Hotel Villa Flori

We recommend Villa Flori to couples who want Lake Como without the hustle of Bellagio, and to travellers who prefer the intimacy of a small structure (around twenty rooms) to the splendour of a palace. It is an address for honeymoons, wedding anniversaries, romantic weekends, with a clientele of forty-somethings and older who already know the region. Families are accepted, but the atmosphere remains hushed, designed for adults.

The villa dates from 1820, typical Lombard neoclassical architecture with ochre facade, columns, triangular pediments. Interiors restored in keeping with the period: original stucco, oak parquet, marble fireplaces, antique furniture mixed with a few contemporary pieces. The rooms retain their generous proportions (3,50 m ceiling height), sash windows overlooking the lake or the garden. The whole comprises around twenty rooms, more the scale of a manor house than a hotel.

The restaurant at Villa Flori serves contemporary Lombard cuisine under a glass veranda, tables set facing the lake. Short menu that changes according to the market, lake fish (perch, trout), saffron risotto, revisited osso buco. Breakfast served on the terrace in summer, continental buffet with artisan pastries and local charcuterie. No starred chef, but honest and careful cooking, attentive service. The bar offers a menu of classic cocktails and a selection of Lombard wines.

Villa Flori stands on Via Cernobbio, between the village of Cernobbio (5 minutes by car) and Como (10 minutes). West shore of the lake, less frequented than Bellagio or Varenna, quiet residential neighbourhood with a few historic villas. No shops within immediate walking distance, but Cernobbio offers restaurants, boutiques, market on Saturday. Milan-Malpensa airport 50 minutes by car, Como station 15 minutes. The private landing stage allows you to reach Bellagio in 15 minutes, Varenna in 25, without relying on public ferries.