The Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa sits right on the promenade in Menaggio, the liveliest small town on Lake Como’s western shore. It pairs a 19th-century Liberty villa with a contemporary new wing, adds one of the largest spas on the lake and a private beach club a short walk along the water, and puts the historic Menaggio & Cadenabbia golf course about ten minutes up the hill. My one-line verdict: arguably the best all-rounder in Menaggio itself, ideal if you want spa, golf and boats from one address, less so if you need the hush of a secluded villa.
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Quick facts: Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa
- Location: on the lakefront in Menaggio, western shore of Lake Como, a few minutes’ walk from the ferry landing and the town’s main piazza.
- Rooms and suites: 73 or 81, as sources disagree (see below). Ask the hotel for the current figure.
- Price level: high, with lake view rooms and suites at a clear premium in July and August.
- Season: seasonal. In recent years the hotel has reopened in mid-March, and a 2026 report gave 24 October as the last day of the 2026 season. It closes over winter.
- Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa, about 82 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Lugano airport across the Swiss border is closer but has few flights.
- Best for: couples, golfers and spa lovers who want to walk to restaurants and ferries.
Check prices and availability
Lake view rooms in the historic Villa and the newer suites sell out first from June to September. Compare dates before you commit.
Location and getting there
Menaggio sits roughly opposite Bellagio and Varenna, where the three branches of Lake Como meet. That is the hotel’s biggest practical advantage: the Navigazione Laghi ferry landing is a short walk away, and the crossings to Bellagio and Varenna take around 10 to 15 minutes, so the classic three-village triangle is easy without a car.
Bars and restaurants in the old centre are a few minutes on foot, unlike grand hotels that sit outside any village. The trade-off: the lakefront road and promenade are busy in high summer.
By car, Milan Malpensa is about 82 km away and Milan Linate about 120 km, with Bergamo Orio al Serio around 125 km; allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes depending on the airport and traffic. Lugano is only about 27 km away, which makes Swiss rail connections useful. Parking is available in the new wing’s underground garage; reserve a space when you book. Our Italy travel planner covers transfers and car hire.
Rooms and suites
The hotel is split between two buildings joined by a covered passage. The Villa is the historic part, a neoclassical building with Liberty touches, original chandeliers and a grand staircase. The Palazzo is the contemporary wing added during the Rocchi family’s renovation and expansion, designed by architect Franco Pè, with the spa and the garden pool area.
On the room count, our research turned up contradictory information. The Michelin Guide and many booking platforms list 81 rooms and suites, while Il Sole 24 Ore reported in 2025 that rooms were being merged to create four new, larger lake view suites, and an August 2026 restaurant review gives 73 rooms. It was not clear to us which figure applies today, so confirm with the hotel if it matters to you.
- Deluxe rooms: the entry level, in both buildings. Many face the garden, the pool or the town rather than the lake.
- Prestige rooms: larger, with better outlooks. Some Palazzo rooms have bigger balconies and double bathrooms.
- Suites: the lake view suites, including the newer ones created from merged rooms.
- Queen Victoria Suite: on the top floor of the historic Villa, made of two connected rooms.
- Master and Presidential suites: a two-bedroom and a one-bedroom suite with lake views, two bathrooms and a living area.
Interiors are bold and contemporary, with strong colours and furniture made by local craftsmen in local woods; Villa rooms feel more classic, Palazzo rooms more modern. Sizes are not published consistently, so ask the hotel. One recent reviewer found an entry room in the Palazzo small with a limited view: on Lake Como, the lake view is what you pay for.
Dining
Executive chef Maichol Morandi has overseen the hotel’s kitchens since 2024. There are two restaurants and two bars in the hotel, plus a restaurant at the beach club.
- Lago: the main restaurant on a lake view veranda that opens up in good weather. It serves breakfast, a relaxed Italian lunch with pizza from a resident pizzaiolo, and a more formal dinner. There has been live piano on summer evenings in recent seasons.
- Shiori 1827: the evening restaurant, named after the year Alessandro Manzoni published The Betrothed. It began as a tasting menu restaurant called 1827 and was relaunched in 2026 as a sushi and Asian fusion restaurant led by chef Suphaphon Saengwong under Morandi’s supervision. In 2026 it closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and finished its season in late September, so check opening days before planning around it.
- Bar Manzoni: the cocktail bar in the historic Villa, spilling onto the front courtyard.
- Bar Griso: the poolside bar in the garden.
- Wine: a cellar of more than 400 labels, used for occasional winemaker dinners.
On Michelin: the hotel itself holds Two Michelin Keys in the Michelin Guide’s hotel selection, which recognises the stay as a whole. I could not find a Michelin star for either restaurant in the 2026 guide.
Check rates at Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa
Spa and pools
The Erre Spa is the reason many guests choose this hotel over its neighbours. It covers about 1,200 m², and the hotel bills it as the largest spa on Lake Como (the Mandarin Oriental in Blevio makes a similar claim for its own spa). Spa access is included for hotel guests; treatments are extra.
- Indoor pool: a heated pool of about 20 metres. Note that it is designed for relaxation rather than lane swimming, so do not expect a training pool.
- Heat and cold: sauna, Turkish bath, a Fire Room with a central steam fireplace, an Ice Room, a Himalayan salt room and sensory showers.
