Lake Como has no shortage of grand hotels, but Passalacqua doesn’t play by the usual rules. Set high above the lake in Moltrasio—where the hills are steep and the views even steeper—this 18th-century villa-turned-boutique-hotel is a 24-room knockout where opera-house elegance meets off-duty Italian flair. It’s the latest masterpiece from the De Santis family (of Grand Hotel Tremezzo fame), and it doesn’t try to be cool in the typical “design hotel” way. Instead, it leans into full-blown aristocratic fantasy: frescoed ceilings, Murano chandeliers, antique mirrors, and enough marble to make Michelangelo feel seen.
But here’s the twist: it works. You’re not overwhelmed—you’re charmed. The hotel is unpretentious in all the right ways, thanks to warm, low-key staff, an open kitchen where guests can chat directly with the chef, and hidden corners in the terraced gardens where you’ll find chickens, bocce courts, and views that silence small talk.
What You’ll Love
The Rooms: Think hand-painted ceilings, custom Beltrami linens, vintage trunks hiding smart TVs, and bathrooms worthy of Roman emperors—with Dyson hair tools, naturally.
The Grounds: Seven acres of cascading gardens, a lakeside pool shaded by JJ Martin-designed parasols, and a citrus grove where the staff might casually pick your breakfast fruit.
The Vibe: Elegant but relaxed, with the warmth of a private estate and the precision of a family-run five-star. It’s the kind of place where you can show up in a blazer or swim trunks and feel equally at home.
Don’t Miss:
The Bellini Suite, complete with original music room frescoes where the maestro himself once composed. And a sunset drink on the terrace—preferably with a Negroni in hand and nowhere else to be.
This address is a reminder that luxury doesn’t need to shout. It just needs a great view, a better bed, and the quiet confidence of a place that’s been doing it right since 1787.
By: Lucas Raven
