Best Boutique Hotels in Lake Como

The 75-room Casta Diva Resort & SPA is a luxury boutique hotel that pays homage to a former owner and 19th-century opera singer through its design, decor, and architecture. Each of the lavishly decorated rooms, suites, and villas at CastaDiva are unique in size and decor, with many offering incredible views of Lake Como. With hardwood floors and elegant yet understated furnishings, most rooms have either a balcony, terrace, or private garden, while all have flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. In addition to an assortment of eating options, the resort features a full-service spa, indoor pool, floating outdoor pool, and a poolside bar. 

Originally built as a boat house for the luxury villa that sits behind it, Hotel La Darsena is a romantic, family-owned boutique hotel right on the banks of Lake Como in the charming village of Tremezzo. With only 13 rooms, the two-story property has an intimate and cozy vibe. Decor and furnishings are adequate and simple -- the real showstoppers are the waterfront rooms with panoramic vistas of the lake and snowcapped mountain tops. (The Cadenabbia is considered one of the best rooms in the house; it features two balconies with water and mountain views that stretch for miles.) Notice that Darsena is two full pearl classes below Casta Diva, so this hotel won't have Casta Diva's five-pearl features, like a floating swimming pool and a lavish spa. Still, locals and visitors alike rave about Darsena's views, food, and service.

Hotel Villa Flori is an upscale boutique hotel located on the western shores of Lake Como, between Como and Cernobbio. It's housed in a 19th-century villa with charming Old World interiors and exquisite lake views (the highlight for most guests). The 53 guest rooms and suites are elegantly furnished and come with minibars, free Wi-Fi, and beautiful lake views -- some have private balconies. A free buffet breakfast is served each morning, with lunches and dinners available in Restaurant Raimondi and drinks and light snacks in the Lounge Bar. There's a small spa in the attic with a sauna, Turkish bath, solarium, and limited selection of fitness equipment. Hotel La Darsena offers equally stunning Lake Como views for considerably lower rates, though it lacks many of Villa Flori's features.

The storybook Royal Victoria was a textile mill in the 1800s before it was renovated as a hotel. The building's stone base, arched terraces, and columned facade reflect medieval and Neoclassical influences. Interiors offer a mix of old and new, with chandeliers and ornate railings, but also a sleek garden bar on the terrace and pink LED lights framing the glass enclosure of the suite spa. Some of the 43 rooms have gorgeous lake views, and the hotel has two restaurants and bars and a chic outdoor heated pool and deck overlooking the lake (but no fitness room, like Villa Flori). Royal Victoria's little fishing village of Varenna is a decidedly less touristy spot when compared to other resort areas surrounding the lake, but local attractions are easy to reach on foot and regular ferries offer transportation to neighboring towns. Overall, Royal Victoria's idyllic Lake Como views, historic charm, terrace pool, and free hot breakfast (with Prosecco) make it the quintessential Italian getaway experience that most of the couples here are seeking. 

In the heart of Bellagio, Hotel Du Lac is situated in a beautiful, five-story building that dates to the 1920s. The highlight of the hotel is its location, and the property takes advantage of the unfettered Lake Cuomo views with huge windows and panoramic terraces, including a lakeside portico with restaurant seating. The hotel's 48 guest rooms range from fresh and contemporary to slightly dated, but all have AC, minibars, coffeemakers, satellite flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, and some have furnished balconies with epic lake views. Breakfast is free, and drinks are served at the restaurant and on the rooftop sundeck, which also overlooks the lake. Travelers wanting a hotel with wellness facilities might prefer Royal Victoria, whose spa includes a Finnish sauna and Turkish bath.

This is one of the only upscale properties in Como, and is located right across from the lake and within walking distance of the Duomo. It's housed in an early 19th-century property and has 40 elegantly furnished rooms, featuring wooden floors and tall ceilings; some have lake views. Certain rooms have older-looking furnishings and unattractive views. Features include an Italian restaurant, seasonal terrace, free breakfast in the morning, a fitness center, a sauna, and bicycle rentals. Overall, the decor here is more impressive than at Hotel Du Lac, but rates here tend to be higher. 

Hotel Villa Aurora is a 22-room boutique property located in Lezzeno, a quiet lakefront town nestled on the shores of picturesque Lake Como. The mid-range hotel caters to both families and couples, with owners who provide attentive and personalized service to guests -- from the free home-cooked breakfast each morning to dining and sightseeing suggestions. The hotel's on-site restaurant and bar offer finely prepared Italian cuisine, and Wi-Fi and parking are both free. All rooms are cozy, bright, and comfortable, but the best rooms have private terraces with panoramic views of the lake and sun deck. 

The 13-room Borgovico Hotel is a charming, three-pearl 19th-century property within walking distance of the Como Cathedral, Lake Como, and Como San Giovanni train station. Breakfast is served in a citrus-colored dining room, which has a cafe/bar (breakfast here costs a fee, unlike Hotel Villa Aurora, where it is free). There's also a cozy courtyard with additional seating. Iron bed frames, exposed wooden ceiling beams, and brick walls add character to select rooms, which include flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. While charming and homey, rooms do not overlook the lake (many at Hotel Villa Aurora do). Borgo Antico Hotel is a comparable option nearby, so it's worth comparing rates. 

This mid-range, boutique-style property is one of the most popular options in Como, thanks to its 27 charming rooms and convenient location on a historic cobblestone street, within walking distance of Lake Como, the Como San Giovanni train station, attractions such as the Como Cathedral, and several dining options. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are both free, but there's no full restaurant and some rooms get street noise. Rates are among the most reasonable in the area, though the nearby (and comparable) Borgovico Hotel is sometimes a little less.