Introducing Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
May 3, 2024 by Hidden Doorways
Just an hour from the hustle of Milan is a twofold retreat — a peaceful enclave by way of its cobbled village setting, and a flawlessly finished getaway that caters to the discerning traveler’s every wish. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni on Lake Como is a destination where time pauses, beauty unfurls, and a gateway to northern Italy’s captivating landscapes gladly opens its doors. To vacation here is to step back in time to a bygone age of architectural grandeur and regal elegance, wrapped in the warmth of Italian hospitality and the timeless appeal of Lake Como.
Firstly, location, location, location: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni couldn’t be more perfectly placed. Bellagio is said to be the best of all Lake Como’s quintessential lake towns, providing endless charm but also utter ease to explore the rest of the region. Known as ‘the pearl of Lake Como,’ traditional trattorias, picturesque piazzas, and treasure-trove boutiques are ripe for the picking.
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni stands proudly on the water’s edge in the heart of this stunning locale. Once upon a time (1845 precisely), it was a grand private residence for the Frizzoni family before serving as a military hospital for a moment in time as well as a place of refuge for Jewish facilities seeking safety, until it eventually was transformed into a hotel after the war ended. Today, it stands as a testament to its resilience over the centuries, with hallways that whisper of its storied legacy.
What does grandeur look like though? At Villa Serbelloni it’s polished wooden floors and plush carpeting; it’s opulent fabrics and expressions of period elegance via authentic antique furniture and exquisite paintings; it’s captivating views from every window; it’s 94 rooms and suites that have been decorated and furnished individually and intimately so that every guest experiences the royal treatment; it’s private Italian gardens to lose oneself in. It’s all these things and so much more.
On those 94 decadently decorated rooms, prepare for the palatial. The headboards might be carved from polished wood or upholstered and edged in ornate golden moldings. The chandeliers glisten with crystal droplets. The furniture is decorative and decidedly high-end – even the balcony balustrades are iconic. Plus, the Villa is strategically positioned to afford every guest a view worth remembering: some rooms provide breathtaking vistas of Lake Como, while others present enchanting scenes of the verdant gardens.
If prestige is the name of the game, pour over one of Villa Serbelloni’s four signature suites, each named after an illustrious guest who once graced it with their presence: The JFK, The Churchill, The Helmut Newton, and The Queen of Sweden.
From suites to spa, or ‘Luce del Lago’ as it’s called at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Translated it means ‘Light of the Lake’ which sounds as alluring as it is. Newly refurbished for 2024, it’s been designed as a wellness retreat decorated in nurturing sunset pinks, deep lake blues, and sandy beiges inspired by its lakeside setting. Two heated indoor pools with hydrotherapy whirlpool systems and water jets that massage deeply, a Finnish sauna, chromotherapy showers and soothing steam baths are all part of the experience as well as personalized care via its bespoke treatment rooms. Take note too of the MEI products used in all treatments — an Italian brand that uses revolutionary extraction techniques to derive essential oils from its herbs instead of distillation or pressing to safeguard as much of the natural balsamic effects as possible.
For the more actively minded, there’s a separate house on the hotel grounds where guests will find its extensive fitness center, cold bath basin, sauna, squash, and tennis courts. The hotel’s fitness managers also host guided discovery walks to explore the region by foot: the gentle Scenic Discovery Walk and the more rigorous Mountain Challenge walk.
At Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni dining is an art form led by Executive Chef Ettore Bocchia, the inventor of Molecular Italian Cuisine. At Mistral, the chef’s innovative techniques and mastery of flavors elevate traditional Italian dishes into artful culinary creations, making the restaurant a destination for food enthusiasts. Dining at Mistral is often an interactive experience, with a number of unique tableside preparations of everything from lobster spaghetti to ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. Alternatively, La Goletta serves classic Italian fare in a more casual setting, with a menu featuring fresh local ingredients perfectly paired with regional wines. Mornings begin with a luxurious Royal Buffet breakfast, complete with sparkling Prosecco and an assortment of international and local foods.
Fully renovated for 2024 were its two bars, the classic American Bar (known as somewhat of a sanctuary for cocktail enthusiasts) and the open-air Darsena bar with its cascading wisteria backdrop. Delicious as the cocktails are, it’s the little touches that enhance the overall experience that deserve as much praise. Once you consume a cocktail that has been infused with head bartender Alessandro Verri’s collection of ‘cocktail perfumes’, it’s hard (read: impossible) to go back to anything other.
Contact:
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Email: reservations@villaserbelloni.com
Website: www.villaserbelloni.com
