The most exclusive hotels on Lake Como
Dream settings for a lakeside getaway of beauty and fine dining
As the warm season arrives, Lake Como becomes a sought-after escape surrounded by natural beauty, just a short trip from the rush of the city. Historic villas, charming boutique spots and contemporary design addresses deliver outstanding hospitality, with fine dining, relaxation and comfort at their heart.
Ahead of a romantic escape to Lake Como, Flawless has selected the most exclusive hotels to stay at, steeped in the timeless atmosphere of the lake landscape and its sunsets reflected on the water.
Villa Làrio
Via Giacomo Matteotti 25, Pognana Lario
When classical Italian architecture meets modern luxury standards, the result is pure harmony. That vision shaped this exclusive estate along the shores of the lake. Tucked away from the beaten track, with sprawling grounds and just 18 suites, Villa Làrio offers a naturally private setting for a peaceful retreat. The property spans two hectares of private gardens overlooking Lake Como, split across four distinct buildings: Il Palazzo, a classic 19th-century villa; Villa Bianca; il Padiglione, an independent two-bedroom villa; and the Garden Suite, set privately in the historic grounds. With the arrival of Head Chef Michele Tamburrino in 2017, Villa Làrio also became a culinary destination. His cooking showcases Mediterranean scents, flavours and colours, using fresh fish from Lake Como and the Mediterranean alongside produce gathered straight from the gardens, welcoming both hotel guests and visitors alike.
Il Sereno
Via Torrazza 10, Torno
Il Sereno brings a fresh vision of hotel luxury to Lake Como. Award-winning designer Patricia Urquiola blends the natural atmosphere of the surroundings with comfort and leisure, reimagining exclusivity. The kitchen at Ristorante Berton Al Lago has held a Michelin star since 2018, pairing artfully prepared regional specialities with fresh local flavours under Chef Raffaele Lenzi. The menu draws inspiration from the local area: lake fish and wild herbs, the mountains of Valtellina famed for fine wines, cheeses and cured meats, and the neighbouring Pianura Padana plain. A standout highlight is the seven-course vegetarian tasting menu celebrating produce from the regions surrounding Lake Como, available with wine pairing. Finished in traditional Venetian terrazzo and travertine stone, the restaurant features a generous open-air terrace overlooking Lake Como and a private boathouse on the water, centred around a striking suspended staircase.
Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como
Via Caronti 69, Blevio
Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como is a resort set in a lush botanical garden, a tranquil haven right on the shores of Lake Como. The centrepiece of the resort is Villa Roccabruna, built in 1799 and once home to Italian opera singer Giuditta Pasta. Today, Villa Roccabruna houses 10 beautiful suites with expansive windows overlooking the gardens and the lake, alongside guest facilities, the spa and Sala Mandarin—an elegant lounge where guests can take in the view over afternoon tea. The resort’s restaurants and bars focus on Mediterranean classics driven by seasonal local produce. CO.MO Bar & Bistrot, with its spacious terrace, is the ideal spot for an aperitivo, a cocktail mixed by skilled bartenders or a bite to eat at any time of day. Its bistro menu, available daily for lunch and dinner and complemented by pizzas baked lakeside, is crafted by Executive Sous Chef Vincenzo Balzano. Set within the botanical park, featuring a large lakefront terrace and lush outdoor dining area, Michelin-starred restaurant L ̃ARIA offers a refined, contemporary setting. Here, Chef Massimiliano Blasone delivers creative Italian dishes with Japanese accents, balancing spices and marinades across light, vibrant courses grouped into intriguing tasting sections.
