The Magic of Como

Our travel journal for the ultimate summer escape.
by: Lee Petra Grebenau

Sivan was the first to tell me I had to go to Lake Como.
She visited for the first time four years ago, after seeing countless photos and needing to know if it was really as beautiful as it looked.
Since then, she’s been going back again and again. And I completely get why.

Como isn’t just another vacation spot.
There’s a quietness to it - the kind you don’t come across often.
It forces you to slow down.
Not in a spiritual way, just... to stop rushing.
To wake up early, walk through the hotel gardens, and sit for an hour with a mimosa by the lake.
No big plans. Just being.

We’re usually used to fast-paced trips - coffee, shopping, restaurant, photo stop.
But something shifts in Como.
Suddenly, we don’t mind staying in the hotel all day.
Doing nothing. Swimming, lying down, sipping something cold, and staring at that view - water wrapped in green hills.

Every morning started the same way.
I’d head down to breakfast alone, sit by the lake, with ducks and swans walking right beside me.
A mimosa or a cappuccino, depending on the mood.
Just me, right before the world starts running.

What makes Como so unique to me is its style.
Like Sivan said - you see it everywhere:
in restaurants, cafés, hotels.
Colorful Italian glassware, Zafferano lamps (which we carry at The Table Fairy), crisp white linens, embroidered napkins, woven runners.
Even the simplest setting there has a certain standard.

And of course, it made me think of us.
Of what we try to create at The Table Fairy.
A table that doesn’t shout - it speaks through good taste, quality, and restraint.
From the very first moment, I knew we’d come home from this trip with inspiration for a new collection.

Whether it’s in the color palette - white and orange like the parasols by the pool -
or in the overall feeling: classic, calm, unforgettable.
Just like Como.

So why Como?

Because it strikes that rare balance between beauty and ease.
Because it reminds you not to rush, to look around, to actually feel.
Not every place helps you slow down for real.
In Como, it just happens - before you even notice.

How to do Como right?

Our favorite spots:

Where to Stay

Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Timeless glamour, orange parasols by the pool, and a floating deck on the lake. One of those places that makes every hour feel golden.
Instagram | Website

Il Sereno
Sleek, modern, and impossibly chic. Minimal lines, linen sheets, and the kind of quiet you want to bottle.
Website

Villa d’Este
Legendary. Grand halls, gardens that stretch forever, and a floating pool that feels like it belongs in a 1950s postcard.
Website

Passalacqua
The most whispered-about spot on the lake. Intimate, regal, and filled with hidden corners that make you want to stay in all day.
Instagram

Grand Hotel Victoria
A Belle Époque dream in Menaggio. Think spa mornings, Aperol afternoons, and an old-world charm that never fades.
Website

Where to Eat

Osteria La Tana dei Pescatori
Laid-back, unpretentious, and fresh-from-the-sea. The kind of place you stumble into and dream about later.
Instagram

Ristorante Crotto dei Platani
Perched above the water, glowing at golden hour. Go for the views, stay for the handmade pasta.
Website

Ristorante Verdana
Intimate and local. Order the house wine and let the kitchen surprise you.
Instagram

Il Vapore
Lakeside and lively. A little bit retro, a lot of fun, with a view that steals the show.
Instagram

Kitchen
Refined without trying too hard. Tasting menu heaven in a serene garden setting.
Instagram

Ristorante Momi
The food is as good as the playlist. Romantic, vibrant, and always buzzing.
Instagram

Aperitivo Hour

Harry’s Bar Como
Classic and cinematic. It’s not just a drink — it’s a whole look.
Instagram

T Bar
Understated elegance with views for days. Order a negroni and settle in.
Instagram

Aperitivo Et Al
Cool, casual, and just the right amount of loud. The energy? Perfect.
Instagram

Co.Mo Bar & Bistrot
Glass walls, sparkling cocktails, and the lake so close you could almost dip your toes in.
Instagram

What to Do

Villa del Balbianello
Iconic and picture-perfect. Arrive by boat if you can — it sets the tone.
Instagram

Greenway del Lago di Como
A gentle walk through villages and olive groves. Slow, stunning, and surprisingly quiet.
Info

Valtellina Wine Tasting
Drive into the mountains and sip earthy reds among the vines. Rustic and a little wild.
Tour Example

Villa Carlotta
Art, sculpture, and gardens that bloom like poetry.
Website

A Few Tips

And if you’re already picturing yourself there -
a few tips to make your trip to Como feel just as effortless and beautiful as it should:

– Pick a good hotel and let it be the center of your stay.
– Start every morning slowly. Don’t try to do it all.
– Pack one truly great dress - the one you’ve never worn because there was “no occasion.” This is the occasion.
– Book your restaurants in advance - but not too many. Leave room for spontaneity.
– Give yourself permission to do nothing. That’s the whole point.

Lake Como, we already miss you.
And if you end up booking a boat or going for that second Aperol - just know we fully support you.

xoxo,
Lee