mainly hearty salads, with a majority of them being served cold. Sadly, none of the pizza served here is gluten free. Worth a stop if you’re interested in a hearty salad with a pretty view!
Piazza Domenico Croggi, 4, 22100 Como CO, Italy
Gelateria Guidi
Gelato was calling my name as soon as I got to Como, but I wanted to make sure I got the best I could since I was only there for one night. After googling gelato places in Como (which surprise, a lot came up!) I finally settled on Gelteria Guidi. What sold me? It was reading their reviews and seeing the shop respond to a customer’s question asking if they have gluten free ice cream and gluten free / vegan cones. Their answer; yes and yes. The ice cream was so creamy and being able to eat the cone was a delicious treat that Celiacs only get to experience every now and then. They offer gluten free, lactose free and vegan options!
Via Domenico Fontana, 17, 22100 Como CO, Italy
Carrefour Market
As all travelers do, you try to save some cash by making your own food on a trip. We stopped in the local market to pick up some fruits and veggies, and were pleasantly surprised by the amount of gluten free goodies on the shelves. There were multiple shelves of gluten free pastas, cookies/treats and bread! Stopping at the market was perfect to grab things for our early breakfast the next day and grab some GF goodies for the road. There are multiple other markets in the area, but we stocked up here because it was closest to our Airbnb and open 24/7.
Via Fratelli Recchi, 22100 Como CO, Italy
Travel Tip: senza glutine means gluten free (or without gluten) in Italian.
Other recommendations…
Since my time in Como was short lived before traveling to Florence, I simply didn’t have time to visit all the gluten free places around Como. However, here are a few that were recommended to me. Sadly, I can’t vouch for them personally but I’ve heard wonderful things about the below gluten free places…
PIZZERIA IL SOGNO
From what I hear, Pizzeria IL Sogno is a fantastic place with a variety of gourmet, classic and veggie pizzas that can all be made gluten free. I really wish we had tried this pizzeria while in Como but unfortunately time flew by. This pizzeria is a bit outside of the old town, but is reachable by bus or car.
Via Armando Diaz, 22, 22020 San fermo della battaglia CO, Italy
;SenzaGlutineComo
Reviewers of ;SanzaGluteComo rave about the delicious food and fantastic, welcoming service. This eatery is both a shop and bakery dedicated as 100% gluten free. They offer a whole host of ready made italian foods and sweet treats, all completely gluten-free. They are open throughout the week and only close on Sundays. This eatery is a bit further from the old town, but is reachable by car or bus.
Viale Trieste, 9, 22077 Olgiate Comasco CO, Italy
Travel Tip
If you’re like me, you probably research gluten free food in an area before traveling there. But, once you’re at your destination, it can be hard to remember all the places you read about. That’s why, whenever I get a recommendation, I save it on Google Maps. That way, when I’m out and about, I can check Google Maps to see which places close by have been recommended. It saves a ton of time and avoids disappointment by knowing the place you’re headed offers gluten free options.
Do you have any recommendations for gluten free restaurants in Como? Let me know in the comments.
This is not a sponsored post, just sharing gluten free insights. All opinions are my own.
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