Il Cavatappi

• Pricimo Score
  Hidden Gem

Il Cavatappi: Proper Italian Cooking in the Heart of Varenna

Il Cavatappi is a welcoming Italian restaurant located in Varenna, right in Varenna center on Via XX Settembre. Come for the warm, playful service and stay for a meal that happily stretches into a long, lazy evening—exactly how dinner should feel on Lake Como.

The kitchen leans into quality and restraint: think ultra-fresh burrata, tender octopus over silky chickpea purée, and pasta with that perfect bite that’s hard to find outside Italy. If you’re hungry-hungry, go for the lamb—there’s a version that arrives properly generous and cooked with care. Pair it with a good bottle and settle in; this place rewards slow dining and people-watching in the square.

For value, Il Cavatappi hits the sweet spot: you’re paying for real ingredients and attention, not just a pretty location. Expect a mid-range splurge by Varenna standards, but you’ll leave feeling like your money went to the plate—not the view.

Insider tip: Reserve ahead (tables go fast), or show up early for lunch—then order the octopus starter and build the rest of your meal around it. If you want one memorable meal in Varenna restaurant territory, make it here.

Categories

• Eat & Repeat

Features

• Hidden Gems
• Italian Restaurants
• Local Favorites

Regions

• Como

Location