Hello,
Does anyone know about the Silvio in Bellagio? Is it difficult to get to from the main area of Como? Any other suggestions for a hotel on Lake Como? We will be there in April?
nvmike

Silvio is very well known and it deserves because the restaurant is very good. Easy to go at Silvio from Como by fast ferry boat; the time is long, more or less, 40 minutes and it is nice thenaks to the fine views.
Then from Bellagio harbour you can walk until Loppia, the sweet hamlet of Bellagio where Silvio is located or, if luggages are heavy, hire a small cab.
Anyway, may I give you a smart tip ?
I'd like to suggest you RESIDENCE ANTICO POZZO, especially if your stay is more than one night. Look at its website: www.bellagioanticopozzo.eu. It opened few months ago and its location is very cute: in the center of Bellagio and very close to the lake.
And, as restaurant, rather than its restaurant, anyway good enough, I like to suggest you RISTORANTE MELLA (www.ristorantemella.it). They cook the wild fish of the lake and its atmosphere is really true and charateristic of the local people. Location is very nice, the hamlet is Guggiate.
Ciao.

Vincenzo

Hi Vincenzo,
Thank you for your recommendations. We are trying for the Silvio as we really don't need an apartment. We will be there two nights, so don't need that much space.
The restaurant you recommended looks like it really offers local dishes and is very interesting. We'll take note of that. Do you own or work for these places? Do you live in Bellagio?
Thank you,
nvmike

I won't disagree with Vincenzo, but the cynical side of me senses veiled advertisements. The Ristorante Mella website has a link to Residence Antico Pozzo, and it's the only link to anything in Bellagio.

I do know that Residence Antico Pozzo has been open well more than "a few months," unless it has recently undergone a change in ownership or the reference is to opening after being closed for renovation.

I'm not familiar with Ristorante Mella in Guggiate. The website indicates it's in San Giovanni, so perhaps Guggiate is an even smaller village near San Gioanni. Whatever. San Giovanni is charming. I think I'd try to find out a bit more about the restaurant before making a journey there.

Go to www.bellagio.co.nz for lots of information about lodging and shopping in Bellagio as well as links to transportation and area activities. My recommendation would be the Hotel Florence. We also like Ristorante Bilacus.

May I ask how/why you chose Silvio?

I thank you for your reply, nvmike.
No, I do not live in Bellagio, I live in Santarcangelo di Romagna but, as my job is a mix between coach and teacher for the top managers, very often I go to Varenna where there is an important business school and from Varenna it is very easy to go to Bellagio and that's why I know Bellagio very well, and Silvio overall because very often it is at Silvio that there are the dinners at the end of a seminar.
Anyway, I go on to tell you that Ristorante Mella is one of the best choiches in Bellagio, meaning the hidden part of Bellagio far from the crowd of tourists.
About what Jean said, who will reply rather than me is Dante: "non ti curar di lor, ma guarda e passa".
Ciao.

Vincenzo

Vincenzo, I would like to tell that I am sorry that there are persons here thinking that you try to make advertisements for your own business.
As we plan a vacation for next year in north of Italy, I read all the messages about this subject, and I met your name and your good and informative advices often

I thank you very much, Valtor.
When you're going to plan your trip in Italy, please feel free to ask me what you need and I'll try to help you the best I can.
Ciao.

Vincenzo

Silvio looks nice but it is far enough away from the town center to make it difficult.I would not want to walk aloong the road, especially at night.
We liked our meal Ristorante Mella and walked there through the Melzi gardens one day for lunch. The setting of this little hamlet is very pretty.
IMO the best dining in Bellagio is found at Ristorante Barchetta where you can siton their outddoor terrace
We went back there three times and loved every meal.

I haven't been to Bellagio for quite some time. However the three times I was there, I stayed at the Giardinetto. The place was fabulously clean and comfotable. It was located close to the church, up on the hill. Is it still there?

Agree with HappyTrvlr above. The problem with the Silvio is that the road leading from Bellagio central to the hotel doesn't have sidewalks the whole way. I would be leery of walking on that road at dusk or after dark. And central Bellagio is short on parking, so I wouldn't want to drive in and out.
Our best meals were at the terrace restaurant of the Hotel Florence. Delicious food, beautiful lakeside setting. Bilacus was good too although I thought the meal at the Hotel Florence was better. Barchetta we didn't try as they had just had a change of management and the reviews were mixed.
If I were to stay in Bellagio again, I'd want to stay *in* Bellagio (or possibly the Pescallo section of Bellagio), not on the outskirts. Or I'd opt for Varenna instead.

Vincenzo, I am sorry if you took offense to my comments. I did not disagree with your recommendations, but I thought it curious that the restaurant's website had only one link to another Bellagio business which happened to be the other of your two recommendations. I suggested nvmike investigate the restaurant further before going there, and I would make that recommendation about any restaurant with only one mention/review. I was told of the many lovely apartments in Bellagio several years ago by the owner of Arco Sport, so I am familiar with LaLimonera (where I have stayed) and with Pozzo.

We stayed at Silvio five or so years ago. The owner nets the lake for the evening's meal. The rooms are modest (there are, perhaps, ten) and most have a lake view and a tiny balcony. We walked from Bellagio center day and night. Its a bit hairy, but eminently doable.