The long-awaited opening of Terrazza Olmo, in summer 2023, marked the rebirth of an iconic address on the shores of Lake Como. A suggestive terrace overlooking the lake located at the beginning of the panoramic walk that from Como leads to Cernobbio, a few steps from the historic Villa Olmo, a sumptuous residence built in the 18th century in neoclassical style. At the helm of this ambitious project is Vincenzio Dascanio, an internationally renowned flower designer of Apulian origin. With Terrazza Olmo he wants to translate his creative vision into the world of cuisine and hospitality: “With this new project I want to convey my sense of the beauty and life, a lifestyle inspired by the dynamism of nature and the Italian charm which is expressed in the attention to every single detail, from the furnishings to our food and beverage proposals. The concept behind Terrazza Olmo is to make our customers feel good in every moment of their free time”. Welcoming and at the same time refined, this restaurant is suitable for quick lunches, aperitifs at sunset and fine dinners. Everything in this small corner of Puglia is studied in detail, from the colour palette - the blue of the sky and the lake and the white of the clouds and foam - to the furnishings, which fit perfectly into a relaxed holiday context.
The gastronomic offer of Terrazza Olmo is inspired by the designer's homeland, Puglia, with traditional dishes that are genuine and tasty, but presented with an elegant and inviting look. “The cuisine of Terrazza Olmo is based on the Apulian tradition and is characterised, above all, by the importance we give to the raw ingredients of land and sea. We have decided to favour simple but tasty dishes, in line with the seasonality of the ingredients and which go perfectly with the Mediterranean diet. The restaurant is open from March to October; this choice is also motivated by the desire to offer our customers dishes cooked with the best products that nature can offer at any time of the year", says Dascanio. Terrazza Olmo represents a tribute to the places, tastes and scents that inspired the designer and shaped his artistic vocation so imbued with love for nature and its fruits. “For me, all the dishes represent a journey into the memories of my childhood – adds Dascanio – and bring to mind Sundays spent with my family, savouring the unique aromas of my land”.
The success of Terrazza Olmo lies in combining Apulian tradition and wisdom with excellent local raw materials, in full respect of the territory that hosts and welcomed it. The restaurant’s suppliers are small and large local and Apulian companies with many years of experience in the food & beverage sector and very high standards of quality and production. Meals can be accompanied by a well-curated wine list made of remarkable labels from Trentino-Alto Adige to, obviously, Puglia, as well as highly selected French Champagne producers. The cocktail menu is also updated periodically thanks to the extraordinary creativity of the bartenders. Alongside the great classics of mixology, clients can enjoy new drinks and innovative "twists on classics".
Terrazza Olmo is the fourth entrepreneurial project of Dascanio after the opening of two shops and a café located between Como and Cernobbio and confirms the Apulian designer's attachment and commitment to the territory: “The magic of this place has always fascinated me with its infinite aristocratic elegance and for the beauty of its landscapes, in a perfect union between art and nature. I would like to propose in the hospitality sector the innovative style that has characterised my business throughout all these years, without ever neglecting elegance and refinement, which, as a company, has always been the key to our success".