Editor's note: This list was accurate at the time of this writing. Search Michelin Restaurants for up-to-date listings.

People sometimes write and ask me which are the best restaurants in Stresa. Of course I cannot answer this; it is completely a matter of personal taste, and in addition, even after all this time, I have not eaten in even a good percentage of them. But for those who would like some sort of rating system by which to guide their restaurant choices, we can look to the highly respected Michelin star system. With its anonymous reviewers and strict criteria, Michelin starred restaurants are few, far between, and worth seeking out. In all of Italy, in the 2011 guide, there were 233 Michelin restaurants; by comparison France had 455, Spain and Portugal combined had 128. Searching around Stresa I was surprised (and pleased!) to discover that within a 20 mile radius from the center of Stresa there are 7 starred Michelin restaurants. In addition, just in Stresa, there are 14 restaurants inside of Michelin recommended hotels and 4 restaurants in Stresa with Michelin awarded 'forks' for charm, ambience and food. Following I list these restaurants, with a link to their Michelin review as well as a link to their own website, if they have one.  (continue for the list ... )

Michelin Recommended Restaurants in Stresa:

Vicoletto (one fork)

Vicolo del Poncivo, 31, Stresa, 

Ph: 0323932102

Michelin review

ristoranteilvicoletto.com

Charleston (four forks)

Regina Palace Hotel, Corso Umberto, 29, Stresa

Ph: 0323936936

Michelin review

regina-palace.com/it/restaurants/charleston

Piemontese (two forks)

Via Mazzini, 25, Stresa

Ph: 032330235

Michelin review

ristorantepiemontese.com

Il Clandestino (two forks)

Via Rosmini, 5, Stresa

Ph: 032330399

Michelin review

ristoranteilclandestino.com

In the list below, these are the Michelin starred restaurants within a 20 mile radius of Stresa, again with links to their Michelin review page and to their own websites when available. They are listed in order of their distance from Stresa:

Piccolo Lago (2 stars, 3 forks; 6 miles from Stresa)
Via Turati, 87, Lago di Mergozzo
Ph: 0323586792
Michelin review
piccololago.it


Il Sole di Ranco (1 star, 3 forks; 6 miles from Stresa)
Piazza Venezia, 5, 21020, Ranco
Ph: 0331976507
Michelin review
ilsolediranco.it

Villa Crespi (2 stars, 4 forks; 8.5 miles from Stresa)
Via Fava, 18, 28016, Orta San Giulio
Ph: 0322911902
Michelin review
villacrespi.it

Pascia (1 star, 2 forks; 9 miles from Stresa)
Via Monte Rosa, 9, 28045, Invorio
Ph: 0322254008
Michelin review
ristorantepascia.it
Ristorante: Pascia Stresa Sights post


Al Sorriso (3 stars, 4 forks; 12 miles from Stresa)
Via Roma, 18, 28010, Soriso
Ph: 0322983228
Michelin review

Osteria del Borgo (1 star, 2 forks; 17 miles from Stresa)
Via Fratelli Antongini, 16, 13011, Borgosesia
Ph: 016327841
Michelin review

Ilario Vinciguerra (1 star, 3 forks; 20 miles from Stresa)
Via ROma, 1, 21013, Gallarate
Ph: 0331791597
Michelin review
ilariovinciguerra.it

As mentioned above, Michelin has recommended in this guide several hotels in Stresa, most of which have public restaurants. Here is the link to the guide online listing these hotels: Michelin hotels with restaurants in Stresa. They are marked with the Michelin R symbol with a small roof over it. And read the post about it here:

*listings are from 2012 Michelin Red Guide