Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa

Nestled on the picturesque shores of Lake Como, the Grand Hotel Victoria is a stunning five-star Hotel that offers an exceptional blend of timeless elegance and modern luxury. Surrounded by a picturesque mountain range, the hotel is a late 19th-century neoclassical property that celebrates Italian arts and a glorious Italian culture. Just a scenic couple of hours drive from Milan, this magnificent hotel is the perfect destination for those seeking relaxation, fine dining, and world-class hospitality. It was also my chosen venue to propose to my partner, as we have always loved Italy and spent many romantic getaways exploring this wonderful country. I had to plan secretly and then had to wait a few months as the hotel recently underwent an extensive renovation. Rooms and suites are now adorned with stunning contemporary furnishings, with large windows that make everywhere full of natural light with stunning views of the surrounding scenery. A select number of the suites feature lovely French doors that open out onto a private balcony quite literally overlooking Lake Como. The rooms are spacious and immaculate, with large beds wrapped in crisp white linen, creating a serene and luxurious feeling. After a relaxing night’s sleep, in probably one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on, you begin your day with a sumptuous breakfast served on the sun-kissed terrace, in good weather, where the alfresco dining offers yet more panoramic lake views. We spent the first day sightseeing, eating gelato, that’s Italian for ice cream in case you didn’t know, listening to local musicians and taking in the eclectic atmosphere that makes the beautiful little town of Maggiore so special. That evening we were booked into the award-winning restaurant, where I can honestly say, every dish was a culinary masterpiece. The restaurant showcases the very best of Italian as well as international cuisine. After the meal, which was simply incredible, we adjourned to the hotel garden to relax and enjoy our drinks. It was here I had planned, with the help of the amazing staff, to go down on one knee and ask my partner to marry me. The scene was set, the piano player in the background started to play the Lionel Richie song, ‘Stuck on You’ and as if by magic the restaurant manager appeared with a silver tray. On the tray were two fortune cookies, which I had secretly had made a few months ago. The manager handed us the tray and offered us a cookie each. In the time it took my partner to break the cookie and pull out the piece of paper with the fortune written on it, I had gone down on one knee and had the ring ready. She read the fortune, which said ‘Will you marry me’ and she literally froze. I had the cookies made in China with both containing the same words just in case I broke or lost one of them. Earlier in the day, with the help of the staff, we had pre-arranged everything. After what seemed like an eternity and a prompt from me to let her know my leg was going numb, she smiled and said ‘yes’. At this point the entire staff of the hotel, who had massed behind her, burst into claps and shouts of congratulations. It was a wonderful moment for all of us, especially me and my future wife, but the main reason for telling you this is how much the hotel staff went the extra mile to make this happen seamlessly. It's just part of what they do so well, on a day-to-day basis! The following day we visited the hotel’s spa and wellness centre, one of the largest spas on Lake Como, it is truly impressive, offering an array of treatments, a state-of-the-art fitness area and a place to rejuvenate both body and mind. A lovely day relaxing and then a local pizza for dinner in the evening, rounded of the perfect few days at this amazing place. From the impeccable five-star service to the breathtaking location, the incredible attention to detail and the wonderful friendliness of every member of staff, the Grand Hotel Victoria truly represents exactly how a modern hotel should operate. Whether you’re sipping cocktails at the elegant bar or exploring the charming villages around the lake, your stay will be nothing short of unforgettable, ours will remain in our hearts forever!

Stayed in late June as a family of 4 with kids aged 2 and 5. The hotel was very family friendly and accommodating. Beautiful hotel with friendly service. Grounds are immaculate, breakfast is great and the amenities are first rate. The spa is extensive and incredible and truly worthy of its own review. As a guest, you have free access to it, which includes all manner of saunas, showers, hot/cold pools, steam rooms, and more. They even have designated kids hours where children under 12 are admitted. If you stay here, check out the spa early and often. The pool area is beautiful. It’s a “spa pool” with various stations where you can activate jets, bubbles, or waterfalls at the touch of a button. It would be nice if they would place a spa water dispenser at the towel station for guests vs having to buy bottled water from the pool bar. The room itself was spacious and luxurious. Although we found the bed to have a bit of a rut/indentation in it, but it wasn’t bad to the point of us bringing it up to mgt. A bigger letdown was out of three nights stayed, we only received turndown service once, and this is despite the fact that I asked someone at the front desk if we could receive turndown service turndown service our last night. I made the request in person immediately prior to us exiting the premises for dinner, and was assured that we would get turndown service that night, only to later return to a room which hadn’t been serviced. That was a major letdown. I thought about docking a star for that, but the rest of the stay was great so I’m giving some forbearance. But I’ve never had such difficulty getting turndown service at any other 5 star hotel anywhere. The location of the hotel is great. Menaggio is a gorgeous small town with plenty of restaurants, a beautiful piazza, and a fantastic lungolago to stroll along. Bellagio is in clear view and an easy ferry ride from here, with Varenna close as well. The Victoria Beach Club is an easy stroll away and is a nice place to spend a day, and you get to access it for free once per stay. We also liked how, coming from the area near MXP, we were able to enjoy an easy drive in by going through Lugano, Switzerland. This kept us on wider, easier to traverse roads vs the narrow and/or curvy roads which span the banks of Lake Como. I’ll note the hotel seemed to see almost exclusively English speaking guests, so if you’re looking for a more immersive Italian lakeside experience, that’s a consideration.

This hotel is magnificent. It’s recently renovated & the staff is very attentive. The location is perfect, right on the lake across from the beautiful promenade. A five minute walk to town, shops & restaurants. Although Menaggio is small there was enough to see. Easy walk to ferry but I believe the hotel also has a shuttle. The hotel has a stunning front courtyard with plenty of seating & waitstaff. In the evenings there is a piano player so it’s a great place to have drinks or snacks, people watch or just enjoy the ambiance. The spa is fabulous. Don’t skip it. We did not use the beach club, but used the pool, which was beautiful. The staff at the pool could have been a little more attentive to move umbrellas when sun shifted. I highly recommend this hotel, we are very particular where we stay and we would definitely stay again if the opportunity arises.

We had a wonderful stay at Grand Hotel Victoria in Lake Como. The hotel is absolutely stunning and located right on the lake, close to shops, restaurants, and the ferry. Our room was large, very clean, and had a big balcony with a view of the pool which we really enjoyed. The front desk and concierge staff were friendly and helpful throughout our stay. Breakfast on the terrace was delicious and the view made it even more special. The only small issue was the service during breakfast. The server was polite, but barely spoke beyond simple greetings, and sometimes just said “yes” to questions without clarifying, which was a bit confusing. Despite that, we had a lovely experience and would definitely return. A perfect mix of comfort, elegance, and a great location.

Recently spent three nights at the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio. The lakeside setting is mere steps away from the busy heart of town, but felt serene. Every staff member we encountered was welcoming, helpful, and dedicated to ensuring our comfort. Our room was in the ‘modern’ building, and featured the most high-tech command system we’ve ever experienced in a hotel, which was impressive, if a bit confusing. (Note: there are no written instructions, and the onscreen icon system is not the most intuitive.). The space was compact, clean, comfortable, quiet, and nicely decorated and appointed, with thoughtfully placed outlets and ports and good wi-fi. The breakfast buffet was vast and memorably good, with seating that offered gorgeous views of the lake and mountains. Altogether a great stay!