ristorazione — Porto Ceresio · Lombardia
On the lakefront of Porto Ceresio, where Lake Lugano enters the province of Varese, an artisan gelateria has turned a view over the piazza into something more lasting than a summer stop.
On Piazza Paolo Bossi, just steps from the waters of Lake Lugano, the threshold of 281 Frontelago is the first stop on a stroll along the Porto Ceresio lakefront. Bartolo and Paola chose this corner of the Varese borgo (historic town) to make it a landmark, easy to recognise and welcoming, open even to those arriving with a dog on a leash.
Behind the counter, the display case tells the story of an entirely gluten-free production: the cones and the crumble are made with rice flour, and every flavour is safe for coeliac customers too. Before choosing, tastes are readily offered — a small generosity that, together with a wide selection of vegan flavours, has built a loyal and varied clientele.
The production is artisanal, with carefully chosen raw materials. Alongside the classics — French vanilla, extra dark chocolate — the range opens up to surprising flavours: mandarin-ginger granita, pistachio, Baileys. These are the flavours that keep customers coming back, and that have convinced more than one passing visitor to call this the best gelateria they have ever found in Europe.
Discover the flavours, the story of Bartolo and Paola, and how to reach them on the full page for 281 Frontelago.
