Villa Lario Resort Mandello - Mandello del Lario, Province of Lecco

emilycD7369MF

We had the best stay at Villa Lario! We stayed 2 nights, got in very late our first night due to a hectic travel day, but the staff was ready to greet us around midnight for our arrival. Breakfast daily (included in rates) was phenomenal, service was superb. The view from the breakfast area is one of the best on Lake Como. The second day we had a reservation at the Amandus which was an all around elite Michelin star dining experience, from the service to the food by Chef Luca! We raved about this being our favorite meal in all of Italy. ||Special shoutout Marco for making our pre and post dinner cocktails, Francesco for recommending the best wine we've ever had for dinner, and chef Luca for his incredible art he created for our meal. You all are doing everything right, keep it up!

mohammad A.

Our stay at Villa Lario Mandello was nothing short of perfection. From the moment we arrived, the attention to detail was extraordinary — every aspect of the resort feels thoughtfully designed to make guests feel special and cared for.

What truly stood out was the staff’s genuine dedication to going above and beyond. On our honeymoon, I casually mentioned craving a lasagna, even though it wasn’t on the menu. To my surprise, the team didn’t just apologize or suggest an alternative — they created a special order just for us. The dish was beautifully prepared and served with such warmth, turning what could have been a simple request into one of the most memorable highlights of our trip.

That small gesture reflected the heart of Villa Lario Mandello: creating unforgettable moments. They made us feel celebrated, not just accommodated.

If you’re looking for a place where luxury meets authenticity, where every detail is carefully curated, and where the staff treats your experience as uniquely yours, Villa Lario Mandello is truly in a class of its own. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a magical, once-in-a-lifetime stay.

Mitch H.

A Beautiful Retreat on Lake Como, Marred by Significant Service and Privacy Lapses
​My husband chose the Villa Lario Resort in Mandello del Lario for a spectacular four-night stay to celebrate my 55th birthday, and the location overlooking Lake Como is truly breathtaking. This luxurious 5-star property is conveniently nestled near Lecco and Varenna, offering a peaceful and exclusive atmosphere.
​The Setting and Amenities
​We were delighted to stay in the largest villa, which featured a magnificent walkout balcony overlooking uninterrupted views of the lake. The grounds of the property are meticulously maintained, functioning as a private, quiet park. The resort offers high-end amenities, including a lakeside pool, a dock for private boat pickup, and even a dedicated landing area for helicopters. The complimentary full breakfast was an exceptional way to start each day. Initially, the staff were professional, friendly, and helpful, and we enjoyed dining in the restaurant for the first two nights before opting for more private dining in our villa for my birthday and our final morning.
​Issues Affecting Comfort and Privacy
​While the setting was idyllic, two specific issues severely impacted our experience, particularly given the rate of approximately $1,000 per night:
​1. Room Condition, Severe Allergic Reaction, and Insufficient Remediation:
The general condition of the high-priced villa was unacceptable. Not only did we notice torn leather furniture that was uncomfortable and unsuitable for a luxury room, but upon arrival, we also noticed a strong odor of cat urine. This issue was compounded by the fact that the residue caused me to experience a severe allergic reaction, resulting in watery eyes and congestion that required me to take medication for our entire four-night stay. When we reported the odor to the front desk, the issue was addressed merely by having housekeeping place an oil diffuser in the room to mask the smell, rather than fully cleaning or treating the source of the odor. The lack of proper sanitation, the visible disrepair, and the subsequent health impact were egregious, especially given the cost of the accommodation.
​2. Egregious Violation of Privacy:
The second issue was far more intrusive. While trying to enjoy a quiet birthday morning coffee on our private balcony, a photographer and the "non-paying guest" were actively conducting a commercial photo shoot on the resort property. The photographer then flew a drone directly over our balcony. I immediately called down to have the intrusion stopped, and it paused temporarily. However, the photographer quickly resumed flying the drone, a clear second violation of our privacy which I documented on my phone. It felt as though the non-paying guest had more liberties than we did as paying guests.
​As a paying guest, and having previous professional experience in the hospitality industry (Marriott), I recognize this as a serious violation of guest rights. I repeatedly requested to speak with a manager regarding both issues, but unfortunately, we never received a call back, a personal apology, or any attempt at service recovery from the management team. The lack of boundaries and priority given to the external photo shoot over the comfort of paying guests forced us to change our birthday plans and leave the property early that morning.
​Overall
​The Villa Lario Resort is a beautiful destination, offering immense natural beauty and stunning physical amenities. My husband provided a beautiful Italian getaway. However, the fundamental failures in guest services—failing to resolve significant sanitation and maintenance issues, and a gross mismanagement of a privacy violation—demonstrate a serious lapse in professional management that is unacceptable at this price point and star rating.

