There are few places on earth that are as picturesque as Lake Como. With a backdrop of the alps, small towns, winding roads, and a heavy dose of la vita dolce, the only thing to worry about is where to stay. We take care of that in this week’s feature on the best hotels and top suites of Lake Como.
1. Villa d’Este
2. Grand Hotel Tremezzo
3. Il Sereno
4. Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
5. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
1. Villa d’Este
Conde Nast Traveler writes, “Preposterously and hilariously grand, this is where Elizabeth Taylor came to hide out at the start of her affair with Richard Burton. As the great director Mike Nichols later recalled, so long as she wore a large-ish hat, nobody gave her a second glance. Built in 1568 as a summer residence for a wealthy cardinal with a passion for art, the hotel has an immense 17th-century shelled grotto, decorative gardens lapped by water so clear you can see pebbles fall to the distant bottom, and chefs in high white hats inspecting the engraved glass on bridal tables. In the morning, breakfast of Sicilian cannolis and iced espresso is taken as the sun starts its journey across the lake, settling on a flower-plumed promontory beyond. Boats cut through the water, leaving a fizzing trail behind. Everybody sits and watches—wondering where reality leaves off and dreaming begins.”
Inspectors of Forbes Travel Guide add, “Villa d’Este’s 25-acre imperial garden and unique mosaic wall are signature icons that have been named a national monument by the Italian National Trust and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss a chance to stroll through these historic grounds — you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Art lovers can request a guided tour to admire the paintings, sculptures and antiques that have been collected over the centuries by past owners. Ask to visit the Column Room to see a 19th-century fresco ceiling that was accidentally discovered just 15 years ago. After a morning of sailing or tennis, soothe your sunburned skin with a Hydrasilk facial and Mud Mask body treatment at Villa d’Este Beauty Center. You’ll feel like visiting royalty at this historic waterfront hideaway. All rooms open to views of Lake Como or the Italian gardens, have large wardrobes or walk-in closets and carry exclusive Villa d’Este bath products in marble-laid bathrooms.”
Cardinal Suite
This 1,162-sq.ft. is named after Tolomeo Gallio, who had built the villa in 1568 as his private residence. It is located on the first floor of the Cardinal Building and has a 970-sq.ft. terrace with lake view.
More suites and villas at Villa d’Este.
2. Grand Hotel Tremezzo
The Telegraph writes, “Elegant, stylish, and fashionable, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo stands majestically on the western shore, offering sophisticated interiors combining strong colors and classical details. Sun yourself by the floating pool, sip cocktails on the terrace or zip along the lake in one of the hotel’s chic water limousines.”
Conde Nast Traveler adds, “An increasingly rapacious Italian hotel scene, some iconic family-owned properties retain that made-in-Italy, one-of-a-kind elixir that the bigger players can only dream of. The decadent Grand Hotel Tremezzo is decidedly one of these: It has been in family hands since opening in 1910 and comes with Grand Tour charm in spades. Sitting a little back from Lake Como, looking out onto Bellagio, the Liberty-style building conjures a Grand Budapest Hotel set, an impression that grows when you enter the formal lobby with its sweeping red-carpet staircase, antique gilt-framed mirrors, and marble-encased bathrooms. I also love the flowers in abundance all over the property. But the hotel still manages to feel intimate thanks to its smaller cozy spaces: a cocooning spa with a heated swim-in, swim-out pool and Santa Maria Novella products; an outdoor pool surrounded by a forest of trees and blooming flowers; and tucked-away bars and corner banquettes in the restaurant (be sure to try the gold-leaf risotto).”
Suite Greta
The 860-sq.ft. Suite Greta is a tribute to Greta Garbo. The actress referred to the hotel in the 1932 film Grand Hotel as “that sunny, happy place.” Walk out onto your 280-sq.ft. terrace with panoramic lake views in. Gold tones detail the bedroom, living room with dining area, and two bathrooms.
