Hotel Review: Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
A couple of weeks ago, at the start of October, my sister and I decided to book a last minute trip together as I had some time off before starting my new job. Thanks to the ever-changing quarantine rules during Covid, we had to cancel our original flights to Portugal, and quickly settled on a new destination: Lake Como. Although this would have been my third time to Italy within the space of a month or so, it was (at the time) one of the few countries you could travel to from the UK without having to quarantine on either side of the journey. Neither of us had stayed on Lake Como before, and as my sister speaks Italian, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to visit together. I was offered the chance to review the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo (arguably the most luxurious hotel on the lake), and flights turned out to be pretty affordable - and everything quickly fell into place. Read on for my full review of our stay below.
First impressions: 5/5
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is one of the most luxurious hotels situated on Lake Como, and the glamour of the Belle Époque upon which the property is modelled is immediately evident upon arriving at the hotel. From the exterior, the former palace is painted a soft lemon yellow and stands out from across the lake, with each of its windows canopied in bright orange, the hotel’s signature colour.
Enter the gold, glass-panelled elevator which will take you up to the hotel lobby, where you’ll find chintzy red velvet sofas, and jars filled with roses: glamour and grandeur in an art nouveau style is the running theme, with plush furnishings are balanced against the property’s period features. You’ll find guests lounging in the bar, where sofas in neon orange, yellow, pink, and green pop against the gilded ceiling: the decor is bold, brash, and purely decadent.
Every corridor and corner of the hotel reflects the glory of the palace’s history as a former home for the social elite: wind your way up the grand staircase, and you’ll find bedrooms are furnished in a similar style to the lavish shared spaces. We were hosted in one of the hotel’s Lake View Deluxe Rooms: featuring dual-aspect views onto the lake, a king-sized bed with an intricate gold headboard, and seating area with sofas in plush velvet pinks and purples, there was more than enough space for the two of us. Our bathroom was covered in marble surfaces, and featured a deep bath and walk-in shower.
We instantly felt at home here, and Grand Hotel Tremezzo made us feel welcome from the very start, treating us to sweets and champagne on our arrival.
To do: 5/5
The hotel is located in prime position on Lake Como, with views directly facing pretty Bellagio and its surrounding villages, which are only a twenty minute ferry ride across the lake. We spent an afternoon taking the ferry on quick excursions to Bellagio and Varenna, which are both picturesque and perfect for a short day trip - ferry tickets costs about 15 euros each for a round journey, and the ferries leave every half hour. Almost next door to the hotel is also the famous Villa Carlotta (home to one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy). but with so much to do within the hotel itself, you could easily spend the entirety of your stay making use of the facilities on site.
The hotel itself boasts three swimming pools: most arresting of all is their Water-On-The-Water floating pool which you’ll see upon arrival, as it’s located just in front of the hotel. This pool quite literally floats on the lake itself, along with a makeshift beach, featuring sun loungers and bar. Meanwhile, the Flowers Pool, located in the hotel’s gardens, is the hotel’s second outdoor pool, and probably my favourite of the three. Hidden beneath the fronds, this pool is a tranquil spot nestled amongst the trees, offering total seclusion and a partial view onto the lake. Sun loungers are perfectly positioned around the water’s edge, and the hotel’s Pizza Bar (featuring a pizza oven and al fresco tables) is located right by the pool, meaning that one could easily while away the day swimming and eating.
When the weather isn’t as auspicious, (which was the case on the day we arrived), use this opportunity to spend the day at the hotel’s spa. This intimate space has sun loungers positioned by the indoor infinity pool: the room is heated, meaning that you can perk yourself up in the cooling water and gaze directly onto the lake.
If you want to explore the lake, boat tours can also be arranged: on our last day of our trip, we were kindly given a private tour of the lake on one of the hotel’s boats, which was a highlight of our stay. Meanwhile, when you’re not spending time on (or in!) the water, the beautiful gardens are also perfect for exploring, and you’ll find trinkets to take home in the hotel’s boutique shop.