Stephanie313

Staff was wonderful and the property is beautiful! The room was a little underwhelming and the location is a little tucked away. My only comment is that it rained during our stay and there is not much to do on property with the rain (no pool. Beach or activities) so maybe they improve on that. Otherwise great stay

Nerita S.

An absolute treasure on Lake Como. The staff are authenticity happy and friendly. The rooms are amazing. The view is amazing. With only ~8 rooms, it is a quiet heaven on the lake. I loved swimming on the lake from the private beach. Restaurant Amandus was spectacular. I cannot recommend this hotel more. A very special place.

susanhA9826WI

I've stayed in many luxury hotels around the world and it's hard for me to recall a better experience. We stayed at one of the cave suites, which was absolutely delightful. We left the patio doors open at night so we could hear the sound of the lake and watch the sunset.||While the rooms are not massive- by European standards they are very nicely appointed, with a beautiful full-size shower, well appointed bathroom, incredibly comfortable bed, multiple times a day service of the room to tidy /provide turn down, etc.||The property itself is absolutely gorgeous- over 2 acres of meticulously manicured gardens and a beautiful pool, countless places to sit and relax - including the two different restaurants that both have a spectacular lake view and direct view of the sunset, multiple private romantic sitting areas, lunch can be served anywhere that you want it.||There are only nine suites -so when the place is full, there are 18 people. It is so incredibly private compared to the busy towns like Como and Bellagio. There's a helicopter pad if you should want one, but we were picked up in a very nice vehicle from the airport- less than an hour drive. You don't need a car in fact, it would be annoying to have one. It's a short drive by taxi -which the hotel will call for you - to get to Varenna, which is an absolutely gorgeous town to spend the day in, and has a ferry terminal to go to Bellagio or anywhere else. Public ferries don't come right to the hotel but you can charter a private boat -which we did one day -to take you on a tour all around the lake, which is worth doing.||Or if you want a very quiet, romantic vacation, you would never have to leave the property. It's quiet - meaning there's absolutely nothing to do -except sit around at the pool, read books and enjoy the delicious food. We went swimming in the lake- it's cold but if you like open water swimming, it's absolutely fantastic. The pool is 20 m long so also long enough to swim laps -and there is a very well equipped gym about 500 away - 3 min walk and 7 euros for a daily pass.||If you want hustle and bustle and shopping, this is not what you're going to get here! But if you want complete relaxation and luxury, there's nothing better. We stayed for four nights and I could've easily stayed for two weeks before getting bored.||Regarding Amandus restaurant- it's remarkable. Not for those who have a picky pallet, but the chef is incredibly creative, and we just allowed him to serve whatever he thought was a good idea ...which included some very beautiful, strange and wonderful concoctions that were as delightful to look at as they were to taste. They also have a very solid wine list and during the time that we were there, the weather was absolutely perfect sitting out on the patio, and the service was beyond compare. We had a team of six wait staff serving approximately the same number of tables. Breakfast comes with the room charge and is absolutely delightful -again all outside looking at the lake. They have a fantastic breakfast menu and the chef was also happy to prepare just about anything that we asked for that wasn't on the menu!||It's expensive and luxurious, but honestly no more expensive than a Ritz Carlton or Four seasons hotel with much more character and frankly a higher level of service and unbelievable attention to detail. Because of the number of guests, everybody knows your name- they know what room you're in -as soon as you leave your room they will send people to clean it. All of the staff know exactly what's going on, and it truly feels like you are enjoying a private luxury experience. We were extremely happy that this was not in the center of everything busy and we enjoyed visiting Bellagio and Como by boat, but were happy to spend the rest of the time sitting on a chair looking at the lake!||The Concierge is available by WhatsApp if you want anything, you just send them a message and they appear in about 60 seconds. Can't beat it. Will definitely return.

Q7484TIthomasc

This hotel has to be one of the best ..if not THE best iv ever stayed at .|It is unbelievable. |Me and my wife selected this hotel for the first segment of our honeymoon. |On arrival to the hotel the grounds open up to a beautiful building set in pristine grounds..the location is to die for..and you never get over the views over lake como .|The staff are so friendly,polite and welcoming. |The rooms are modern and immaculate.|So clean too!|We wanted to see lake como in its entirety so the hotel arranged for a boat to pick us up from the hotels own lakeside dock...a trip of a lifetime within a trip of a lifetime!|And the on board hamper was so special provided by the hotel!|On leaving we really didn't want too!|We would love to return in the future.

Pingüino P.

We got the expensive desgutacione menu. It was not cheap, but it was 100% worth it - and comparison to Pujol, in Mexico city, it was a steal. We ate for four hours, left full, and the chef came out to meet us in the end. Everyone was amazing, the service was incredible.

My only complaint is that we could not dock our Yacht in the harbor because it was in a lake. Please connect the lake to the ocean for us Yacht dwelling patrons. We had to drive for this vacation. Which is ridiculous. But, sad to say, was worth it.

Bravo! 5 star! Trés bien! Maravilloso!