Why guide?
The Lake Como Edition merges palatial grandeur with the Edition group’s signature cutting-edge design. In a vacation spot saturated with old-school addresses, this new opening is likely to be precisely what Italy’s grandest lake must inject a dose of latest “cool.”
Set the scene
Just over an hour’s drive from Milan airport, the Lake Como Edition sits on the lake’s western shore within the small however charming village of Cadenabbia, simply steps from the water’s edge. Across the glassy expanse, postcard-perfect Bellagio stretches into view, as ferries glide hypnotically backwards and forwards between the shores.
We’re advised the climate has been gray all week, although you’d by no means guess it from the dazzling sunshine that greets our arrival. The resort appears to reflect the temper – its clear marble surfaces glowing with gentle. Inside, the ethereal foyer envelopes us within the model’s signature Le Labo scent. High vaulted ceilings are softened by the modern, trendy finishes the Edition group is understood for.
The backstory
Housed inside a restored Nineteenth-century palazzo, the Lake Como Edition is likely one of the group’s most formidable initiatives to this point. Following a meticulous four-year renovation, artistic administrators Kirstin Bailey and Paul Haslhofer have rigorously preserved the constructing’s historic bones whereas introducing a extra modern aesthetic.
The result’s effortlessly stylish, and nowhere is that this extra obvious than within the Lobby Bar—an understated title for such a putting area. Low-slung modular sofas invite you to linger in consolation, and the billiards desk provides a playful vibe. The crown jewel, nonetheless, must be the bar clad in celadon-green Sekoya marble and dotted with glittering bottles. Picking a cocktail from the in depth menu feels akin to being a child in a candy store.
The rooms
The resort options 148 rooms, together with 25 suites and two penthouses. My lake-view suite exudes calm from the second I step inside. Arched French doorways—a recurrent design motif all through the property—open onto twin Juliet balconies with panoramic lake views.
I flit between them, trying to find the very best vantage level earlier than ultimately giving in and sinking onto the low-slung mattress, the place the view feels simply as good. A wealthy walnut headboard provides heat, contrasting with the in any other case muted palette.
The foods and drinks
Food and drink are taken significantly right here. The resort is residence to 2 primary eating places: Renzo affords a sun-drenched terrace setting, superb for leisurely lunches of hearty Mediterranean dishes paired with equally scrumptious lake views.
Cetino, in the meantime, is the Italian debut of three-Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. Begin the night with an aperitivo within the modern Lobby Bar earlier than shifting into the restaurant’s heat and womblike inside. The menu celebrates hyper-local, seasonal substances: recent oysters with tomato water and saffron emulsion, delicate taglioni, purple mullet, salt-crusted lake trout, or, for the extra seafood averse, finely sliced veal. It’s considerate, exact, and exudes Italian ardour in its execution.
The neighborhood
Cadenabbia itself is pint-sized however completely positioned for exploring the encircling space. Menaggio and Tremezzo are a brief drive away, whereas Bellagio—simply quarter-hour by ferry—is right for a spontaneous lunch or stroll by the cobbled streets. Nearby, you will get misplaced within the in depth and plentiful gardens of the enduring Villa Carlotta.
The service
From the second we arrived, the service felt heat, intuitive, and genuinely attentive. Staff provided considerate menu suggestions. At one level, once we handed on our server’s favourite dessert, she introduced it anyway exclaiming: “You’re not allowed to leave until you try this.” We didn’t want convincing twice. The similar degree of care extends to the spa, the place my therapist, Francesca, tailor-made my therapy with outstanding instinct, addressing each muscular rigidity and pores and skin considerations with experience.
For households
For these keen to splash out on their subsequent household journey, the Como Edition is a superb choice for households. Children could be seen monkeying across the billiards desk, and the encircling space affords loads of actions to swimsuit the entire gang—from climbing and boat excursions to hair-raising seaplane adventures.
Wellness
A standout characteristic of the resort is the Longevity Spa. Its in depth menu ranges from superior biohacking and LED remedy to DNA testing geared toward figuring out hormonal imbalances, irritation, and dietary wants, in addition to bespoke sleep programming.
Facilities embody an indoor pool, steam room, natural sauna, and plunge swimming pools, all set inside a deeply tranquil area. The 24-hour gymnasium is equally spectacular, geared up with every thing from stair climbers to free weights, with skilled trainers readily available to information exercise periods.
Eco effort
Restoration, preservation and locality are key pillars for property. Materials, produce, and merchandise are sourced domestically wherever doable and chef Mauro Colagreco’s dedication to round gastronomy additional reinforces the resort’s eco-conscious strategy.
Accessibility
The resort is thoughtfully designed with accessibility in thoughts. The primary communal areas supply step-free entry and a number of other rooms characteristic tailored layouts, together with accessible doorways and bogs. A stairlift additionally supplies entry to the spa and floating pool deck.
Anything left to say?
Though it was a little bit early within the season to plonk myself poolside, the pool is about to turn into one of many resort’s defining options. Floating above the lake, it guarantees uninterrupted views and, in peak summer time, might be probably the most coveted lounger spot on this stretch of shoreline. Another surprising spotlight was the variety of four-legged company. With its gorgeous pure environment, Lake Como is an idyllic vacation spot to discover with a canine, and the Edition makes doing so in type completely doable.