Passalacqua

Passalacqua exhausts superlatives. It is the single best, best-run hotel I have ever set foot in.
From the first minute, the team were kind, thoughtful, and completely on it. Special thanks to Giorgia, whose excellence and warmth made our stay even more special, and to the Hotel Manager, Gregory, who manages and curates the place with precision, class, and heart.
We stayed in the Bellini Suite. Dreamlike. Knockout Lake Como views. The most exquisite room I have ever set foot in, let alone stayed in. The suite stands alone, with a character and scale that deserve a review all of their own.
Food and drink were consistently outstanding. Breakfast is a highlight: beautiful produce, eggs laid on the grounds and cooked exquisitely, great coffee, and pastries that spoil you for other hotels. Lunch by the pool is fresh and relaxed. Dinner is refined. Cocktails are made with care, classics and signatures alike.
The grounds are a joy to wander. The pools are pristine. The soundtrack is perfect: ambient in every room, drifting from opera to Italian classics to disco, always adding to the mood without ever overpowering it. Every corner is photo worthy, yet it still feels like a home. Mornings started with the most reinvigorating spa sessions in their underground cave, then the infinity pool, looking out over the lake.

The are simply no words to express how amazing Passalacqua is. You honestly feel as though you’re on a movie set.
The hotel / villa itself is absolutely incredible inside and out and the staff are outstanding in every sense of the word. Both Michaela and Alice offered to show me the grounds and property without hesitation and they were great to interact with.
I booked the Grand Room Al Lago and I’m glad I did. It had its own private garden and the rooms and setting of the hotel is nothing short of luxurious.
I have stayed in some amazing hotels but Passalacqua is by far my favourite.

Everything about this property is amazing! We had the Grand Room Al Lago which had its own private garden overlooking the lake. The staff were also amazing and very genuinely friendly, with Michaela and Alice taking time to show us around the grounds.

Less than an hour’s drive from Milan, Passalacqua is a truly exclusive property above Lake Como. Every view feels like a postcard with the spectacular scenery of Lake Como combined with Passalaqua’s immaculate gardens and landscape. The overall atmosphere here just radiates peace and beauty.
The level of detail and devotion to decoration is dazzling; Carrara marble, chandeliers, antiques and paintings. Touches like the in-house florist who gathers blooms daily from the gardens for guests really make Passalaqua feel like a very special place.
ROOMS: We stayed in Casa al Lago, a private villa with four rooms. It offers an indoor lounge, a covered terrace, outdoor dining, and our room had its own private garden. There is a separate reception and kitchen located in Casa al Lago. You can enjoy breakfast right outside your room instead of the main restaurant.
The room itself was luxurious in every sense. The bed linens might be the best of any hotel we’ve stayed at. The bathroom had three Dyson products (hair dryer, flat iron, and Airwrap). There is a complimentary fully stocked minibar and each night, housekeeping surprised us with thoughtful treats.
DINING: The food was easily among the best we’ve enjoyed across multiple trips to Italy. Breakfast is available a la carte accompanied by an impressive breakfast buffet spilling across two rooms, an open kitchen and a welcome stand of fresh pastries.
SERVICE throughout the property is excellent, attentive, professional, and polished.

Simply Exceptional!
Highly recommend! We dined at the restaurant and had a delicious dinner. I had the truffle pasta, which was absolutely to die for. The atmosphere was beautiful, with lovely live piano music. The service was excellent, and the property itself, the hotel and especially the grounds, was absolutely stunning. A truly memorable evening!

I came to Passalacqua for a romantic weekend with my husband. It is truly a masterpiece of hospitality. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the extraordinary attention to detail and the genuine care that has gone into every corner of this remarkable place. The property itself is breathtaking — the gardens are among the most beautiful I have ever seen, perfectly manicured yet full of soul and character.
What truly sets Pasalacqua apart, however, is the staff. Their warmth, professionalism, and intuition elevate the entire experience to something beyond expectation. Every interaction feels personal, thoughtful, and sincere — a rare quality that transforms a stay into a memory. We loved the mixology masterclass! The cocktail master Andrea was amazing.
This hotel is renowned for good reason, it is a gem in Italy that deserves not only to be discovered, but truly lived.

I will forever treasure the days I spent at Passalacqua. A place of timeless beauty, charm and elegance leaving you with memories that last a lifetime. The villa itself is enchanting, but what makes it unforgettable are the people and the moments they create.
Every morning began with a breakfast experience that felt luxurious, and our wedding dinner was nothing short of extraordinary—a feast that family and friends spoke about constantly in the days afterwardss. Housekeeping and room service went beyond care; they reflected thoughtfulness in the smallest of details.
The service staff are of the highest standard—poised, impeccably dressed, and trained to a standard that rivals the finest three-Michelin-star establishments. Yet beyond their professionalism lies genuine warmth: each member of the Passalacqua family made us feel not just welcome, but truly at home. A big thank you to Gregory, Claudia, Carla, Martina, Alberto, Carlotta, Nicolas, Cristina, Chef Viviana, and every member of the Passalacqua family that exemplify the artistry of hospitality.
Passalacqua, despite what others may say, is the number one hotel in the world—not just for its beauty, but for the heart behind it. I cannot wait to return, especially to celebrate our anniversary in a place that now feels like part of our story.

