Word of Mouth: Lake Como
Lake Como is more than a pretty place to visit—it’s intellectually alive, industrious, deeply stylish and quietly restless
Como resists easy categorization. A Roman city by one of the arms of a Y-shaped lake, it has long been cast in a Hollywood register—glamour, frescoed villas, unhurried boat crossings, the studied ease of Italian luxury. That version is real, but reductive. The lake towns are intimate and compact rather than resort-scaled, which surprises some visitors and enchants others. Look past the postcard and something else emerges: a territory that is intellectually alive, industrious, deeply stylish and quietly restless.
Lake Como EDITION Hotel
The recently opened Lake Como EDITION is a compelling starting point for both readings. Omnam Group, the London-based firm behind a string of landmark European hotel transformations, partnered with EDITION to reimagine a 19th-century palazzo in Cadenabbia that was, until recently, an unremarkable three-star property. Shanghai studio Neri&Hu and Italian architects De.Tales did the interiors: European white oak floors, ivory plaster walls, Calacatta Turquoise marble on the archways, a verde smeraldo marble bar anchoring the grand hall, dark oak and terracotta in the library.
The shore is in a narrow strip of land between the mountains and the lake, so EDITION offers a splendid lido with a floating pool—but perhaps the most surprising discovery is finding, in an annex at the back of the hotel, a sprawling, luxurious spa and wellness center run by the Longevity Suite Group.
Positioned directly opposite the iconic village of Bellagio, the hotel’s natural landscape completes the project. Yet, in the words of Lake Como EDITION’s general manager Anton Moore, “what’s special about us is that you’re not just sitting on this unbelievably iconic destination—it’s the way we’ve created this hotel in a very highly styled, very contemporary, modern, sophisticated manner.”
EDITION’s approach may well inspire its guests to go beyond the surface and discover the authentic side of Lake Como, where timeless richness meets constant evolution.
Draga & Aurel
A visit to Draga & Aurel’s showroom makes the territory’s dual nature immediately legible. Making creativity and craftsmanship meet, they strive to overcome generational difficulties in a constant effort to blend traditional methods with innovation. Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow are a Serbian-German design duo who founded their studio inside a former silk mill 20 years ago. They design and produce locally. Coming from fine arts and restoration backgrounds, they share a passion for material experimentation—working with epoxy resin, cement and metal—and for the unexpected alchemy that transforms objects into carriers of meaning. Their practice began with upcycling vintage furniture, evolving through key collections including the acclaimed Transparency Matters capsule (2019). A formative collaboration with Baxter brought them into high-end serial production.
Their work blurs the boundary between design and art—Aurel’s layered paintings coexist in their atelier alongside prototypes—creating a unique duality they describe as harmony rather than fusion. His approach speaks of a constant quest for innovation and exploration beyond limits, while Draga steers his creativity towards feasible production.
Mantero Seta
The silk industry is Como’s oldest and most internationally resonant tradition, and Mantero Seta, founded here in 1902, now in its fourth generation of family ownership, is its most complete expression. The company has supplied the world’s top luxury houses for over a century; in 2025, Chanel formalized a relationship of more than 50 years by taking a minority stake.
COOL HUNTING’s special visit to their factory revealed the two pillars of the business: creativity and craft, in a fascinating, vibrant atmosphere of dedication and pride. The Archivio Mantero—250,000-plus pieces of printed fabrics, hand-drawn designs, scarves, and books—is among the richest textile archives anywhere and has recently opened as a creative platform. Mantero also sells directly under three brands: Mantero 1902 (scarves and clothing), Ken Scott (the botanical and graphic prints of the eponymous American-born designer, acquired in 2019) and Holliday & Brown (a London tie brand celebrating its centenary in 2026).
Mantero stands as a benchmark of long-established Italian textile excellence, always looking to the future. On the environmental side, 92% of their fabrics contain renewable fibres, a large rooftop photovoltaic plant powers the factory and a new mid-process silk washing system has already cut water withdrawals by 11%.
Cantiere Ernesto Riva and Figli dei Fiori
If you wish to know more of Como’s dual identity of tradition and modernity, Cantiere Ernesto Riva is a historic boatyard worth discovering. Founded in 1771, they hand build, restore and maintain wooden boats of all kinds, from sailboats to motorboats and electric craft, preserving local craftsmanship while working towards innovation. Ernesto Riva isn’t a museum-style workshop but an active production site serving private owners, tourism and lake navigation today.
For lunch or dinner in a relaxed, stylish setting with refined cuisine, look for Figli dei Fiori in Como town. Set in a restored 1920s greenhouse, the space offers lush displays of flowers and greenery within an industrial-bohemian décor. The Bistrot serves dishes from the land while the Osteria focuses on a seafood menu. Both unite Italian tradition and innovation in the kitchen.
Wonderlake Como and the Lake Como Design Festival
If you’re looking for more ideas, the non-profit Wonderlake Como has been mapping this territory for international audiences for years. Its guide is a useful tool featuring quality-conscious, authenticity-minded recommendations for dining, cultural experiences, lodging and more. A perfect occasion to explore more of this land’s modern and vibrant culture is the upcoming eighth annual Lake Como Design Festival, taking place from 12 to 20 September 2026.
What are your thoughts?