Food and drink: 5/5
There are five different restaurants at Grand Hotel Tremezzo, each unique in its own way and offering a different menu. We ate at La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi on our first evening, which is the hotel’s famous fine dining restaurant. Located on one of the terraces overlooking the lake (during the summer the floor-to-ceiling windows are opened so that you are essentially eating al fresco), dining here easily makes for a romantic and special occasion. We were treated to a tasting menu, featuring the hotel’s famed gold-leaf saffron risotto (if you eat this dish you’ll get given a certificate to mark the occasion!) and lots of little treats between each course, including amuse bouche and petit fours.
On our second evening, we ate at L’Escale, the hotel’s trattoria and wine bar, which is a small, cosy restaurant offering traditional dishes such as homemade pastas and grilled meats. The ambience is relaxed, but still slightly more formal than the hotel’s casual T Bar, which is where we ate lunch almost every day, as well as dinner on our final evening. Located on one of the hotel’s terraces, you’ll find a classic all-day menu here throughout the day, featuring pastas, sandwiches, and delicious desserts - I will dream for years to come about the tomato and burrata tagliatelle, and pistachio raspberry mille feuille I enjoyed here. In the evenings, an amended menu is available, and diners can enjoy aperitivi whilst being serenaded by live jazz.
We didn’t end up eating at either the Pizza Bar or Beach Bar (the hotel’s other two restaurants), but these are both located by the outdoor pools, and offer casual menus perfect for lunchtime.
Meanwhile breakfast is an extravagant affair, and one to get excited about when waking up each morning. Guests dine on one of the hotel terraces, and choose what to eat from an incredible buffet laid out in the adjoining ballroom - thanks to Covid, white-gloved waiters will help you to what you like. Choose from an impressive array of pastries, cheeses, fruit, meats, and cereals…there’s everything and anything you could possibly want here, including homemade biscuits, granola, and even chocolate on offer - and that’s before we get onto the cooked items, where the chef will happily cook up eggs, pancakes, and waffles…you name it. Breakfast at Grand Hotel Tremezzo was definitely one of the highlights of our stay: my sister and I both agreed that we’d never encountered such a vast and impressive breakfast buffet anywhere else in the world, where everything tastes deliciously fresh and homemade; sipping coffee and nibbling apricot crostata whilst gazing over the lake was definitely a wonderful way to start each morning.
Comfort and service: 5/5
Service throughout the hotel is absolutely flawless, and this is something that really made our entire stay so memorable. Whilst I’ve stayed in many hotels that offer incredible interiors, facilities, and food much like Grand Hotel Tremezzo, it’s rare to find a property that also goes above and beyond in terms of service. Staff throughout the entire property were incredibly warm, professional, and eager to please - from the staff in all of the restaurants, to those at reception, and even the cheery porters, who gave us the warmest welcome upon our arrival.
My sister and I actually had another hotel booked in Lake Como that we had spent a night at before visiting Grand Hotel Tremezzo - we were due to return for another night to this hotel, but had encountered such an awful experience there, that we decided to cancel our return and instead extend our stay at Grand Hotel Tremezzo, who went out of the way to accommodate us. We were honestly struck by how helpful and eager to please the staff were upon all occasions, and how personalised our stay was meant to feel, with waiters greeting us by name and taking an active interest in us - it is rare that such a luxurious five-star property still manages to ensure that every guest feels looked after and valued throughout their stay.
Overall, we had a very special stay at Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and on the morning of our departure, felt really quite sad at the prospect of leaving. I rarely give reviews that hit 5/5 in every category (interiors, facilities, food, service) - in fact, I’m not sure I ever have before - but Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a rare gem of a place that manages to wow in every respect. Expect opulence and glamour at this five-star hotel, but also stellar service to match: this is a hotel with style and substance, set in a breathtaking location, with everything at your fingertips. I would happily head back as soon as I can and encourage you all to race over at the nearest opportunity…
This was a gifted stay, but all opinions are my own. I do not accept and write about gifted stays unless I truly enjoy them.