More suites at Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
3. Il Sereno
The Telegraph writes, “Il Sereno provides a breath of fresh air from Lake Como’s classically styled five-star hotels, with interiors made of wood, stone and plenty of glass, allowing for wonderful vistas. Sit back poolside with a cocktail in hand, unwind at the spa or tuck into creative dishes at the Michelin-starred restaurant.”
Conde Nast Traveler adds, “The construction of something entirely new on Lake Como was always going to raise suspenseful eyebrows—but Sereno’s bold, fresh look very much reflects the area’s healthy atmosphere. The whole place is fun and clever. Moveable screens on the balconies transform each bedroom into a super-private, inside-outside den. A gorgeous pool sits close to a private stretch of beach by a pontoon bobbing with hotel-owned Rivas. Executive Chef Raffaele Lenzi serves wonderful modern Italian food in the restaurant but be sure to walk into the town of Torno, 10 minutes away, to Ristorante Vapore, which is beloved of Robert De Niro and is where locals go for a great binge of clam pasta and octopus carpaccio.”
The Penthouse Suite
The Penthouse Suite is 2,000-sq.ft. located on the top floor of the hotel. It includes a grand outdoor terrace. Inside, there is a master bedroom, two bathrooms, a dining room, wet-bar, multimedia room and an expansive walk-in closet.
More suites at Il Sereno.
4. Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
Conde Nast writes, “Once the lakefront estate of Italian opera singer Giuditta Pasta, Mandarin Oriental took over this 75-room grand dame in 2018. Milan-based designer Eric Egan made over heavy interiors (also behind the Belmond Hotel Caruso revamp), sharpening the meticulous gardens and floating swimming pool. Mandarin Oriental added a lounge for afternoon tea and a spa in the basement, bringing in Italian chef Massimiliano Blasone to oversee the resort’s restaurants and bars. This was the Mandarin Oriental’s first European resort and a rare new arrival on the lake—yet it slotted into the scene seamlessly.”
Forbes Travel Guide says, “Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como epitomizes lakeside luxury. Sitting beautifully along the water’s edge, the luxury hotel is a vast estate that includes three gorgeous Neoclassical villas, boathouses, and gardens over six acres. The property is steeped in history — it was once the home of opera singer Giuditta Pasta, a melodic precursor to Maria Callas — and design, a blend of traditional and contemporary, where neutral tones are favored to show off marble details, handmade wallpaper and original plaster molding. From the garden entrance to the evening aperitivo at the CO.MO lounge bar, it’s hard to imagine leaving. And there’s no reason to — the Mandarin Oriental boasts incredible views of the lake and mountains from every location. The onsiteL’ARIA restaurant even affords lake panoramas, and the in-the-lake pool acts as a floating and ever-so-Instagrammable sunbed.”
Panoramic Suite
The 1,284-sq.ft. Panoramic Suites features an oversize living room with large windows, a kitchen with dining area, a spacious bedroom and two oversize bathrooms. However, the main attraction is it features a huge terrace with sundeck and the resort’s only private swimming pool.
More suites at Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como.
5. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
The Telegraph writes, “This opulent villa is one of the lake’s grandest hotels. It is all marble columns, Murano chandeliers and frescoed ceilings, with classically styled rooms and excellent facilities including two pools, a spa, and tennis and squash courts. Michelin-starred Mistral serves molecular cuisine in an elegant lakefront setting.
Conde Nast Traveler adds, “One of the oldest and most elegant hotels on Lake Como, the neo-classical Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni has pampered guests since 1873. It welcomed aristocracy from around the world almost since the beginning. Then came the political titans (Churchill, Roosevelt, Kennedy) and celebrities (Mary Pickford, Clark Gable, and, later, Al Pacino). Everything is opulent. There are frescoes and paintings of mythological scenes, gilded frames, festoons, temples, putti, flamingos, and Pompeian reds. Then there are period wall coverings in French style, antique Persian carpets, crystal chandeliers from Murano, marble staircases, and trompe l’oeil. If it all starts to feel like too much, head out to the Italian-style gardens, where the uncluttered views of the blue water and soaring green mountains can’t be beat.
The Imperial Suite