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Via Roma 1, Bellagio
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is one of the most prestigious historic hotels in the area and the only five-star luxury property in Bellagio. With its period lounges and vast gardens, it offers guests a taste of classic grand-hotel living: far from the rush, surrounded by every comfort and immersed in one of the world’s most beautiful panoramas. Mistral restaurant, acclaimed by leading Italian food guides and awarded a Michelin star, is helmed by Chef Ettore Bocchia, an expert in Mediterranean cooking, meticulous ingredient sourcing and modern culinary technique. Lunch or dinner at Mistral delivers an inventive dining experience by the lake. The menu features seasonal traditional dishes alongside innovative creations, including an entire molecular gastronomy tasting menu. La Goletta is the hotel’s informal restaurant dedicated to traditional Italian regional cooking, serving fresh seafood and meat dishes. The menu changes regularly, with daily specials recommended by the front-of-house team. The wood-panelled interiors and welcoming ambience recall the golden age of steamship travel on Lake Como.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Via Regina 8, Tremezzina
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is an Art Nouveau icon set on the western shore of Lake Como. Guests enjoy a distinctive setting with three swimming pools, a private beach and lush private parkland. The lakeside Art Nouveau facade gives way to a grand staircase, opulent salons and refined dining rooms blending historic floral decor with contemporary comforts. WOW—Water-On-The-Water—is the spectacular swimming pool, a clear blue oasis floating directly on the lake surface. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the park, Piscina dei Fiori offers a peaceful swim, while the indoor Infinity Pool provides a striking view and connects directly to T Spa. Grand Hotel Tremezzo also features Giacomo al Lago, run in partnership with Milan’s Gruppo Giacomo, set directly on the Palace’s iconic beach. It is an ideal choice for anyone looking for an exclusive setting paired with the classic seafood recipes that made Giacomo Milano an institution.
Vista Palazzo
Piazza Cavour 24, Como
The only five-star luxury hotel in the centre of Como, offering the city behind you, the Duomo steps away and the lake right in front. While 18 suites redefine boutique luxury, Ristorante Sottovoce, one of the city’s first rooftop restaurants, delivers a multisensory dining experience. Chef Stefano Mattara presents a distinctive culinary approach blending tradition and technique into internationally minded fine dining. Ingredients celebrate Italian producers to create a harmonious balance of flavours, colours and textures. Guests can choose between the tasting menu and the à la carte options, featuring local ingredients from around Como and select Italian specialities. Completing the experience, Infinity bar offers a panoramic terrace with sweeping views, paired with an inventive cocktail list.
Filario Hotel & Residences
Strada Provinciale Lariana 583, n.89 – Lezzeno
FILARIO HOTEL & RESIDENCES in Lezzeno, on Lake Como, opens a season packed with new additions. The finest Italian hospitality meets a 360-degree approach to sustainability, reflected in numerous responsible luxury initiatives. Restaurant Filo – always open for dinner, and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays – expands its menu with a brand-new vegan tasting menu, bringing the theme of sustainability into the kitchen. Talented young Neapolitan chef Alessandro Parisi works exclusively with seasonal Italian ingredients, mostly sourced from small producers. At Filario Hotel, the foodie experience runs from morning to night: from the à la carte breakfast to the all-day menu at Yeast Side, the beach bar on the lakeshore, where you can enjoy gourmet pizza at lunch and through the afternoon alongside cocktails by resident mixologist Luciano Gusmeroli. With an expanding, fully serviced private beach and an infinity pool overlooking one of the lake’s most scenic views, FILARIO HOTEL & RESIDENCES confirms its status as the ideal spot for a stay combining wellness, relaxation, good food and adventure. A young team of guides is also on hand to lead guests on hikes along the strada Regia to discover villages and spectacular viewpoints, enjoying the beauty of Lake Como in an increasingly green way.
Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa
Via Benedetto Castelli 9, Menaggio
Overlooking Lake Como, GRAND HOTEL VICTORIA CONCEPT & SPA in Menaggio has recently undergone an ambitious renovation and expansion designed by architect Franco Pè and his studio. In renovating the hotel, part of R Collection Hotels, the atmosphere of the historic manor villa was kept intact; the building is steeped in memories that, during the Belle Époque, welcomed Europe’s aristocratic families. Alongside the original structure, La Villa, built in 1892, stands the Palazzo, a new six-storey building with two floors dedicated to wellness. A 1,200-square-metre sanctuary, it forms the largest wellness area on Lake Como, offering the best of major traditions – Middle Eastern, Nordic and ancient Roman – in a complete journey designed to regenerate body and mind. Institut Esthederm supports the team with its skincare products, guiding each guest to the most suitable treatment. Ristorante Lago completes the wellness offering with Executive Chef Martin Vitaloni’s ‘endorphin cuisine’, a multi-sensory journey designed to surprise discerning palates and gourmet pizza lovers alike. The setting brings together rich decor and a modern open kitchen: an early 1800s winter garden atmosphere evoking the ‘800, with the comfort of a contemporary bistro enriched by an innovative walk-in wine cellar created by Arpes, who also designed Il Bar Manzoni, the pool bar Griso and the show cooking area inside ristorante Lago.
