Opened in December last year, this lounge bar and restaurant is destined to become an unmissable stop for lovers of the mixology of drinks and contemporary gastronomy in Como. Blending tradition and modernity, Bottega Comacini is inspired by the skilful creativity of the Magistri Cumacini: builders, plasterers and artists active in Como and Canton Ticino from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Located in the street actually named after these craftsmen, the historical building that now houses the premises was in fact the headquarters of the Fabbrica del Duomo from the beginning of the 15th century and later named Palazzo dei canonici della Cattedrale di Como. Although modern and metropolitan in style, the interior harks back to the old workshops and artisans' shops that once populated the streets of the historic centre. A clear nod to the former times is found in the large bottle rack above the bar, with its wide selection of wines and liqueurs to be creatively combined in the imaginative preparations of the kitchen.
The cuisine at Bottega Comacini is the result of the studies of the young chef Danilo Vella, born in 1995, winner of the Social Responsibility award in the San Pellegrino Young Chef competition, and former Sous Chef at Ristorante Imperialino in Moltrasio. His cooking philosophy is based on the use of local ingredients to ensure freshness and sustainability in all seasons. Driven by his enjoyment of bold experimentation, the Chef enriches his recipes with creative flashes expressed through his own application of techniques and preparations drawn from Italian and international traditions. Favouring these local suppliers and zero-kilometre ingredients, Bottega Comacini's cuisine pushes beyond local boundaries to offer dishes featuring readily recognisable elements that are combined in original compositions, such as his Ceviche di lago, with perch, frigitelli and cucumber, and the Lavarello arrostito lake fish with seaweed, eel and glasswort.
The guest’s experience is rounded off by wines from a list carefully selected in collaboration with Alessandro Chiapello, AIS sommelier in charge of purchasing at the Grand Hotel Imperiale in Moltrasio and Ristorante Imperialino. There are also original cocktails created by bartender Fabio Airoldi, reinterpretations of mixology classics and blends that reflect new trends, including Comassini, with strawberry and sage shrub, select aperitifs and sparkling wines. Finally, there is the excellent Cini & Soda, a gin & soda prepared with London Dry style gin and citrus and thyme cordials. Pervaded by a lively and relaxed atmosphere, contributed to by an elegant contrast between modern furnishings and the evocative history of this space, Bottega Comacini is the ideal place for a young clientele in search of an informal, but high quality dining experience. The unstructured menu, which breaks with the usual divisions of starters, first and second courses, allows customers to sample haute cuisine in convivial dinners or just enjoying simple aperitifs against the enchanting backdrop of Como Cathedral.