A PERFECT STAY
Lakeside hotels in the best possible taste
Lake Garda caters to every taste. Outdoorsy types will be attracted by the water sports, from kite surfing to canyoning, while culture-lovers will relish the sights and museums. Scores of events take place around the lake during the summer, including the Tener-a-mente Festival (anfiteatrodelvittoriale. it) in the amphitheatre of Gardone Riviera’s Vittoriale degli Italiani. Local cuisine makes the most of the area, with mountain cheeses, cured meats, wild game and fish from the lake featuring on the menu. Surrounding vineyards produce excellent Garda wines such as Valenesi Chiaretto Doc. Below is my pick of the best hotels for food lovers.
1 Due di Moro
Nestled on a hillside overlooking Lake Garda, this laidback eco-friendly B&B follows the principles of sustainable architecture. Walls have natural clay plaster finishes, while cotto tiles give the place a rustic touch. The cosy rustic dining area features wooden interiors and an open-fronted kitchen where chef and co-owner Luca can be seen hard at work. The B&B’s fruit orchard and herb and vegetable garden provide the restaurant with organic ingredients; the B&B also produces its own olive oil. There’s an emphasis on vegetarian and vegan cuisine, although there are other options too, including a selection of meat mains that use free-range chicken, pork and veal. Gluten-free dishes are also available.
2 Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli
Set in eight-acre grounds on the western shore of Lake Garda, this exclusive hotel is located in a historic 19thcentury villa. Interiors have been lavishly restored and feature frescoed ceilings, Venetian mirrors and Art Nouveau lamps. The 21 rooms are decorated with antiques and custom-made furnishings. Meals are served in the dining room and in a covered pergola overlooking the lake. Food can be ordered throughout the day anywhere on the property, and breakfast is available at all times. The two Michelin-starred restaurant serves exceptional Italian cuisine and fresh lake fish dishes. After-dinner drinks can be enjoyed in the octagonalshaped Bob’s bar with floorto-ceiling windows.
3 Locanda San Vigilio
Set amid olive groves, cypress, agave and oleander trees, the 16th-century manor house is in an enviable lakeside location on the tip of Monte Baldo, a peninsula stretching out into the lake. With only seven rooms and five suites, the atmosphere is intimate and exclusive. The hotel has an inviting swimming pool framed by olive trees with lovely lake views. Within the hotel grounds is a lemon grove, one of the oldest in the country. The restaurant serves exceptional Italian cuisine with an emphasis on fish dishes. There is also an informal café on the lakefront open to external guests, serving light meals and drinks.
4 Villa Arcadio
The hotel, set on a hillside of olive trees and fruit orchards, is located in a former convent dating from the 13th century. Original fresco details are visible throughout the villa, both in the communal areas and in some rooms. Interiors are decorated with the owners’ antiques and works of art dating from the 16th century to the present day, including beautiful grandfather clocks and marble statues. The experienced chef prepares excellent seasonal dishes with a twist using fresh ingredients from the hotel’s vegetable and herb garden.
5 Villa Cordevigo
Nestled among olive groves five miles east of Lake Garda, this 18th-century Venetian villa has wellappointed rooms embellished with rich fabrics and period furnishings. The historical residence is set within 100 hectares of land that is home to gorgeous Italian gardens with 16th-century statues. Best of all is the Michelinstarred restaurant run by chef Giuseppe D’Aquino, who favours ingredients from his native Naples, such as tomatoes, Mediterranean fish and mozzarella, which he skilfully combines with local Venetian products. The extensive wine list features fine labels from all over Italy.