The Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como sits in a terraced botanical park in Blevio, on the quiet eastern bank just north of Como city. Its heart is Villa Roccabruna, the neoclassical house once owned by the opera singer Giuditta Pasta, and around it the hotel has added what is arguably the most striking pool on the lake: a 40 metre infinity pool by Herzog & de Meuron that floats on the water. Add one of the larger spas on Lake Como and a calm, residential setting, and you have a hotel that is more about unwinding than about grand hotel theatre. My one-line verdict: one of the best wellness stays on the lake, as long as you accept that the dining is no longer Michelin-starred and that Bellagio is a boat ride away.
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Quick facts: Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como
- Location: Via Caronti 69, Blevio, on the eastern shore of the Como branch of the lake, a few minutes’ drive from Como city.
- Rooms and suites: 75 units in total, listed in the 2026 announcements as 24 rooms, 49 suites and two stand-alone private villas, spread across several buildings in the park.
- Price level: very high. A 2026 spring package started from EUR 1,770 for two nights for two guests, which gives a sense of the entry point in low season.
- Season: seasonal, closed in winter. It reopens in spring (April in recent years) and runs into the autumn. Ask the hotel for exact 2026 and 2027 dates.
- Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa, about 55 minutes by car according to the hotel. Milan Linate is around 70 minutes.
- Best for: couples, spa lovers and anyone who wants a peaceful base close to Como city rather than in the busy centre of the lake.
Check prices and availability
Lake view suites and the two private villas sell out first for June to September. Compare dates and room categories before you commit.
Location and getting there
Blevio is a small, mostly residential village between Como and Torno. You are close enough to Como city for dinner or a morning in the old town (the hotel quotes about five minutes by car), yet the shore road is quiet and the park drops steeply to the water, so it feels secluded. The flip side: the famous centre of the lake, with Bellagio, Varenna and Tremezzo, is further away. Bellagio is roughly 40 minutes by boat, which makes a lovely day out but not a casual evening stroll.
The property has a long history. Villa Roccabruna dates from the 18th century and was bought in 1827 by Giuditta Pasta, the soprano who created the role of Norma. Bellini is said to have worked on the opera here, hence the former name CastaDiva. Mandarin Oriental reopened it under its own name in 2019.
By road, Milan Malpensa is about 55 minutes away, Linate around 70 minutes and Milan city centre roughly 45 minutes, according to the hotel and traffic permitting. A car is not essential if you use boats and taxis, but it helps for golf and day trips. Parking, valet and EV charging are available on site.
Rooms and suites
The 75 rooms, suites and villas are spread over several buildings set into the park, so layouts vary a great deal: some rooms sit in the historic villa, others in newer pavilions lower down the slope. Interiors are calm and contemporary, with oak parquet, earthy tones and generous bathrooms. Recent announcements describe the rooms as renovated; ask the hotel which buildings were redone most recently.
- Rooms: the 24 entry rooms, with garden or partial lake outlooks.
- Suites: the bulk of the inventory, including lake view categories such as the Vista Lago Duplex Terrace Suite with a private terrace. These are the rooms I would target.
- Villa del Lago: one of the two stand-alone villas, right on the water with its own small dock for a boat.
- Second private villa: the hotel lists two villas, but published details on the second are thin. Ask the hotel for floor plans and current rates.
Because the park is steep, some rooms involve stairs and paths. If mobility is a concern, ask for a room close to the main villa.
Dining
Dining is spread across three venues, all with lake views.
- L’ARIA: the signature restaurant, led by Executive Chef Massimiliano Blasone, who previously cooked at La Pergola in Rome. The menu blends Italian produce with Japanese techniques such as robata grilling, raw fish and light tempura. For 2026 the room was restyled by Herzog & de Meuron, with terrazzo-style floors, marble, dark wood and a cast glass ceiling, leading out to a terrace and a lakeside greenhouse. The hotel’s factsheet lists dinner Tuesday to Sunday, so check the current schedule.
- CO.MO Bar & Bistrot: all-day dining inside Villa Roccabruna, with an Italian and international menu, a lake view terrace and evening cocktails. Pizza comes from a converted Ape truck with a built-in oven.
- NAMI Cafe: the informal spot beside the floating pool, with Asian-inspired dishes, sushi, pastries and aperitivo.
A note on Michelin, because older listings still get this wrong: L’ARIA earned a Michelin star in the 2020 guide under a previous chef, but it does not appear among the starred restaurants of the province of Como in the Michelin Guide Italy 2026. Some hotel materials still describe it as Michelin-starred, so treat that claim as outdated. If a starred dinner is a priority, book Il Sereno al Lago in neighbouring Torno, which holds one star in 2026.
Check rates at Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como
Spa and pools
This is where the hotel earns its reputation. The spa is billed by the hotel as the largest on the lake, and earlier descriptions put it at around 1,300 m². Herzog & de Meuron redesigned it, together with the pool, in a project completed in 2023.
- Floating infinity pool: 40 metres long, sitting on the lake on a steel structure shaped a little like a catamaran to soften the waves, finished in dark Cardoso sandstone. A sundeck with loungers and cabanas sits alongside. Whether it is heated, and from which month it opens, is not clearly published: ask the hotel, especially for April or October stays.
