A Truly Magical Stay at Hotel Belvedere, Bellagio
My wife and I had the absolute delight of staying at Hotel Belvedere—and it felt magical from beginning to end. The hotel sits just slightly above the town, offering stunning views of Lake Como that greeted us every morning and never stopped feeling special. It’s the kind of place that feels peaceful and removed, yet close to everything.
We were torn between staying here and at the Grand Hotel Serbelloni. While Serbelloni is undoubtedly a very fine hotel, we didn’t regret our choice for even a second. Hotel Belvedere struck the perfect balance—refined yet relaxed, elegant but warm. And it’s just a short, easy walk to town, which made exploring Bellagio incredibly convenient.
Check-in was seamless and friendly, setting the tone for the rest of our stay. Our suite was spacious and well-designed, with multiple balconies offering incredible lake views. We immediately felt comfortable and well cared for.
Breakfasts were something we looked forward to each day. There was a wide and delicious buffet along with made-to-order eggs and omelets, and the staff always greeted us with a smile. It was a lovely way to start the morning.
Dinner at Albòri, the hotel’s restaurant, was truly excellent. The view from the restaurant was absolutely stunning. You could see the lake stretching out with the mountains rising all around, and the gardens nearby were so lush and full of color. It was honestly one of the best spots to just sit back, enjoy a great meal, and take it all in. On our first night, we ordered the mullet and the pork neck—both dishes were absolutely delicious, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. We enjoyed it so much, we returned the next night. We had the baked chicken with milk and honey for two. It came out whole, perfectly roasted, and the way it was presented turned the dish into an experience. Each meal began with a fantastic assortment of fresh breads and homemade butter that honestly could’ve been a meal on its own.
We also loved spending time by the pool—quiet, relaxing, and also surrounded by views of the mountains and lake. If we had one small suggestion, it would be to adjust the hot tub jets, which needed to be manually reset every few minutes. But that was a minor issue in an otherwise peaceful and relaxing setting.
One of the highlights of our trip was the private boat tour arranged through the hotel with Luxury Wooden Boat. It was a perfect way to experience the lake, and our guide, Stephano, was so knowledgeable and made sure everything was easy and enjoyable from start to finish.
We’re already talking about our next visit. Hotel Belvedere was more than just a beautiful place to stay—it was a warm, personal, and memorable experience that we’ll always carry with us. Bellagio is truly magical, and this hotel made it even...
Read moreI cannot begin to express my disappointment over this hotel. It was a Saturday night and the Lake Como area had few options to choose from. We booked here — a purported 4-star hotel when normally we choose 5-star. (Tremezzo was fully booked.) It was a cold, rainy day with the temperature at 59 degrees Fahrenheit and dropping.
We arrived around 1:30 and were shown to our room. The first thing I noticed was the musty smell of the room and the cheap laminate floors. The cheap wall hair dryer with a whisper of air and Nescafé instant coffee rounded out the amenities of the room.
Our room was the last one above the pool area, so we only had a view to the south, as the hedges obscured a full view that included the north. Further, the small size of the windows detracted from the view across the water. Evidently, the staff laundry was just past our room as a parade of staff walked by constantly outside our small porch.
Unfortunately, the room was incredibly chilly. The gentleman that walked us to the room explained that the heat wasn’t working, but they could bring extra blankets. What??? There’s no heat? I may as well take a cold camp shower with that room temperature! (One woman said that by law they had to turn off the heat. We called Tremezzo, and they were stupefied that a manager would claim that. Yes, they had heat she assured us.)
In any case, their attempts at turning on the heat failed, so they suggested we wait at the restaurant.
I made my way through the lounge to the restaurant which had an amazing view. I settled in and was happy to see the server approach with a warm smile. But then she delivered the news: I couldn’t sit there, as the restaurant was closed. I was instructed to sit in the dark lounge. There I sat enviously watching two other couples lingering over empty glasses for the next half hour. We were forced to sit looking through the windows of the far side of an essentially empty restaurant. The view was a mirage that I would never reach. (See the two images with our “view”.)
Over three hours after we arrived, we returned to our room to find the heat was just turned on, and the chill slowly left the room. But then I got my camp shower. The water was lukewarm at best. It was the dinner hour, and with everyone preparing for their evening, they ran out of hot water!
Franco, the GM, provided drinks while we waited for the heat, and I appreciated that. But to charge $800 a night for a cold shower and frigid room is crazy. I would have expected at least some small discount, but it is what it is. I would not return.
Needless to say, we checked out, and while it cost more, Tremezzo is absolutely beautiful, and every lake view room has stunning views unmatched by The Belvedere. It’s twice the price, but ten times the ambiance, and it is well, well worth...
Read moreMy wife and I had the absolute delight of staying at Hotel Belvedere—and it felt magical from beginning to end. The hotel sits just slightly above the town, offering stunning views of Lake Como that greeted us every morning and never stopped feeling special. It’s the kind of place that feels peaceful and removed, yet close to everything.|We were torn between staying here and at the Grand Hotel Serbelloni. While Serbelloni is undoubtedly a very fine hotel, we didn’t regret our choice for even a second. Hotel Belvedere struck the perfect balance—refined yet relaxed, elegant but warm. And it’s just a short, easy walk to town, which made exploring Bellagio incredibly convenient.|Check-in was seamless and friendly, setting the tone for the rest of our stay. Our suite was spacious and well-designed, with multiple balconies offering incredible lake views. We immediately felt comfortable and well cared for.|Breakfasts were something we looked forward to each day. There was a wide and delicious buffet along with made-to-order eggs and omelets, and the staff always greeted us with a smile. It was a lovely way to start the morning.|Dinner at Albòri, the hotel’s restaurant, was truly excellent. The view from the restaurant was absolutely stunning. You could see the lake stretching out with the mountains rising all around, and the gardens nearby were so lush and full of color. It was honestly one of the best spots to just sit back, enjoy a great meal, and take it all in. On our first night, we ordered the mullet and the pork neck—both dishes were absolutely delicious, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. We enjoyed it so much, we returned the next night. We had the baked chicken with milk and honey for two. It came out whole, perfectly roasted, and the way it was presented turned the dish into an experience. Each meal began with a fantastic assortment of fresh breads and homemade butter that honestly could’ve been a meal on its own.|We also loved spending time by the pool—quiet, relaxing, and also surrounded by views of the mountains and lake. If we had one small suggestion, it would be to adjust the hot tub jets, which needed to be manually reset every few minutes. But that was a minor issue in an otherwise peaceful and relaxing setting.|One of the highlights of our trip was the private boat tour arranged through the hotel with Luxury Wooden Boat. It was a perfect way to experience the lake, and our guide, Stefano, was so knowledgeable and made sure everything was easy and enjoyable from start to finish.|We’re already talking about our next visit. Hotel Belvedere was more than just a beautiful place to stay—it was a warm, personal, and memorable experience that we’ll always carry with us. Bellagio is truly magical, and this hotel made it even...
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