Italians Love This Lake Como Various — and It Has an Unimaginable Luxurious Lodge

Once I first noticed Cape of Senses’ lake and mountain views from the floor-to-ceiling home windows main from the foyer to the terrace (my welcome glowing wine in hand), I virtually needed to pinch myself. The setting was so dreamy.

Whereas close by Lake Como is extra “identified” amongst Individuals, Lake Garda is a worthy under-the-radar gem. It’s typically a less expensive and fewer touristy space than Como — although no much less beautiful. “That is the place Italians come for trip,” Alena Deutsch, the lodge’s basic supervisor, tells me.

The adults-only fairytale escape is simply two hours north of Milan, and whereas Cape of Senses continues to be an indulgent luxurious keep, equally luxe inns on Lake Como, like the long-lasting Grand Lodge Tremezzo, begin at nicely over $1,000 per evening for lake-view rooms on summer season weekends.

Cape of Senses opened final Might and is aptly named: All 5 senses will likely be pampered and indulged all through your keep. Each room has beautiful lake views to feast your eyes on; contemporary mountain air fills your nostril and lungs, and delicate notes from the on-site olive bushes waft by the breeze. You possibly can hearken to birds chirping and visitors splashing within the pool out of your personal room terrace or take pleasure in absolute silence for deep and peaceable relaxation; get each kink labored out with a therapeutic massage adopted by stress-free within the sauna or indoor-outdoor heated spa pool; and with regards to the style, every part on the menu is native, contemporary, and divine. Even easy dishes like a prosciutto and melon pool snack featured a few of the juiciest melon I’ve ever had and melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto — to not point out the contemporary, heat bread paired with olive oil from the olive bushes.

Even the water is particular right here — and I don’t simply imply that discovered within the lake or the heated swimming pools. A brand new bottle of housemade infused water is dropped at the room each morning, with a tag — “Home made with amore” — tied across the bottle with a white ribbon. Whether or not it’s the love or the fruit and herbs, it’s additional scrumptious, and I seemed ahead to greedily gulping down large glasses of it each day.

Elevated touches like this are, dare I say, infused all through your complete property. From the luxurious his-and-hers down comforters to the regionally made, natural bathtub merchandise to the cozy solar loungers dotted with black and white pool towels and all positioned for optimum views, each element is rigorously curated and lovingly thought by.

As testomony to this, when the lodge was nonetheless underneath development, Deutsch took one of many tabletops in her automobile whereas driving across the space to make sure the cutlery she picked out would go completely with the colour of the wooden. “Not everybody at all times notices these small particulars outright,” Deutsch tells me, “however I feel when every part is particular and thought out, a long-lasting impression is left on the visitors.”

Having simply stayed right here for 3 days, I can verify firsthand that this lodge certainly leaves a long-lasting impression that may make you wish to return repeatedly. Learn on for my full lodge assessment of Cape of Senses on Lake Garda in Italy.

The Rooms

There aren’t any unhealthy rooms right here. Since that is an all-suite property and each room has panoramic lake and mountain views, you don’t have to pay additional for a room improve to see a sliver of the principle attraction.

Room decor contains a impartial however luxe palette: hardwood flooring, slate-gray chairs and mattress frames, cozy, sand-colored loungers, and gold accent pillows. Terraces characteristic cozy couches and small black steel tables with wicker chairs, that are excellent for beginning your day with a heat espresso from the in-room moka pot whereas having fun with the view.

The king-sized mattress was extremely cozy, with two fluffy duvets and luxurious down pillows. Although our room and terrace have been fairly near one of many on-site swimming pools, we couldn’t hear a peep from exterior when the sliding glass doorways have been shut.

The bogs are equally luxurious, with deep sinks, marbled showers with overhead and handheld showerheads, and separate areas for the bathroom. The primary rooms even have small, built-in wood desks with spherical vainness mirrors and a swivel chair, making for an excellent additional getting-ready spot.

Even entry-level junior suites are virtually palatial at 540 sq. ft and include massive personal terraces as well. Upgrading to a normal or spa suite will web you 100 or 200 additional sq. ft, respectively, but it surely’s the lodge’s Sky and Sky Pool suites the place the improve ‘wow’ issue comes into play. Positioned on larger flooring, the Sky suites characteristic expansive personal out of doors terraces full with daybeds and sizzling tubs, whereas Sky Pool and Deluxe Sky Pool suites, as you could have guessed, characteristic beautiful personal infinity swimming pools. Different upgrades on this class embody bigger rooms and deep soaking tubs positioned to soak up the lake view.

