Honeymooning in Mennagio, Italy
Tank Top || Pants || Sandals || Tote Bag || Sunglasses
I’m so happy to finally sit down and start to share all of the little details about my honeymoon abroad. Two weeks in Italy was nothing short of magical and it’s been hard to bounce back to reality, especially when moving is the next thing on the agenda. I would much rather be sitting on the shore of Lake Como, but here I am. Let’s get started!
Our base for the lake was the little town called Menaggio on the western shore, right next to the Swiss border. Although it’s one of the quieter spots, it was the perfect central location to hop on the ferry and cruise from town to town. I loved coming home each day after a day of sightseeing and actually feel home.
Where We Stayed
When we originally booked our trip, I wanted to find a place that was 1) affordable and 2) had a full view of the lake. I found exactly what I was looking for with this Airbnb. Not only were the views breathtaking, but there was even an infinity pool on the grounds to cool down after a day of shopping and exploring. At nights, as we enjoyed our wine and cheese, we would open the double french doors onto our private yard to enjoy the breeze. It felt like our own little slice of heaven.
Eat a Full Italian Meal
- La Trattoria Constantin: The owners of our Airbnb actually owned this restaurant in the town’s main square. Since we wanted to catch the World Cup game, it seemed like the perfect spot. We went a little hog-wild, but everything we ordered was delicious. Nothing made me feel more Italian than drinking glasses of wine while watching soccer and eating fresh pizza. We were living la dolce vida.
- La Grolla Menaggio: This one may have been my personal favorite because of the view! A quick ten minute walk from the main square, this restaurant gives you pure, unobstructed views of the water and some delicious food. Obviously being on a lake, seafood is the local speciality. The campione del lago, or lake sampler, had three kinds of local fish that had been caught that day. Since it was our last night, we had the full meal with pastas, wine, and washed it all down with two serving of their tiramisu.
Have Gelato Daily
- La Fabrica del Gelato: If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in Italy, be sure to get a generous helping of gelato everyday. It’s a very spiritual experience. Also in the town square, this was the best gelato we had in Lake Como. The little shop was adorable and always seemed to have a crowd. Our secret to skipping the line was popping in for a late night treat right before they closed, at 11. David and I strolled along the lake enjoying our ice cream: mine was papaya, his was cookies and cream. So romantic.
Shop Like the Locals
- Conad: Let me introduce you to the town’s grocery store. After all, it is where the majority of our food came from. Everyday we would get up early and walk into town for our grocery run. It always consisted of wine, cheese, salami, crackers, and cookies. We also tried to stay smart and buy bottled water, but tap water comes right from the lake and was just fine. Even though we ate very well in town, this was my favorite culinary experience.
Some Local Customs
It’s important to keep in mind that the restaurant culture in Italy is very different from what we’re used to in the States. One meal can take several hours and you have to be more forward if you want to grab attention from a server. There was definitely a little bit of a learning curve.
We also had to get used to their way of tipping. Everyone we asked told a slightly different answer, but we’ve gathered that it’s only customary to leave a few euros for good service. It’s by no means required or expected. There is a comperto fee that seems like it could be a tip, but that is how restaurants off set the cost of using linens and napkins. Another quirk we learned was that they will charge for water. It comes in a large bottle, but only cost a few euros.
Menaggio will always feel like a little piece of home. Everyone there was so kind and friendly. It may have taken a plane, train, automobile and boat to get there, but it was all worth it.
Love from Florida,
Katie
As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.