Castello – Lake Front Hotel & Living Suite

The lobby of this handsome, family-run boutique hotel features colorful, ultra-modern furniture such as clear plastic and leather armchairs and sofas in fuchsia, lime green, and brown. The brown polished granite floors add elegance, and white and light-gray walls warm the space. The lobby bar and registration desk are adjacent and sport the same light marble tops and wood-veneer fronts. A multi-colored Oriental rug aligns with the reception desk. Located a bit off the highway, this hotel has a quiet ambience. It attracts couples and families, and wedding parties. The excellent Al Bacio restaurant, whose menu focuses on local products and seasonal fruits and vegetables, draws guests and nonguests alike. The covered terrace overlooking the lake is an especially popular spot, as is the large lawn and beach area that's behind the hotel.

The hotel is located in a quiet waterfront spot on spectacular Lake Garda, right off the busy Garda highway. It’s a four-minute walk to the heart of Malcesine, but it’s a somewhat hilly trek. Numerous restaurants and shops are between the hotel and the old town. It’s about a three-minute walk to the medieval Castello Scaligero, which towers over the hotel. And it’s a four-minute walk to the cable car in Malcesine that goes up to Mount Baldo, which has amazing views and lots of hiking trails. The medieval town of Lazise is about a 45-minute drive from the hotel, and it’s about an hour's drive to the Gardaland and Movieland theme parks and to the Caneva Aquapark at the southern tip of the lake. Verona Villafranca Airport is a 60- to 70-minute drive away, and the train station at Rovereto is a 40- to 45-minute drive or about a 75-minute trip on public transportation.

The Hotel Castello Lake Front's 36 rooms are starkly modern and bright, with sleek lines that are softened by neutral tones. The wood-plank floors have a light natural finish, and walls are light gray and white, with some accent walls in diamond-patterns, stripes, or wood paneling. Beds done up in simple white bedding rest on modern frames backed by padded headboards in light gray. Small, white laminate nightstands on either side are equipped with gooseneck lights. A few splashes of bold teal sneak into the rooms in the form of laminate shelves and desks. Large wall-mounted flat screen TVs are inlayed into enormous mirrors. But perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the rooms is the clear glass walls that separate the walk-in showers from the bedrooms. (Blinds provide privacy.) Clear glass walls also separate the showers, which have gray marble tiling and white rectangular, wall-mounted vanities. Bathrooms, like the bedrooms, are spacious and exceptionally well maintained. 

Several categories of rooms are available, including standard rooms (194 square feet), Junior Suites (376 square feet), and full Suites (430 to 592 square feet). Standard rooms have single or double beds, junior suites have sitting areas with sleeper sofas, and full suites have separate living rooms and additional TVs. All rooms include minibars, rainfall showerheads, heated towel racks, safes, free Wi-Fi, magnifying mirrors, and slippers. Most (but not all) rooms have private balconies with seating and views of the lake, garden, or mountains. 

Other than its great lakefront location and sweeping views, the excellent Al Bacio restaurant is a main draw here. It serves a hot breakfast buffet (included in rates) with made-to-order omelets. Guests of the hotel receive a substantial discount at the restaurant for lunch and dinner, which features a diverse menu of pasta, chops, stews, and salads that emphasizes local products and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Covered outdoor seating overlooking the lake is available. The hotel also has a lobby bar that sells coffee drinks and gelato. This property has its own small pebble beach and private pier and dock, with lounge chairs and umbrellas. The spacious lawn and garden area between the hotel and beach also has loungers, as well as a children’s play area with a trampoline and ping-pong table. Self-parking is free at the hotel’s surface lot and underground garage. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. A whirlpool is located in a lovely tiled room, but there are no pool or fitness facilities. Concierge services include valet dry cleaning and laundry. While the hotel is basically nonsmoking, guests can smoke on their balconies or patios.