Meals and Drink

Begin your morning with breakfast on the terrazza from the buffet or a la carte menu. Or, go for a personal meal in your balcony with room service. Contemporary seasonal fruit, deliciously flaky pastries, eggs and milk from native farms, and Italian sausage are all on the menu.

Later, seize a chunk at Osteria La Pergola, the place you may sit poolside or upstairs whereas having fun with a membership sandwich or bowl of spaghetti with cherry tomato sauce and buffalo stracciatella. Even easy favorites right here, like prosciutto with melon or a Caesar salad, are distinctive variations of the classics.

At Restaurant Al Tramonto, the distinctive sundown view from the eating terrace is the principle course. Nonetheless, superb dining-worthy choices like potato dumplings stuffed with roasted cuttlefish or duck leg in an anchovy sauce will go away your abdomen a lot satiated, too.

Actions and Facilities

Cape of Senses gives two swimming pools. Chill out and float within the indoor-outdoor pool that begins inside on the spa stage and ends as a beautiful out of doors infinity pool, wanting immediately at the most effective mountain and lake view, or swim a number of laps within the close by out of doors sports activities pool. After all, sitting within the lounge chairs across the swimming pools and backyard garden with a very good ebook can also be an possibility.

The gymnasium has every part you must maintain your physique wholesome, from stationary bikes and treadmills to weight machines. Personal yoga periods and private trainers are additionally out there for reserving.

Whereas I actually loved my blissful therapeutic massage and a dip within the pool, maybe my favourite amenity was the cherry purple e-Vespas, out there to lease by the hour or for the half or full day. I lived out my Lizzie McGuire Italian fantasies, zooming down the winding roads and zipping across the lake. Although, if the Vespas aren’t fairly your velocity, the lodge additionally has an electrical Fiat 500 and several other bikes out there as an alternative.

The lodge concierge can also be more than pleased to rearrange excursions and actions for you, from tastings at close by wineries to a day crusing out on the lake or a experience in a classic automobile.

The Spa

Wellness is on the coronary heart of the property, so the spa doesn’t disappoint. Seven remedy rooms provide a variety of choices, from traditional massages and anti-aging facials to anti-cellulite physique remedies and massages that incorporate Tibetan singing bowls. Manicures and pedicures are additionally out there on the spa, plus a leisure room full with a spa library and a sauna and steam room.

Earlier than or after your remedy, I like to recommend stopping by the tea nook and cozying up within the comfortable indoor daybeds, which overlook the pool and the lake view past.

Household-friendly Choices

The lodge is open to visitors 14 and up. Small canines are allowed in devoted dog-friendly rooms for these touring with four-legged relations.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Preserving the encompassing space’s pure magnificence was ingrained within the lodge idea from the start. The lodge was additionally constructed with sustainable applied sciences in thoughts and makes use of warmth pumps, photo voltaic panels, and rainwater collectors to attenuate the power footprint.

In the meantime, interiors rely closely on regionally sourced supplies, and the lodge house owners and designers prioritized one hundred pc made-in-Italy merchandise, from wood out of doors furnishings to stone tiles. The lodge additionally works with environmentally pleasant firms for its cleansing merchandise and works to attenuate plastic consumption as a lot as potential throughout your complete lodge.

Cape of Senses additionally has ADA-compliant, handicap-accessible suites and bogs out there.

Location

Cape of Senses is roughly two hours from Milan and fewer than 40 minutes from the Verona airport. It overlooks the city of Torri del Benaco, and different small cities like Garda and Bardolino are inside a brief drive. Nonetheless, the lodge’s actual draw is that it’s secluded and never proper on the town. Being larger up within the hills above the lake permits for optimum views, however remember that you just received’t be proper on the lake, and also you’ll have to drive down some steep and winding roads to get there.

Sirmione, a historic city the place you may discover Thirteenth-century castles, makes for a wonderful day journey. It’s about 40 minutes away by automobile. We additionally spent a stunning afternoon arrange by the lodge concierge at Zeni vineyard close by Bardolino, having fun with a wine tasting of their lovely cellar.

When you can at all times lease the lodge’s Vespas or Fiat for the day to move into city or right down to the lake, I like to recommend renting a automobile for ease and adaptability.

Learn how to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Breakfast-only and half-board (breakfast and dinner) choices can be found when reserving. Should you plan on consuming most of your meals on-site, go for the half-board to cut back a la carte meals expenses.

The lodge additionally gives particular packages designed round wellness or staying lively, together with spa remedies or actions like e-bike excursions. Cape of Senses additionally has a sister property within the Dolomites, ALPIANA, and you’ll pair the 2 collectively as a five-night keep in a particular Mountain & Lake bundle.