Set in a charming private park and overlooking the lake, the resort is an oasis of peace where to live a relaxing luxury stay on the sunniest shore of Lake Como and a gourmet experience at the Amandus Restaurant
Villa Lario Resort in Mandello del Lario is an elegant residence built in the early 20th-century, overlooking the famous “branch of Lake Como” described by Manzoni: a romantic boutique hotel from which to admire enchanting sunsets over the sunniest shore of the lake and relax in an oasis of intimacy, surrounded by nature and immersed in the tranquillity that only the calm waters of the lake can evoke.
The villa stands on the foundation of a nineteenth-century rustic: it was, in fact, on those remains that the aristocratic Milanese family Biffi-Capalbi built their summer residence in the 1920s.
Around the 1950s, ownership of the villa passed to a manager of Moto Guzzi, and then became patrimony of the Grundig family, who later donated the property to a German foundation that mainly hosted artists and politicians.
After various vicissitudes, in 2010 a family of entrepreneurs from Lecco bought the villa, but it was in 2015 that a new chapter began that would lead to the birth of the elegant five-star resort: two great friends, Esa Secca and Raffaella Di Gennaro, decided to turn their passion for travel and hospitality into a business, by focusing on haute cuisine, territory, nature, culture and Italian style. Villa Lario Resort is therefore an all-female business reality that proposes a model of high-end hospitality and catering in the best Italian tradition.
An enchanted villa with a flourishing garden and private landing places
From the nine luxury suites to the gourmet restaurant, from the heliport with direct access to the hotel to the private dock on the lake, from the lush 10,000 square metre park to the two private beaches, one of which is equipped, with direct access to the lake: attention to every detail characterises the hospitality philosophy of Villa Lario Resort and ensures the comfort and attention that every guest desires.
The garden is a luxuriant private park, where the geometric arrangement of rare and precious plants guarantees freedom and intimacy at the same time. The swimming pool, surrounded by greenery and equipped with a solarium, offers a refreshing dip between a break snack, an aperitif or a light lunch under thre panoramic gazebo. On the large terrace overlooking the lake, guests can enjoy the breathtaking view of Lake Como and, for the more curious, the park hides paths and suggestive corners to be discovered during a quiet stroll. At Villa Lario Resort, time seems to stand still and expande into a peaceful corner, where you can let yourself be enveloped by the charm of nature and rediscover genuine wellbeing in an experience of pure harmony.
To make your stay even more unique, in 2024 a novelty arrived at Villa Lario Resort: a “Lucia”, the historic and characteristic small rowing, or sailing boat, made famous by Alessandro Manzoni in the book “The Betrothed” used by Lake Como fishermen to transport fish. Having become a symbol of the lake, this iconic boat has been renamed “Lucia 125” (the number identifies the street number of Villa Lario Resort) and positioned on a promontory facing the lake, creating a surprising optical effect that gives those who “climb aboard” the sensation of being suspended and floating on the waters of Lake Como.
Luxury suites between villa, dock and caves
Each suite at Villa Lario Resort is a jewel of style and design, where elegance is combined with functionality and comfort, and where fine materials and refined finishes create an atmosphere of luxury and charm. The attention devoted to detail gives each room its own distinctive character, a personality that makes it special: some of these, for example, offer a large terrace overlooking the lake, while others allow you to enjoy an unprecedented experience in the darsena a few steps from the lake or a fascinating stay in the caves.
The villa houses five suites (named Bellagio, Varenna, Dervio, Mandello and Oliveto), covered with fine, elegant wallpaper that enhances the interiors and embellished with sumptuous marble bathrooms.
Bellagio is a superior suite with lake view, where breakfast can be enjoyed on the large terrace or in the cosy lounge. Also Suite Varenna is lakefront: it’s smaller in size but it has a terrace where you can enjoy moments of pure relaxation and admire the tranquillity of the lake. Dervio is a junior suite and the luxurious family room of Villa Lario Resort, with park view. Mandello is an intimate and bright junior suite with lake and swimming pool view. Oliveto, finally, is overlooking the mountain: the ideal choice for those who want to be captivated by by the suggestive view of the Grigne mountains, in an elegant and refined room.
For those who want a private garden, to be a stone’s throw from the waters of Lake Como and admire it from a window that looks like a porthole, Villa Lario Resort offers the two suites in the darsena: Breva, a delightful room on two floors set in the ancient dockyard, and Tivano, an intimate ‘lakeside retreat’. Both have a private garden from which to admire the breathtaking landscape.
Since 2023, Villa Lario Resort offers guests the opportunity to live a truly unforgettable experience: staying in rooms in the wonderful natural caves, where they can be pampered by the lapping of the lake’s waves. Suite Grigna and Suite Meria create an indissoluble bond with nature thanks to the reserved living room in the cave, furnished with wicker chairs and table. An interweaving of threads that recalls the connection between water, rock and wellness – the elements that characterise this very special space of Villa Lario Resort – and creates a timeless atmosphere to be experienced and admired through the natural arches set in the rock, from which to enjoy an exclusive lake view. A culinary journey: the authentic taste of Villa Lario Resort
Villa Lario Resort offers its guests a complete dining service: starting with breakfast, continuing with an informal light lunch, and ending with a dinner with a choice between the relaxed atmosphere of Grill & Lounge restaurant or the distinctive and refined experience of Amandus gourmet restaurant. At the base of each dish is Chef Luca Mozzanica’s passion and love for cooking.