- Treatment rooms: six in total, including two private spa suites, plus a beauty studio. New for 2026 are four signature facials by the London skincare brand 111SKIN, including a cryo facial.
- Heat and water area: Finnish sauna, steam bath, indoor pool, whirlpool, ice pool and saline experience showers, with a new arched window more than four metres wide looking out over the lake, and a zen garden.
- Fitness: a Technogym gym, plus yoga and tai chi sessions in small groups (the hotel has offered these weekly at no charge) or privately.
Villa d’Este and Grand Hotel Tremezzo have floating pools too, but here pool and spa were rebuilt as one design, and the spa feels like a reason to book rather than an add-on.
Sport and activities
Golf
There is no golf on site, and the hotel does not advertise golf packages or privileges. That is why we list it in our guide to golf hotels on Lake Como as a choice for couples where one plays and the other wants serious spa time. Villa d’Este Golf Club in Montorfano is roughly 25 minutes by car and Golf Club Monticello around 30 minutes, since both routes run through Como. For a course-by-course overview, see our guide to golf courses on Lake Como. Ask the concierge about tee times, transfers and club storage.
On the water
The hotel has its own dock, and the concierge arranges water sports such as kayaking, sailing and windsurfing, as well as private boat excursions. Seaplane flights leave from Como, a short drive away. Whether the hotel has its own boats or works with local operators, and what each trip costs, is not published: ask when you book.
On foot and by bike
A jogging route winds through the botanical park, and the spa team can arrange personal training, guided runs and hikes on the panoramic trails above Blevio and Brunate. Bikes are available. Tennis is not among the published facilities, so if you want to play, ask the hotel about nearby clubs.
What’s nearby
- Como city: the Duomo, the promenade and the funicular to Brunate, a few minutes away.
- Torno: the next village north, small and pretty, with Il Sereno and its starred restaurant.
- Bellagio and the central lake: about 40 minutes by boat, for villa gardens and lunch on the water. Our Lake Como ultimate guide covers the villages, ferries and gardens in detail.
- Cernobbio: across the water, home to Villa d’Este and some of the best restaurants on the southern lake.
Mandarin Oriental vs other Lake Como luxury hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como | Blevio, eastern shore | 40 m floating infinity pool, large spa, botanical park | Spa lovers and couples who want calm near Como |
| Il Sereno Lago di Como | Torno, eastern shore | All-suite design hotel, every suite faces the lake, one Michelin star | Design-led couples and food lovers |
| Villa d’Este | Cernobbio, western shore | Historic grand hotel, floating pool, its own golf club | Classic glamour and golfers |
| Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Tremezzina, central lake | Three pools including one floating on the lake, T Spa | Families and views of Bellagio |
In short: if dinner matters most, choose Il Sereno (read our Il Sereno Lago di Como review). For old-school grandeur and golf on your doorstep, our Villa d’Este review explains the appeal, and our Grand Hotel Tremezzo review covers the central lake. The Mandarin Oriental wins on spa, pool and quiet.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Couples who want a spa day every day and a pool that feels part of the lake.
- Travellers who want Como city and Milan close at hand.
- Golfers travelling with a non-golfing partner, who can play the southern courses while the other stays at the spa.
- Guests who prefer a peaceful, park-like setting to a busy lakefront promenade.
It does not suit:
- Food lovers who want a Michelin-starred restaurant in-house in 2026.
- Those who want to walk out of the gate into Bellagio or Varenna.
- Guests with limited mobility, given the steep, terraced grounds.
- Tennis players, since there are no published courts on site.
Charlotte’s tip: book the terrace, then plan around the pool
Pay for a lake view suite with a terrace here: the park is so green that a garden room feels like a different, darker hotel. Then go in May, June or September, when the floating pool is at its best and the boats to Bellagio are less crowded. Book one evening at Il Sereno al Lago next door for the starred dinner and keep the other nights for the robata grill at L’ARIA.
Practical tips
- Booking: reserve spa treatments, boat trips and golf transfers with the room, as summer slots fill early.
- Best rooms to request: lake view suites with terraces, ideally in or near Villa Roccabruna; Villa del Lago for a special occasion with your own dock.
- Season: closed in winter. In shoulder months, check that the floating pool and all restaurants are open on your dates.
- Dress: relaxed by day, smart casual for dinner at L’ARIA.
- Kids: families are welcome and babysitting is available on request, but there is no published kids’ club. Ask the hotel about pool rules for children.
Check prices and availability
Compare rooms, lake view suites and villas, and check for spring offers on your dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does L’ARIA at the Mandarin Oriental have a Michelin star in 2026?
No. L’ARIA held a star in the 2020 guide, but it is not among the starred restaurants of the province of Como in the Michelin Guide Italy 2026. The nearest starred table is Il Sereno al Lago in Torno.
Is the Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como open all year?
No. It is a seasonal resort that closes in winter and reopens in spring, in April in recent years. Ask the hotel for exact opening and closing dates.
How big is the floating pool?
The infinity pool designed by Herzog & de Meuron is 40 metres long and floats on the lake, with a sundeck and cabanas beside it. It was completed in 2023.
How far is the hotel from Milan Malpensa airport?
About 55 minutes by car, according to the hotel, and around 70 minutes from Linate.
Planning more Lake Como trips?
