Grand Hotel Fasano is the kind of lake hotel people imagine when they think of the Italian lakes a century ago: a pale former Habsburg hunting lodge with its garden running straight down to the water at Gardone Riviera, magnolias older than most of the guests, and a jetty for swimming. The Mayr family has spent recent seasons modernising it, with new spa-connected suites, a rebuilt AQVA Spa and a kitchen that holds a Michelin star at Il Fagiano. My one-line verdict: arguably the most classic grand hotel on the western shore, for travellers who want history, the lake at their feet and a serious dinner, rather than a sports resort.
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Quick facts: Grand Hotel Fasano
- Location: Fasano, just north of the centre of Gardone Riviera, directly on the western (Brescia) shore of Lake Garda.
- Rooms and suites: 86 in total: 12 are in the annex Villa Principe, and four newer suites sit in a new wing linked to the spa by lift.
- Price level: high. At the 2025 relaunch, rates started at around 600 euros a night for a lake view Executive room with breakfast.
- Season: seasonal. In 2026 the hotel opened on 27 March and is scheduled to stay open until 6 January 2027, the first time it stays open over Christmas and New Year.
- Nearest airport: Verona Villafranca, about 80 km, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes by car. Milan Bergamo is roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Best for: couples, food lovers and anyone who wants a historic lakefront hotel with a full spa.
Check prices and availability
Lake view rooms with balconies and the new spa suites sell first, especially from June to September. Compare dates before you commit.
Location and getting there
The hotel stands in the hamlet of Fasano, about half a kilometre north of Gardone Riviera on the Gardesana road that hugs the western shore. Behind it the mountains of the Alto Garda Bresciano park rise steeply; in front, the garden ends in a low stone wall and the water. This stretch of shore still has a more stately, slower rhythm than the busy southern resorts.
The house was built as a hunting lodge for the Habsburg imperial family and became a hotel in 1888. It has been listed as a national heritage building since 1989, which explains why the main villa keeps its period proportions even after renovation.
Getting there takes some planning. Verona Villafranca is the most practical airport, about 80 km away, so allow roughly 1 hour 10 minutes in normal traffic and longer on summer weekends. Milan Bergamo is around 1 hour 30 minutes, and Milan Linate closer to 1 hour 45 minutes. Brescia is the nearest high-speed rail station, roughly 45 minutes by car. The concierge arranges private transfers on request, and parking is free for guests, with electric charging points. A car is useful, although the lake ferries from Gardone and nearby Salò and Maderno are the more elegant way to reach Sirmione, Limone or Malcesine.
Rooms and suites
The hotel lists 86 rooms and suites across the main villa, Villa Principe and a newer wing. Some booking sites quote older, lower figures.
- Main building rooms: classic rooms with marble bathrooms, many with balconies facing the lake. The Executive lake view rooms with balcony were the entry point for published 2025 rates, and a lake view is worth paying for here.
- Villa Principe: the annex next to the main hotel, with 12 rooms. It feels more private and residential, a good choice if you prefer a quieter house to the bustle of the main lobby. Ask the hotel which rooms there face the water.
- New spa suites: four suites of about 90 m² in a wing opened for the 2025 season, connected to the AQVA Spa by lift. Each has a king bed, a sofa bed, a separate living area, a lake view balcony and a bathroom with a freestanding tub and double vanity. They sleep up to four, and two can be connected to Executive rooms for families.
- Family options: connecting rooms and family rooms are available on request.
Rooms have been renovated over several years, with wood sourced from Trentino forests, and the style is quietly classic rather than design-led. Six ground floor rooms and lifts help guests with limited mobility; ask for details when booking. Small dogs are accepted for a daily supplement.
Dining
Food is the clearest reason to choose Fasano over other lakefront hotels in the area. There are three restaurants plus bars.
- Il Fagiano: the fine dining restaurant, led by chef Maurizio Bufi, which earned its Michelin star in the guide presented in late 2023 and holds one star in the Michelin Guide 2026. The cooking is creative contemporary Italian, with tasting menus and an à la carte option, and wine or cocktail pairings. Dinner only, with bookings from 7.30 pm. Dogs are not allowed here, and men should avoid sandals or open shoes.
- Osteria Il Pescatore: the more relaxed dinner option, on a terrace over the water, mixing Brescian tradition with Mediterranean dishes. Since 2026 it is run by chef Valerio Dallamano.
- Magnolia: lunch in the park under magnolias that are around 200 years old, also under chef Dallamano.
- La Terrazza and Rama’s Lounge Bar: the lakeside terrace for all-day drinks and snacks, and the evening cocktail bar of bar manager Rama Redzepi. His 2026 menu, “The Seven Wonders of Lake Garda”, is built around seven lake towns.
Breakfast is served indoors or on the lake terrace, with local cured meats, cheeses and fresh pastries, plus gluten-free and vegan choices. A new beach bar on the lakefront was announced for June 2026; ask the hotel about its hours. If you want a second starred dinner nearby, Lido 84 in Gardone Riviera (one star) and Villa Feltrinelli in Gargnano (two stars) are both starred in the 2026 guide.
Check rates at Grand Hotel Fasano
Spa and pools
The AQVA Spa was fully renovated for the 2025 season and is one of the larger hotel spas on the western shore, reported at around 3,600 m² after the renovation. Its design nods to Roman baths, and access is included in the room rate. Treatments use the French brand Sothys, and the signature “1888” ritual takes its name from the year the hotel opened.