About the positive aspects, I could write a book. This place should be on the 50 hotels chart, not I visited both and this is much superior. Hospitality is at its maximum, the whole team is perfectly trained. I never experienced this in Europe, only in the Middle East. Food perfect. Cleaning perfect. Design perfect. Nature aswell. You’ll see more in the photos.
On the negative side, just small things: the room had very low humidity, internet near the pool was a bit weak, and the shower smelled a little. Aside from this, everything was great. Congrats for what you’ve built, the experience was amazing.

Passalacqua delivers a true wow-effect from the very first moments. The historic villa and immaculate grounds are breathtaking, and my room — despite its classic style — was exceptionally comfortable and beautifully designed. Three fully opening windows brought in plenty of light and fresh air, the Wi-Fi worked flawlessly, and there was a well-stocked minibar, convenient sockets, and a beautiful full-height mirror.
A special highlight was the freshly brewed Americano available at the bar any time of day — no capsule machines here. Breakfast was one of the best I’ve ever had in a hotel, with comfortable seating and excellent food. Dinner offered an unforgettable fine dining experience with spectacular views, and the entire F&B team deserves the highest praise.
The only minor downside was the older air-conditioning system, which cooled quite strongly even on warmer settings — but with the windows open at night, the fresh air made for a perfect sleep.

After having stayed at Passalacqua, I don't really understand how any search engine reviews could be less than 5 stars. The property itself is magnificent. They've somehow managed to combine understatement and opulent luxury, the beauty of nature with the beauty of art and architecture. Just sitting by the pool, gazing out at the lake and the mountains and across the amazingly manicured gardens — is to see beauty on many levels.
I was initially a bit apprehensive because I'd heard of some glitches with the service at this property. But honestly, I saw no sign of this. All the staff members were eager to help in any way they could, always with a suggestion and a smile. The housekeepers did such a thorough job we were blown away. They didn't just re-stock our mini-bar, for example, they took note of what we did and didn't drink the day before, and gave us more of what we used and less of what we didn't. They literally brushed out the tassels of the area rug every time they cleaned the room.
And as a side-note, we are high-maintenance guests because we keep a kosher diet. When I contacted the hotel and asked whether they could accommodate, they gave me several options, and they even have a separate prepared menu they designed just for any kosher guests they may have. They cordoned off an area of their kitchen, purchased new utensils, and brought in kosher meats and cheeses just so that we'd feel comfortable.
I can't say enough good things about this hotel.

An outstanding place. Probably one of the nicest hotel we have stayed in.
Location is stunning. Garden, buildings are beautiful.
Room is perfect. All details are just amazing.
Spa is fabulous. We had really fantastic treatments.
Service is top notch.
Absolutely fantastic hotel.

Passalacqua is stunning, absolutely idyllic. The elevated position, the glorious gardens, the stylish, no expense spared design and decoration — simply beautiful. I came for lunch and was warmly welcomed. Staff were wonderful — fun, friendly and unpretentious from start to finish. A perfect sunny day meant most diners opted for the outdoor terrace, enjoying its wraparound vistas over manicured grounds and the pretty town of Moltrasio.
Food was very good, as indeed it should be given the prices. You can go a la carte or choose from 2 short tasting menus (€250 or €350 respectively).
An indulgent but memorable experience.

Best restaurant and view in Europe.
Been in Lake Como for eight days and have eaten at the best restaurants, but was far above everything else.
The service we received from the warm staff was like I was at a family reunion. We especially appreciated Simone Migliorin who was the most professional person I have interacted with in all my trips to Italy and Europe.

A truly unforgettable stay.
We got engaged at Passalacqua, on their Riva, and couldn’t have chosen a more magical place. The room was breathtaking, the service flawless, and every detail was thought-out — from the hand-picked decor to the warm, intuitive hospitality. A huge thank you to the entire team for making our stay so memorable.

Most stunning property, grounds, design, branding, food and service. It was like being in a dream. The rooms beautifully appointed with the most extra of Dyson hair appliances, blowers, curlers, flat irons etc. Everything in this place is eye candy and feels like you are in a Wes Anderson picture perfect movie.
I think JJ Martins design was a perfect bridge between old and cool hip new. Makes you want all the umbrellas, pillows chairs, fabrics etc.
Loved using the outdoor rowing machines overlooking the lake and the spa was unique. I would not recommend this property if not fully mobile because of the steep grounds which also make it so stunning.
If planning a stay here choose to do little outside and enjoy the property. A big thank you to the lovely staff. Can't wait to be back!

Hands down the most beautiful hotel I have ever been to. Every detail is perfection, luxurious without being stuffy or obnoxious. We only visited for lunch on a sunny Sunday as we live in Milan, but will absolutely be coming back to stay. The staff and service were incredible — very kind and friendly even though we weren’t overnight guests. Clear standout vs our experience at some of the other luxury properties in the area. Stunning picture perfect pool. Expensive but not overpriced because the experience was worth every penny. We felt like we were on a movie set. Cannot wait to come back and experience the property more. Thank you to the staff for a perfect day that we will remember for a long time.

Being vegetarian, we thought of ordering all vegetarian dishes on the menu. Although they adapted to our specific requests, I felt for vegetarians, the food wasnt up to the mark. The property is amazing though. Not sure if I'll visit again for the food. Meat eaters may disagree with my review though.
Special note for the delicious pesto made especially for us — that was the only part which lit is up.
Not advisable for vegetarians.