- Relaxation: several quiet rooms and a Kneipp path.
- Treatments: facials using Biologique Recherche and rituals from Cinq Mondes.
- Outdoor pool: a seasonal pool in the Palazzo’s garden, with Bar Griso beside it.
- Gym: a 24 hour Technogym room, with a personal trainer on request.
Then there is Victoria Beach, the former Menaggio lido on Via Roma, run by the hotel’s group since 2024. It has a pool and solarium area, a children’s pool, direct access for swimming in the lake, cabanas and its own restaurant. One source says beach access is not included in the room rate, so ask the hotel whether your package includes it and book loungers early for August.
Sport and activities
Golf at Menaggio
For golfers, this is the shortest commute of any luxury hotel on the lake, which is why it features in our guide to golf hotels on Lake Como. The Menaggio & Cadenabbia Golf Club, founded in 1907 and one of the oldest clubs in Italy, sits in Grandola ed Uniti on the hill above town: 18 holes, par 70, around 5,480 metres, with views back towards the lake. It is roughly 10 minutes by car. The club closes in winter and usually plays from March to November. Partner hotel green fee rates are not published, so ask the hotel whether it qualifies and whether it can arrange tee times and club storage. For more courses within reach, see our guide to golf courses on Lake Como and the national hub, the best golf resorts in Italy.
Boats, cooking and walking
The hotel offers water limousine excursions, sailing trips and pasta and pastry classes with the kitchen team; ask the hotel about current prices. Walkers can follow the Greenway del Lago di Como, which begins just south of town at Cadenabbia.
Tennis
There is no tennis court at the hotel. If you want to play, our guide to tennis courts on Lake Como lists clubs and hotels where you can book a court.
What’s nearby
- Bellagio and Varenna: each a short ferry ride away. Varenna is also home to the hotel’s sister property, the Hotel Royal Victoria (read our Royal Victoria Varenna review), and the group has sold packages combining stays at both.
- Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo: the famous gardens are a few kilometres south along the shore. Our Lake Como ultimate guide covers the villas, boat trips and the best seasons.
- Other hotels: if you are still choosing between villages, start with our guide on where to stay on Lake Como.
Grand Hotel Victoria vs other Lake Como grand hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa | Menaggio, western shore | 1,200 m² spa, beach club, golf about 10 minutes away | Golfers and spa lovers who want a walkable town |
| Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Tremezzina, western shore | Floating pool, large park, classic grand hotel scene | Couples and families who want plenty going on |
| Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni | Bellagio, central lake | Historic villa on the tip of Bellagio, Relais & Châteaux | Classic grandeur, golf as a side trip |
| Villa d’Este | Cernobbio, southern lake | Historic park, own golf club connection | Old-school luxury near Como and Milan |
In short: Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the bigger scene ten minutes down the road (read our Grand Hotel Tremezzo review), Villa Serbelloni is the choice for Bellagio’s historic glamour (see our Villa Serbelloni review), and the Grand Hotel Victoria wins on spa space and the shortest drive to the first tee.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Golfers who want to play Menaggio several times and be back for lunch.
- Spa lovers who want a large thermal area included in the stay.
- Travellers without a car, thanks to the ferries and town on the doorstep.
- Couples who like contemporary design rather than heavy period interiors.
It does not suit:
- Anyone looking for seclusion: this is a town centre hotel on a busy promenade.
- Lap swimmers, since the indoor pool is built for relaxation.
- Food lovers who want a Michelin-starred restaurant in-house.
- Tennis players who want a court on site.
Charlotte’s tip: book the lake, and play golf early
Skip the entry rooms and pay for a lake view in the Villa or one of the newer suites. Then golf at Menaggio in the morning, spa in the afternoon and the ferry to Varenna for dinner. In May, June or September that rhythm works without August crowds.
Practical tips
- Booking: reserve spa treatments, Victoria Beach loungers and any golf arrangements together with the room in summer.
- Best rooms to request: a lake view room or suite in the Villa for history, a Palazzo room with a large balcony for a modern feel. Avoid rooms facing the town if you are sensitive to noise.
- Season: closed in winter. Spring openings have been in mid-March, and in 2026 the hotel was due to close on 24 October. Confirm 2027 dates with the hotel.
- Kids: children are welcome, rooms take up to four guests and cots are available for infants. The beach club has a children’s pool. Ask the hotel about spa age limits.
- Do not confuse it with Varenna: the sister Hotel Royal Victoria is across the lake in Varenna. Check you are booking Menaggio.
Check prices and availability
Compare lake view rooms and suites, and check which rates include breakfast and Victoria Beach access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio open all year?
No. It is a seasonal hotel that has reopened in mid-March in recent years and closes for winter; in 2026 the last day was reported as 24 October. Ask the hotel for exact 2027 dates.
Does the Grand Hotel Victoria have a Michelin star?
The hotel holds Two Michelin Keys for the overall stay. I found no Michelin star for its restaurants, Lago and Shiori 1827, in the 2026 guide.
How far is the hotel from the golf course?
The Menaggio & Cadenabbia Golf Club is roughly 10 minutes by car, on the hill above town. Ask the hotel about partner green fees and tee times.
How far is Grand Hotel Victoria from Milan Malpensa?
About 82 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car depending on traffic. Lugano is the closest city, about 27 km away.
