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.
- The striking floating pool and sundeck are the place to be from May to October.
- Retreat to the spa, which comes with an underground grotto, an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, a Finnish sauna, a Himalayan salt room and a giant fish tank.
- The gorgeous centuries-old botanical garden provides the backdrop for yoga, tai chi and personal training sessions.
- Nothing beats lakeside cocktails at CO.MO Bar & Bistrot (an afternoon negroni hits the spot), while L’ARIA, is a fabulous Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant.
- There is nothing more serene than taking to a Riva boat and exploring the 56 square miles of Lake Como. Or follow the locals and grab an e-bike and an expert and cycle the mountain trails.
- Almost all of the 75 rooms and suites have balconies and lake vistas.
- Accommodations include amenities like marble bathrooms with sustainable toiletries and Bose Bluetooth speakers.
- The most sumptuous accommodation is Villa Del Lago, a neo-classical nest. The four-story, three-bedroom lakefront villa comes with a garden, a terrace with a whirlpool tub and a games room.
