The Bistro
Where Every Meal Becomes a Memory
Italian soul food served 500 metres above Lake Como, in a place where the view is as unforgettable as the flavours
Our Story
MamaGina Brunate was born from a simple, powerful idea: that great Italian food deserves an extraordinary setting. Perched in the enchanting village of Brunate — the Balcony of the Alps — just a scenic funicular ride above Como, our bistro brings together the warmth of Italian home cooking with a panorama that stretches across the entire lake.
Gina, the heart and soul of MamaGina, welcomes every guest as family. Her philosophy is simple: fresh ingredients, recipes with history, and a setting that turns every meal into a story worth telling.
Outdoor Dining
The 180-Degree Panoramic Terrace
Step outside and the world opens up beneath you. Our open-air terrace wraps around the restaurant with uninterrupted views of Lake Como, the sparkling city below, and the snow-capped Alps beyond. From a morning espresso as the mist lifts off the water to a sunset Negroni as the sky turns gold and violet — this is where time slows down and moments become permanent.
Every table faces the lake. Every season paints a different masterpiece. In summer, the light lingers until ten. In autumn, the hills blaze with colour. There are no bad seats — only unforgettable ones. The terrace seats 25 guests, and on warm evenings, it is the most beautiful dining room in all of Lake Como.
Indoor Dining
The Bistro Room
When the evening air turns cool or you simply crave intimacy, our indoor dining room welcomes you with warm wood, soft lighting, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the lake like a living painting. The room feels like the home of someone who loves beautiful things — comfortable, elegant, never pretentious.
With seating for 35 guests, the bistro room is ideal for romantic dinners, family celebrations, or simply a long evening of wine and conversation while the lake glimmers through the glass. In winter, it becomes a cocoon — warm and golden, with the cold world outside only making the warmth inside more precious.
We are a bistro with soul — the kind of place where you come for lunch and stay until sunset.
The Kitchen
Italian Soul Food
Every plate at MamaGina carries the warmth of an Italian grandmother’s kitchen, elevated by a setting that takes your breath away. We believe in dishes that tell stories, recipes passed through generations, ingredients sourced locally whenever possible.
From our signature burrata caprese to slow-cooked ragout, from hand-folded ravioli to polenta prepared the old way — every dish honours tradition while celebrating the moment. And yes, the view makes everything taste even better.
The Bar
Start your day with Italian coffee and homemade pastries, or end it with a craft cocktail while the stars appear over the lake. The bar is the social heart of MamaGina — casual, welcoming, and always lively. A Negroni at sunset here is not just a drink. It is a ritual.
Plan Your Evening
Take the historic funicular from Como to Brunate — a scenic 7-minute ride that feels like stepping into another world. We offer a complimentary transfer from Brunate station to MamaGina. After dinner, the funicular ride back down, with the lake lit up below, is the perfect ending to a perfect evening.