Como After Dark: Evening Things to Do in Como

The aperitivo hour on the lakefront

In Como the evening officially begins with aperitivo. It’s a ritual, not just a drink: somewhere between six and eight the city slows down, people sit at outdoor tables, and you order something cold with a few nibbles on the side. The stretch around Piazza Cavour and along the lakefront is the most scenic, with the view opening onto the water and the mountains turning violet. Climbing up into the old town, between Piazza Volta and the pedestrian streets, you’ll find cosier spots — perfect if you prefer the feel of the lanes to the open view.

The absolute classic is the spritz — Aperol or Campari — though a glass of cold white or an Americano works beautifully too. Whatever you choose, the magic is in the moment: the slow handover from daylight to the first evening lights. To know where to sit and how locals think about it, we’ve given a whole guide over to aperitivo in Como.

A golden-hour passeggiata along the water

After (or instead of) aperitivo, treat yourself to the passeggiata: in Como it’s practically obligatory. Golden hour, when the sun grazes the ridgelines and the water turns to glass, is the loveliest time to walk slowly along the lake. From the lakeside gardens near Piazza Cavour you follow the water’s edge towards the Tempio Voltiano and the war memorial, while in the other direction the promenade leads towards the landing stages and the public gardens.

• The water’s edge. The best-loved route is still the lakefront promenade — flat, bright, and lovely at a slow pace after dinner too.
• The old town. Between the floodlit Duomo and the pedestrian streets, the evening walk takes on a whole different charm once the lights catch the stone.
• Up high. For the view from above, the funicular links Como to Brunate; the city lights reflected on the lake after sunset are a sight in themselves.

It’s an evening that costs nothing and stays with you: all you need is comfortable shoes and the willingness to take it slow. You’ll find more itinerary ideas on our things to do in Como page.

Where to dine: the old town and the Borgo

Come dinnertime, Como splits roughly into two souls. The old town, wrapped inside the ancient walls, is a maze of lanes with trattorie, wine bars and outdoor tables on the little squares: here the mood is the classic, postcard one — lively, and touristy in the good sense. The Borgo — the band of city just outside the centre, where many residents live — has more of a neighbourhood feel, with addresses favoured by Como locals and a quieter atmosphere.

We won’t hand you names or opening hours for specific places (they change constantly and deserve a direct check), but a compass for the zones and the kinds of dinner. Look for the cooking of the region: lake fish, risottos, cured meats and cheeses from the nearby Valtellina and, of course, fresh handmade pasta. To get your bearings across styles and districts, we’ve written a dedicated guide to where to have dinner in Como.

A different kind of night: cooking your own dinner

And what if, instead of sitting down at a restaurant, you cooked dinner yourself? That’s the alternative we offer: an evening cooking class where you don’t watch someone else cook — you get your hands in the dough. You start with a spritz lesson — you learn to build your own Aperol or Campari and drink it as your aperitivo — then roll pasta by hand under the guidance of our resident chef, trained at the Accademia della Sfoglia of Rina Poletti. At the end you sit down and eat what you made, with wine, like a proper dinner.

• You cook and eat your own dinner. It isn’t a demo: it’s your night, and the plate on the table is the one you made.
• Weekday and weekend evenings. The class runs in the evening, midweek and at the weekend, so it slots neatly into a night out in Como.
• Spritz lesson included. Aperol or Campari — your call — and you genuinely learn to make it.
• House dessert. We finish with gelato topped with a few drops of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP.

It’s an idea that works beautifully for couples, groups of friends, or travellers who want to take home more than a photo. If the more genuine, less touristy experiences in town are what intrigue you, this is where to look: cooking together is, quite simply, one of the loveliest ways to spend an evening in Como.

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Turn the evening into an experience

Aperitivo, passeggiata, dinner: an evening in Como already has it all. But if you want a night you’ll remember, try to book our class and cook your dinner with your own hands. Three hours across the evening, a spritz lesson, hand-rolled pasta and gelato with balsamic DOP — a short walk from the lakefront. It’s one of the most authentic things to do in town: no queues, no rush, just flour, laughter and a dinner you earned. You’ll find more ways to fill the night on our things to do in Como page.