Hilton Lake Como Hotel Review: A Weekend of ultimate luxury and relaxation in Lake Como
Indulge in a luxurious weekend of ultimate relaxation in one of the most beautiful spots in the world
Hilton Lake Como is perfectly located to explore both the lake and the City of Como itself. Offering amazing views of the lake, a rooftop pool and restaurant, a decadent spa and spacious suites and bedrooms, this really is the perfect hotel to relax in and take in those oh so beautiful surroundings.
Situated on the site of a former silk factory, Hilton Lake Como makes quite the impression on approach. Just a street back from the lake, the hotel sits in a commanding position overlooking Lake Como and the spectacular mountains beyond.
The interior of the hotel combines traditional and modern styles perfectly. The hotel reception is within the oldest part of the property, the former factory, but attached to this is ‘the cube’ a modern room with glass walls and ceilings which is flooded with natural light. This is a great place to sit and relax with a coffee or an aperitivo from the bar, which is also situated within the main building near reception.
The rest of the hotel surrounds ‘the cube’ in a kind of horse shoe shape, which allows a lot of the rooms to face forwards to those gorgeous lake views.
Sleep
The hotel is one of the largest in the area and offers a range of rooms and suites to suit every budget and taste.
Starting from deluxe rooms with courtyard views to junior / family lake view suites to the extremely grand presidential rooftop suite with its own hot tub, terrace and panoramic lake views.
We were lucky enough to stay in one of the stunning loft suites in the original building.
These are duplex suites with a great sized bathroom and living room area on the ground floor.
Upstairs on a mezzanine level is the bedroom with its glass ceiling and spectacular lake views. Opening the electric blinds to be greeted with the gorgeous lake view in the morning really is a delight.
Top tip, keep the blinds open at bedtime for some epic stargazing!
Eat
Staying at Hilton Lake Como you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink.
On the ground floor is Taffetta Bar, a warm, welcoming space in the former factory building. Think high ceilings and elegant modern décor.
This space is used as a lounge during the day and bar in the evening.
As well as drinks you can also grab a quick bite here with smaller plates available.
During aperitivo time (5-8pm) the hotels signature appetizer stand with complimentary bites is served – as per Italian tradition. The selection changes every week. These are a real treat, made using local ingredients including fish from the lake.
We witnessed a plethora of exotic looking cocktails being made, including multiple smoked negroni which provide a very theatrical feel to an evening drink!
There is space to sit up at the bar and watch your drink being prepared with expert commentary from the bar staff who are extremely knowledgeable and friendly.
Also on the ground floor is the main restaurant Satin.
The restaurant has a relaxed vibe with a live DJ some evenings (chilled, background music not Ibiza night out vibes!)
The menu is extensive with plenty of Italian favourites available.
For starter we went for Scallops with Caciocavallo Silano potato fondue, pak choi, chorizo oil, chorizo crumble and violette potato crisps and Burrata with black truffle periage, pickled wild mushrooms and crispy focaccia.
Mains were the beautiful Lobster Spaghettoni creamed with Franciacorta, red chilli and crustaceans bisque and Veal Cotoletta with crunchy fennel salad, celery and anchovy salad.
It is also worth noting how friendly and accommodating all of the staff at the hotel are.
The Hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar is currently closed for refurbishment so Satin Restaurant is the go to, for now. This meant slightly longer waiting times than normal when we visited, which for us was absolutely fine and allowed a bit of breathing space between the delicious courses! The staff kept us updated throughout the evening and the slight wait didn’t really feel like a problem at all. We also forgot a few things when packing and the hotel staff were more than happy to assist.
The terrace of Terrazza 241 prior to refurbishment
On to Terrazza 241. This rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar has some of the most sensational views of Lake Como. There is a large terrace and the glass walls give an indoor outdoor feel which also allows the space to be used all year round.
Panoramic lake views with beautiful quality dishes and exciting cocktails – what is not to love?
As previously mentioned, Terrazza 241 was closed for refurbishment during our visit, but it is set to be truly amazing and sure to be the place to be in Lake Como.
Unwind
Hilton Lake Como is home to Eforea Spa & Health Club on the ground floor.
At Eforea spa you can enjoy beauty treatments and massages, as well as a relaxation area with heated pool and whirlpool stations, waterfalls for neck massage, sauna, Turkish bath, ice waterfall, experience showers and relaxation beds.
There are plenty of loungers available looking onto a glass wall with a brick wall behind for privacy. This is beautifully lit both day and night, with natural light streaming in through the glass walls during the day.
We were treated to a couples massage in one of the dual treatment rooms, exactly what was needed after a morning exploring the lake.
After our massage we were escorted back to the relaxation room and offered refreshments. The perfect way to slowly acclimatise back to the real world again.
Terrazza 241 is located on the rooftop along with another terraced area with seating. The hotel’s rooftop infinity pool and large jacuzzi are heated and open daily. This is a very popular spot all year around, even more so in the summer months when a poolside coffee or cocktail can be enjoyed in the warmth of the sun.
The views from the infinity pool are utterly breath taking. We were lucky enough to have bright blue skies when we visited which just further enhanced the view, all of those perfect blues were almost unbelievable!
Locale
Lake Como itself is so accessible from the UK. A flight from London to Milan takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and Lake Como is only an hour north of Milan. We took the train but there are plenty of taxi's and transfers available as well as a bus service.
The hotel is situated to the west of Como, a 15 minute leisurely walk along the lake side promenade.
A short stroll across the road from the hotel takes you to the lake itself and the gorgeous Villa Olma.
Villa Olmo is an imposing neoclassical building that was built in the 1780s by architect Simone Cantoni, on behalf of Marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi. It is now owned by the municipality of Como and is currently a prestigious location for conferences, events, and art exhibitions.
The gardens overlooking the lake are beautifully kept and so peaceful, making this a great place to start your Lake Como adventure.
If you head towards Como not only do you have the gorgeous views of the Lake by your side but plenty of history and things to explore along the way too, including Monumento Ai Caduti & Life Electric.
If you want to head away from the lake, take a stroll through the streets of Como. The gothic Como Cathedral is worth a visit and there are plenty of pretty squares to stop for a coffee and a spot of people watching.
There are so many ways in which you can explore the lake. Take a ferry to any of the towns on the lake including the nearby pretty town of Bellagio, hire a boat and choose your own destination or, my personal favourite, take a water plane with Aeroclub Como and explore Lake Como by air. This surely has to be the best way to take it all in?!
Directly opposite the hotel, across the lake is the Como-Brunate Funicular Railway. This links Como with Brunate, a small village overlooking Lake Como in one direction and Milan in the other.
The views really are spectacular. Not only do you have a great view of Lake Como but also the whole of the Western Alps beyond.
You can walk or hike up the steep climb to Brunate from Como, or take the 8 minute funicular railway, as we opted to do, purely for the experience of course!
The Italian Lakes truly are one of the most beautiful destinations in the World and staying at Hilton Lake Como really allows you to make the most of the beautiful surroundings. Stunning lake views from the bedrooms as well as the rooftop infinity pool and Terrazza 241 provide the perfect backdrop.
The hotel is ideally located to explore the lake and it all it has to offer. This, combined with the excellent facilities on offer, really did provide us with the ultimate weekend of luxury and relaxation.
