Hiking to La Stalla del Nonno – Our Favorite Café with a View over Lake Como 🥾☕🌄
- jangleinser
- Feb 1
- 4 min read
The hike to La Stalla del Nonno takes a little over an hour uphill and is perfect for anyone who wants to combine some exercise with great views and good food. Today, we’re taking you along on exactly that kind of walk — a short trip to our absolute favorite café high above Lake Como.
La Stalla del Nonno is set in a small, rustic stone house above the mountain village of Breglia. What keeps drawing us back is not only the incredible view, but also the small yet carefully chosen selection of food and drinks. Over time, it has quietly become one of our favorite places around the lake. The food is excellent, the view just as good — and after a manageable climb, this spot simply feels like the perfect place to sit down and stay a while.
Starting the hike in Calveseglio 🚗🥾
We start our hike in Calveseglio, a small mountain village above Menaggio. There is a small parking area right in the center of the village, which works perfectly as a starting point for the hike. From our holiday apartment, it takes about 13 minutes by car to get there.
👉 Parking / starting point on Google Maps:https://maps.app.goo.gl/gSDeEq5jd4hFCh3m6
Once you set off from the parking area, simply follow the signs towards Plesio. The trail is well marked and easy to follow.
The way up 🌿
Most of the route follows the regular road and leads steadily uphill. From a technical point of view, the hike is not demanding, but it is very scenic. Even though you are walking on a normal road, hardly any cars pass by. From time to time you might meet a local or another hiker, but often you’re completely on your own.
Apart from our highlight café, this hike isn’t really about reaching a specific destination. Instead, it’s about paying attention to the nature on either side of the path and enjoying the constant views over Lake Como.
If you’re lucky, you might also spot some wildlife along the way. We actually saw deer — a bit too far away and too quick for the camera, but moments like that are very much part of what makes this walk special.
It’s this mix of quiet paths, nature and open views that quickly makes you forget the bustle down by the lake and allows you to enjoy the walk at an easy, relaxed pace.
Finding your way in Plesio 🧭
Once you reach Plesio, continue walking in the direction of Breglia. It’s easy to find, as there is essentially only one road leading uphill. Getting lost here is very unlikely.
Also popular with cyclists 🚴♂️⚡
Many people also use this route to ride uphill by bike. That said, you need to be in good shape, as the climb is steady and can be quite demanding.
We’ve done this route by e-bike as well. In that case, it’s even possible to start directly from our holiday apartment. On foot, however, the distance from our accommodation would be too long, which is why Calveseglio is a much better starting point for the hike.
Arriving at La Stalla del Nonno ☕🍝
Once you reach the top, a well-earned reward awaits: La Stalla del Nonno. The small café is beautifully set in the mountains and immediately feels relaxed and welcoming. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a table in the front part of the small garden, with an uninterrupted view over Lake Como while you eat.
Food-wise, we’ve been impressed every time. On our most recent visit, we had tagliatelle al ragù and pasta with mushrooms — both were excellent and exactly what we were hoping for after the hike. On an earlier visit, when we came up by bike, we chose the lasagne, which we can also highly recommend.
Prices are absolutely fair and more than reasonable, especially considering the location and the quality of the food. They also serve a very good homemade lemonade, which is perfectly refreshing. We finished our meal with a chocolate muffin and an espresso.
By the way, there’s plenty of space for children to play in the small beer garden — provided they still have some energy left after the hike.
Hiking further? 🥾
More ambitious hikers can continue from here towards Rifugio di Menaggio. You should allow around two additional hours for that section. For us, La Stalla del Nonno is the perfect endpoint for this hike. It’s a good balance of movement, good food and views — and still leaves enough time to spend the rest of the day doing something else.
Way back 🚶♂️
The return follows the same route on foot and is easy to manage after a proper break. The uphill walk takes a little over an hour, while the way down is slightly quicker. Of course, how fast you get back also depends on how often you stop to take in the views over the lake — it’s an easy route to take at a relaxed pace.
FUN FACT: One of the most popular mineral waters around Lake Como is Chiarella. The image on the label is almost an exact match of the panorama you’ll see on this hike
Final thoughts ✨
For us, La Stalla del Nonno is the perfect half-day trip. You get some exercise, good food and even better views. You definitely feel the hike in your legs afterwards — which makes it all the nicer to spend the rest of the day by the lake or relaxing on the balcony.
We’d recommend this hike to anyone who is comfortable on their feet and enjoys being active. Of course, it’s also possible to drive up by car. Whether on foot, by bike or eventually by car, La Stalla del Nonno is a place we’re always happy to return to.
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