06-07-2025
Grand Hotel Tremezzo review: the most storied hotel in Lake Como
La dolce vita doesn't get much sweeter than at this much-loved historic mansion. Near Bellagio, it's in the peachiest of locations, with a backdrop of romantic, century-old terraced gardens looking out at the Grigna mountains as they slide serenely into Lake Como's sparkling turquoise waters. From its trademark extravagant displays of velvety red roses and antique Italian lace to its lavish bedrooms and lakeside restaurant, interiors are an ode to old-school elegance and nostalgia. Charismatic staff, many of whom have been at the hotel for decades, ensure service is equally exceptional.
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Score 9/10The 80 rooms and suites have either lake or garden views and a pleasing mix of classical and contemporary styling, pops of bold colour and marble bathrooms. Luxury touches include indulgent Beltrami bed linens, made locally with yarn from birch wood, which is both sustainable and addictively silky. All rooms are maintained in mint condition and refreshed annually during the hotel's winter closure. Even the snuggest rooms feel spacious thanks to bay windows and balconies but if you can splash out, the top suite — named after the Swedish-American actress Greta Garbo — is as showstopping as the enigmatic star with its extravagant gilded bed, a marble-lined bathroom with a circular whirlpool tub and a huge terrace overlooking the lake.
Score 9/10 There are four restaurants and none of them hold back on Italian exuberance. Its flagship is the fine-dining La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi, which is a tribute to the chef widely acknowledged as the founder of modern Italian cuisine. It would be a shame not to order his classic dishes such as the delicious saffron risotto with gold leaf, proudly served by waiters who will present you with a copy of the recipe as a memento. Da Giacomo on the hotel's 'beach' (the sand is imported) is the place for seafood and people-watching — try the lobster. For a casual bite, there's T Pizza in the garden, while L'Escale, the hotel's 21st-century take on a traditional trattoria, serves Instagrammable meals such as carbonara prepared table-side in a parmesan cheese wheel before being generously topped with truffle. Breakfast offers 101 ways to develop diabetes before lunch, with trestle tables laden with every kind of cake and confectionery known to humankind as well as magnificent displays of cheeses, meats, cereals, nuts and fruits.
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Score 9/10There are three pools; the standout one floats on the lake and has its own mini 'beach' for long, lazy sunshine days. There is another cool pool in the garden, surrounded by neatly clipped hedges and sweetly scented borders, while the third is a stylish indoor lap pool in a glass house that has knockout views.
The spa has treatments by the world's oldest pharmacy, the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, which has been making incredible lotions and potions in Florence since 1221, and the high-tech Swiss brand Transvital, as well as a sauna with lake views, a steam room, a hammam, an ice fountain and a hair salon. There's a tennis court, the gym comes with killer views and there are complimentary morning yoga classes.
Score 9/10The gardens of Villa Carlotta, one of the lake's main tourist attractions, are next door, and the extraordinary Villa del Balbianello is also close by. Pick up a ferry from a pier that's about a five-minute walk away to explore the lake's charming towns including Bellagio and Varenna.
Price B&B doubles from £1,900Restaurant mains from £32Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Susan d'Arcy was a guest of Grand Hotel Tremezzo (
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