Villa D'Este, Cernobbio

Villa D'Este - A 5-star lakeside resort with historic villas, floating pool, and 25-acre private gardens

This 5-star resort occupies a historic property with 151 rooms distributed between the Cardinal Building and Queen's Pavilion, featuring lake or garden views and antique Renaissance-style furnishings. Four private 19th-century villas within the 25-acre park offer full hotel services with additional privacy. Villa D'Este provides three main dining venues: Veranda restaurant serving Italian fine dining with lake views, Grill restaurant specializing in Mediterranean grilled meats and fish, and Platano offering Mediterranean-Japanese fusion cuisine on a terrace overlooking Lake Como. The Sporting Club includes a gym, 8 tennis courts (6 clay), sauna, jogging path, and the renowned floating pool on Lake Como. The property features Baroque gardens with the Nymphaeum by Pellegrino Pellegrini, Hercules Fountain, and Telemachus Statue. Business amenities include high-speed Wi-Fi throughout, meeting rooms, and a business center. Family services comprise babysitting, interconnected rooms, and children's dining options. A continental breakfast is served each morning at Villa D'Este's Cardinal Building restaurant.

Pros

The 25-acre private park contains centennial trees and Baroque garden features including the Nymphaeum and Hercules Fountain

Eight tennis courts with lake views include six clay courts available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Four private 19th-century villas provide full hotel services with complete privacy and exclusive access

The floating pool on Lake Como offers unique swimming opportunities during summer months

The Veranda restaurant features retractable windows and lakeside terrace dining with panoramic views

Cons

The formal dress code requires smart casual or elegant attire for restaurant dining

Some rooms face the internal Renaissance courtyard rather than the lake or gardens