Set in beautifully-manicured botanical gardens, the hotel sits between the beautiful communes of Torno and Blevio on the eastern shore of the lake. Away from the swathes of tourists in the larger conurbations, Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como feels like a true lakeside retreat from the rush of modern life. Despite the hotel’s quiet surroundings, it is well-connected; the lake’s extensive and regular ferry service makes exploring the lake and its many towns and communes a relaxing and enjoyable experience – giving you space to imbibe the breathtaking scenery.

There are a plethora of further opportunities for exploration by water – if you prefer a more romantic setting, the hotel can arrange an exclusive riverboat cruise, where savouring a bottle of wine whilst feasting on a selection of mouth-watering canapés with your loved ones is a foregone conclusion. For those of us who feel more comfortable remaining on terra firma in order to enjoy the magnificent mountainous panorama unfurl, the hotel’s amenities even extend to iconic modes of transport. Take advantage of chartering the hotel’s very own 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta for the day, the shining star from an iconic age for the luxury car manufacturer. If a slower pace-of-life is preferable, there’s an option to take to the tarmac on an e-bike – allowing you to fill your lungs with pristine lakeside air and savour every moment of the lake’s vista (while not having to work too hard at pedalling).

Gastronomy is practically a national sport in Italy, and the food on offer at the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como shoots for the grand prize.The hotel’s main restaurant, L˜ARIA by Chef Massimiliano Blasone, has a distinctive offering seen nowhere else on the lake – providing refined Italian cuisine infused with traditional Japanese elements and flavours. While an unusual combination, the cuisines’ shared appetite for thinly sliced raw fish, and liberal use of crustaceans make this pairing a perfect match made in the brilliant briny deep. If weather permits, ask to sit on the terrace to take full advantage of the sprawling vista; or, alternatively, a front-row seat at one of the floor-length window tables is a desirable second choice to watch the spectacular sunset fall behind the hills jutting upwards from the opposite shore.

L˜ARIA’s lounge and terrace also plays host to the hotel’s breakfast offering – which comprises a diverse buffet with enough of a spread to ensure that no one tires of the choices no matter the length of stay. Alternatively, CO.MO Bar & Bistrot inside the villa itself offers a more relaxed brasserie-type dining experience, serving classic Italian plates in a plushly-decorated salon, with the option to spill out onto the terrace for an aperitivo or digestivo.

One of the hotel’s most coveted facilities is the largest floating infinity pool in the world; transforming the lakeside experience, and elevating a swim in the lake’s crystalline waters to new levels of elegance, the 40m pool is an objectively beautiful structure. Perfectly complementing the villa’s 19th Century architecture, and a definite finalist for one of the most picturesque hotel pools in the world, the infinity pool seamlessly fades into the blue hues of the lake below (thanks to its clever use of local dark Cardoso sandstone). The adjoining NAMI café is a relaxed spot serving a casual, Asian-inspired, menu of healthy plates and comfort foods alongside a variety of alcoholic beverages and cold-pressed juices (and other refreshments). Additionally, the Lake Como iteration of Mandarin Oriental’s famous spa facilities far exceeds its neighbours as the largest in the local area. The basement spa boasts an impressive steam room, multiple saunas, a plunge pool, ice showers, a hot tub, and a large hydrotherapy pool – the spa serves as an attractive alternative in the unfortunate event that the microclimate in Como doesn’t play ball.

Hotel accommodation comprises 75 rooms, suites, and villas, spread between the main villa and eight annexes dotted throughout the hotel’s botanic gardens. Decor is clean and pared-back – neutral coloured walls adorned with watercolour paintings and oriental accents rise from golden wooden floors. All rooms boast large marble bathrooms and most take advantage of beautiful panoramic lake views. Villas and suites outside of the main house, which start at one-bedroom suites and increase to duplex two-bedroom suites and villas, incorporate large arched windows and spacious patio areas, maximising that all-important view. For a more classical Italian experience, the 10 suites in the main villa would certainly scratch that vintage itch, or, if travelling as a group, the three-bedroom Villa del Lago comes complete with its own garden, outdoor jacuzzi and boat deck.

If a picturesque and incomparably romantic villa spilling out onto one of the world’s most beautiful lakes sounds like an appealing proposition, then Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como is the embodiment of the ultimate base from which to explore the very best the surrounding towns and communes have to offer. A quiet oasis situated amidst the cosmopolitan communes of Lake Como, while an unlikely juxtaposition, meets in the tastefully-refitted, and utterly breathtaking 19th Century Villa Roccabruna; to guarantee an unforgettable experience, stay withMandarin Oriental.

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