When you think of Lake Como, often times you think of one of its most famous residents, George Clooney. I would consider him a very smart man to call this place home as it is truly a wonderful place to live and visit. My husband and I decided for our honeymoon to incorporate a stay in Bellagio, Italy as it is known as the pearl of the lake. Note: We took this trip in 2019 but have ensured all the places mentioned below are still there.
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Background:This hotel was just ranked as one of the top 100 hotels in the world and #6 of all hotels in Italy by Travel & Leisure. Villa Serbelloni has been family run for over 100 years and the pride to retain the rich history and culture of the hotel is a top priority. There is another hotel on lake Como that also welcomes luxury travelers but to put it in real estate terms, location, location, location, is why this hotel should be the one you spend your time. Villa Serbelloni is right in the middle of the Bellagio, Italy which in my opinion is the most beautiful of all the small towns on the lake. There are several ways to spend your time in Bellagio specifically shopping, dining, and of course Gelato!
Pro Tip: When you return back from dinner in the evening, order tea which will be delivered in a tea kettle with various tea options You can sit in the lobby, listening to the live music and wind down from the day.
Rooms: We booked a classic room with a park view because upgrading to a lake view at the time was siginficantly more expensive. When looking at Summer 2023 - it appears that a classic lake view is roughly $100 more a night than the park view. We loved our room as it had a view of the grounds but will definitely do a lake view next time. The room and bathroom were well fitted but not overly large as you will be spending most of your time outside the room.
Pro Tip: Bring your own pillow from home if you appreciate a softer pillow. All the pillows we experienced at the hotel were extremely firm and we found this at other hotels within Italy.
Hotel Dining:
Breakfast: Included with your stay is a breakfast buffet which is expansive and set in a gorgeous ballroom. You are welcome to eat in the ballroom or the adjacent sunroom that juts out into the manicured gardens. We did not discover the sunroom until the second morning but it quickly became our favorite. Breakfast included pastries, tons of fresh fruit and yogurt options, as well made to order eggs. As you are in Italy, you will experience a traditional European menu and will not find pancakes or waffles on the buffet.
Other Dining: We tried La Goletta restaurant for lunch on our first day and were disappointed so I would recommend trying more in town restaurants for lunch and dinner. There is also Mistral restaurant which is Michelin starred located in the lobby. We did not have a chance to try this restaurant but the views are hard to beat. We will try on our next visit!
Photos: My husband and I have a wall gallery of our favorite places that we ask an Etsy artist to create. For those wanting to purchase from MessyHeartStudio please see her link below for the Villa Serbelloni rendition! https://www.etsy.com/listing/977352614/grand-hotel-villa-serbelloni-bellagio?click_key=cb265ad68e99f3191c9936125bad918180a9ca7d%3A977352614&click_sum=5c0cf4c9&ref=hp_rv-1
Dining in Bellagio
Antichi Sapori: We actually went here for lunch as they are open for both lunch and dinner. My husband got the special which was a truffle pasta and he still talks about it to this day. I had the pizza and it was wonderful. You can tell this is a very busy spot as there was always a wait when we went! Highly recommend.
Ristorante Terrazza Barchetta: We went for dinner one night and actually sat in the alley as we did not make reservations. I went very traditional and just went for pasta with red sauce and it was extremely good. My husband ordered a fish gnocchi from the lake - it was a bit too fishy for him and they warned him of that so it was his own fault!
BabaYaga: We really enjoyed BabaYagas menu as it was a bit more casual of a menu. We sat outside here but it started downpouring so they relocated us inside but that's all part of the experience! This is a very short walk from the hotel and a great option for dinner as they have a lot of options.
La Punta: This is a bit longer walk away from town but it was great as you had a view of the lake while you ate. As soon as we sat down, there were compliments from the chef which were small filled raviolis. Make sure to make a reservation and even when you do - you will likely have to wait.
Gelato : Gelateria del Borgo - this is located away from the lake on the hill and once you have had it, you cannot go to another Gelateria. Take my word for it - I tried a lot of them!
Sample Itinerary - Less than 5 days
Day 1: Fly into Milan and stay the night in Milan. We made the mistake to go directly to the hotel and we wasted a day at Villa Serbelloni. Next time I would rather be well rested and shopping in Milan is not to be missed either!
Day 2: Check in at Villa Serbelloni and start to explore the town. There is a great Bar (coffee) spot in the center of town which will give you a boost in your day. Coordinate with the concierge to arrange a boat rental for the following day.
Day 3: Boat Day! You can choose to rent the boat and explore yourself or you can hire a boat to take you around. My husband and I chose to rent the boat without a captain so we would have more freedom to explore. I would recommend doing your boat day in the morning as the lake can get rougher as there is more boat traffic in the afternoon. Pro Tip: Make sure to take the boat right outside of Villa del Balbianello and take a dip in the lake. You have great scenery, a few other boats around, and wonderful lake to swim in!
Day 4: Villa Melzi Gardens - the gardens cost about $10 each to get in but are absolutely stunning. You cannot enter Villa Melzi itself but the gardens line the lake and offer great views as well as unique picture opportunities. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the town or even take a ferry to one of the surrounding towns such as Varenna or Tremezzo. Pro Tip: Do not waste your time going to Como itself. They have a funicular that goes up to another small town but that is really the only draw so I would recommend saving your time for Bellagio or the surrounding lake areas.
Day 5: Enjoy breakfast and pack up to your next destination. We went to the Como train station and made our way to Rome but next time we are planning for Portofino. I will not have that blog post until 2024 unless you want to put in a phone call to my husband :)
Hope you enjoyed the post and can use it in the near future! Feel free to email me about your travel experience to Lake Como!
Lake Como is truly a gem, and Bellagio's charm as 'the pearl of the lake' is undeniable! During my own holiday exploring lakes in Italy, I found Cannobio on Lake Maggiore to offer similar magical beauty, with its serene atmosphere and picturesque views. Italy's lakes are a perfect blend of history, luxury, and breathtaking scenery—there's always more to discover!