- Pools: a heated indoor pool (about 29°C) linked by a tunnel to a heated outdoor pool, plus a cold water pool and a large hot tub. The hotel also lists an outdoor pool with a slide, useful for children.
- Heat rooms: a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath and a milder Vitarium. Saunas and steam rooms are for adults only, with a women-only slot in the late morning.
- Lake: the garden sits directly on the water, with a jetty and several points to swim from, plus loungers, umbrellas and towels for guests.
- Gym: open 24 hours.
Pools are open from 9 am to 7 pm and treatments from 10 am. The hotel’s own published sauna times have been inconsistent, so check the current schedule at check-in. Treatment slots are limited in summer, so book them with your room.
Sport and activities
Fasano is not a sports resort. There is no tennis court on site, which is why it appears in our tennis hotels on Lake Garda guide only as a hotel to stay at while playing at a local club.
Golf
There is no course at the hotel, but Golf Bogliaco, founded in 1912 and one of the oldest clubs in Italy, is about 7 km north along the shore, and the 27 holes at Arzaga are around 25 km away. That is why we list Fasano in our guide to golf hotels on Lake Garda as a base where golf is one ingredient among many. The hotel does not publish green fee deals or shuttles, so ask the hotel about tee times and rates before you travel. For a course by course overview, read our guide to golf on Lake Garda.
On the water and beyond
The concierge books private boat tours on classic Riva motorboats, which is the most beautiful way to see Isola del Garda and the cliffs towards Limone. Bike hire, water sports and excursions are also arranged, and wine tastings in the Valtènesi hills to the south are an easy afternoon. From April to December the hotel runs “Aperitivo d’Autore”, a series of evening talks on art and literature on the terrace.
What’s nearby
- Il Vittoriale degli Italiani: Gabriele D’Annunzio’s extravagant house and gardens, about 1 km from the hotel and the essential visit in Gardone.
- Salò: a long lakeside promenade and good shopping, a short drive south.
- Gargnano and Limone: lemon houses and quiet harbours to the north. The Lefay spa resort sits in the hills above Gargnano.
- Sirmione and the southern shore: best reached by ferry. Our Lake Garda guide covers boat trips, wine and spas around the lake.
Grand Hotel Fasano vs other Lake Garda luxury hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hotel Fasano | Gardone Riviera, western shore, on the water | Former Habsburg lodge, starred Il Fagiano, AQVA Spa, lake swimming | Classic grand hotel stays and food lovers |
| Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda | Gargnano, hills above the western shore | Very large spa, all-suite, infinity pool, Golf Bogliaco nearby | Serious wellness holidays |
| Villa Cortine Palace | Sirmione, southern shore | Park villa, clay tennis court, private pier | Romance plus a little tennis |
| Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise | Lazise, eastern shore hillside | Tennis and padel, adults-only Sky Pool, modern spa | Active couples |
In short: Lefay wins on pure wellness and quiet (read our Lefay review), Villa Cortine Palace is the other historic villa choice, with tennis, and the Quellenhof Lazise suits racquet sports and active couples. Fasano is the pick for lakefront grandeur and dinner.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Couples who want a historic hotel with the lake at the end of the garden.
- Food lovers: a starred restaurant, a lakeside osteria and a strong bar under one roof.
- Spa lovers who still want lake swimming, not just indoor pools.
- Golfers travelling with non-golfers, with Bogliaco a short drive away.
It does not suit:
- Tennis or padel players, as there is no court on site.
- Travellers who want cutting-edge contemporary design: the look is classic.
- Winter visitors outside the opening period, as the hotel closes after early January.
- Anyone who needs a short airport transfer, since Verona is over an hour away.
Charlotte’s tip: book Il Fagiano for night two, not night one
Arrival days on Garda are long, and a tasting menu deserves you rested. Reserve Il Fagiano for the second evening when you book the room, spend the first at Il Pescatore on the water, and take a Riva boat out at golden hour on the third day. In May, June or September the lake is calmer and the terrace is at its best.
Practical tips
- Booking: reserve Il Fagiano, spa treatments and any boat tour at the same time as the room, especially for July and August.
- Best rooms to request: a lake view room with balcony in the main building, one of the four spa suites for space, or Villa Principe for privacy.
- Season: the 2026 season runs from 27 March 2026 to 6 January 2027. Opening dates change year to year, so confirm before booking spring or winter trips.
- Check-in: from 4 pm, check-out by noon. Early or late times on request.
- Dress: smart casual in the evening. At Il Fagiano men should wear closed shoes.
- Kids: welcome, with family rooms and pools, but children must be accompanied in the pools and cannot use the saunas. Ask the hotel about babysitting.
Check prices and availability
Compare lake view rooms, Villa Principe and the spa suites, and check which rates include breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grand Hotel Fasano open all year?
No. The 2026 season runs from 27 March 2026 to 6 January 2027, the first time the hotel stays open over Christmas and New Year. It closes for the rest of the winter.
Does Grand Hotel Fasano have a Michelin-starred restaurant?
Yes. Il Fagiano, led by chef Maurizio Bufi, holds one Michelin star in the 2026 guide.
Does the hotel have a beach?
It has no sandy beach, but the garden runs to the lake with a jetty, swimming access, loungers and towels for guests. A new beach bar was announced for summer 2026.
Is there golf or tennis at the hotel?
Neither is on site. Golf Bogliaco is about 7 km away; for tennis, play at a local club. Ask the hotel to arrange tee times.
