Hotel Luise

The Hotel Luise opened in 1959, and has been run by the same family of owners since, who receive rave reviews for friendliness and helpfulness from guests. It's a bright and funky building, with contemporary decor and a subtle bike, literary, and travel theme. There are bike handlebars that look like stag heads and a typewriter mounted on the walls, a shiny robin-egg-blue Vespa, and black-and-white photo murals featuring cars. Floor-to-ceiling windows let natural light into the lobby, which has midcentury modern couches and armchairs, and bookshelves near reception. The sleek restaurant has dark-wood floorboards and a map of Riva del Garda’s roads traced on the ceiling in teal and white. Down a flight of stairs is a wine bar with couches and armchairs in shades of cobalt and navy. Outside, a glass pergola has dangling greenery and it overlooks a pretty garden with views of the mountains and the big pool. This property mostly attracts tourists looking for a modern spot near the lake.

The Hotel Luise has a great location just a five-minute walk from the northern banks of Lake Garda. It's a 10-minute walk from the charming medieval center of Riva del Garda, which is one of the larger and more bustling towns on the lakefront. There are ferries crossing the lake available from town, however, boats to the southern shore are costly and take a while. It is between an hour and 85 minutes by car to Verona Villafranca Airport, while transfers to Milan Malpensa take two and a half hours. On-site parking is free.

The 67 rooms at the Hotel Luise are bright, fun, and effortlessly cool, with either a bike, typewriter, or map theme. Decor varies by room categories, but all are contemporary and hip -- think wood floors and furniture, framed wall prints, modern seating -- some that are bright-orange -- and throw pillows in earth tones or primary colors. Bicycle Rooms may have a ceiling with a cloud mural, fun prints of bikes and cyclists on the walls, and bike handlebars mounted above the king-sized bed to resemble a deer head. Type Rooms come with a vintage Olivetti typewriter on the wall, while larger Map Rooms have a sizable world map above the bed. Room With A View units are located on the top floor, outfitted in more subdued decor, and providing lovely mountain vistas. Note that rooms overlooking the main road will likely experience noise.All rooms have sitting areas, but the larger units have sofa beds. Map Rooms have a Juliet balcony, overlooking either the main road or the attractive garden. Small bathrooms have either a walk-in shower or shower/tub combo, a bidet, hairdryer, and toiletries. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and a minibar, as well as free Wi-Fi, bathrobes, and slippers. Air-conditioning is provided from May to September.

Although lacking a spa and gym, the available amenities at Hotel Luise are excellent. In particular, guests rave about the hotel’s free buffet breakfast, which is a spread of fresh house-baked breads, cakes, and pastries, local cheeses and charcuterie, and fruit, as well as some hot options. The restaurant also serves a buffet and a la carte fare for dinner. A pool bar has an all-day menu of light meals and snacks, while the main bar has a spread of free snacks for guests to nibble on during the afternoon. Staff can also pack picnics for guests looking to explore the banks of the lake. Outside, the hotel’s garden has a relatively large swimming pool set in verdant turf, rows of sunbeds, and a pergola with comfy couches and bean bags, and views of the mountains to the north. Guests can borrow bikes for free, and the hotel organizes cycling tours of the lake and the mountains. There is a kids’ club and daily activities between July and August. Free on-site parking and free Wi-Fi are provided.