Mandarin Oriental Lake Como is surrounded by a large botanical garden with over 50 species of plants and evokes the neoclassical charm and love of the Orient that was so much in vogue in the 19th century.
The dishes in the L˜ARIA restaurant represent a balanced encounter between Mediterranean cuisine, oriental cues and contemporaneity, for what is a refined Italian cuisine with Japanese influences. The restaurant is surrounded by greenery in the form of the rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias of the botanical park. These create the setting for a modern building overlooking the lake, whose floor-to-ceiling windows unite the interior spaces with the lake landscape.
The kitchen is led by chef Massimiliano Blasone, well-known for his own culinary techniques, always ready to bring out the flavour and quality of seasonal ingredients, and creating elaborate dishes designed to be shared. Before coming to L˜ARIA, Chef Blasone worked at La Pergola in Rome with Heinz Beck, at Ristorante Duomo in Ragusa with Ciccio Sultano, in Germany with Heinz Winkler, as well as in England and in the United States. The terrace is the jewel in the crown for the restaurant, with views of the lake and is ideal for al fresco dining.