Chef Luca Mozzanica
Luca Mozzanica is the Executive Chef of Villa Lario Resort. He immediately believed in Esa and Raffaella’s project and arrived at the Villa in 2016, after several experiences in important restaurants: he grew professionally alongside chef Claudio Prandi, one of the protagonists of the Lombardy gastronomic scene, first at “Lear” in Briosco and for five years (from 2010 to 2015) at the hotel-restaurant “Il Griso” in Malgrate (near Lecco).
“My cuisine is not a secret, but an experience. Creativity, study and research distinguish it. It is in this context that I want to offer unique emotions”, says Chef Mozzanica. His cuisine, in fact, can be defined as traditional-contemporary, it follows the seasonality and a very precise credo: the raw material expresses its best only if processed the least. So it is a perfect combination of tradition and creativity, expressed through contemporary dishes, which want to conquer the guests with simple flavours, but capable of leaving, bite after bite, an indelible memory.
“Express” breakfast
A stay at Villa Lario Resort is special from early morning, thanks to the rich international breakfast served in your room, on the panoramic terrace or in the private garden of the two suites in darsena. Upon awakening, Villa Lario Resort captivates guests with a welcome basket that smells of warm bread and fragrant croissants, also available in the gluten free and vegan versions. Every proposal on the menu is freshly prepared: from fruit juices to centrifuges, from crèpes to pancakes, from different preparations of eggs to avocado toast. Completing the menu is a rich selection of artisanal yoghurts, fresh cheeses and cured meats from local producers.
Amandus Restaurant
The jewel in the crown of Villa Lario Resort is Amandus Ristorante, domain of Chef Luca Mozzanica: a place where quality, creativity and authenticity come together in elegant and sophisticated dishes that combine tradition and modernity.
With eleven tables and twenty-six seats, Amandus welcomes for dinner, by reservation only, both Villa Lario Resort guests and external clients who wish to experience an unforgettable journey into taste.
The name of the restaurant expresses the philosophy of Villa Lario Resort. Amandus is the Latin word from which the name Mandello, the town that hosts the villa, originates. But it also means “lovable”, “to be loved” or “worthy of being loved”. This concept is at the basis of the idea of cuisine proposed by the restaurant: a welcoming place capable of making the guest feel at ease in front of a dish with a sophisticated composition but with an immediate taste, capable of being loved at the first taste.
The term ‘amandus’ can also be traced back to butterflies, to the Polyommatus Amandus family. Amandus, therefore, just like the graceful insect (which can also be seen in the logo), expresses one side the beauty of the shapes, flavours and colours of the raw materials that together are transformed into unique dishes, and on the other side the ability to renew and transform itself every season with a new menu.
The menu of the Amandus restaurant, in fact, is renewed every year, always leaving room for some signature dishes, such as the Basil cream risotto with raw red prawns and tomatoes tartare, with the addition of fresh lemon zest during the risotto creaming and a sprinkling of squid ink for a touch of flavour and crunchiness; or the unfailing Tiramisù, an expression of Luca Mozzanica’s innate passion for pastry: a chocolate sphere filled with mascarpone cream and decorated with bronze cocoa butter, embellished with a peanut brittle, almond and chocolate crumble and coffee. The chocolate sauce, served at the table, melts the dome and closes the circle of flavours.
Grill & Lounge Reastaurant
With its relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere, the Grill & Lounge restaurant at the Villa Lario Resort is the best solution for a casual but stylish dinner: it offers tasty culinary delights and sophisticated cocktails, created by a passionate and creative bartender.
Grill & Lounge is reserved both for hotel guests and for those who dine at Amandus Restaurant and want to start the evening with an tasty aperitif or finish it with a pleasant after dinner.
New experiences to discover the beauty of the lake
The strategic location of Villa Lario Resort makes it possible to discover the beauty of Lake Como and experience extraordinary moments: a romantic dinner in the panoramic gazebo of the villa, a tour of Lake Como by boat or helicopter, exciting water sports, tours in Franciacorta and relaxing nature walks on the trails of the surrounding mountains.
Grill & Lounge Reastaurant
With its relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere, the Grill & Lounge restaurant at the Villa Lario Resort is the best solution for a casual but stylish dinner: it offers tasty culinary delights and sophisticated cocktails, created by a passionate and creative bartender.
Grill & Lounge is reserved both for hotel guests and for those who dine at Amandus Restaurant and want to start the evening with an tasty aperitif or finish it with a pleasant after dinner.
New experiences to discover the beauty of the lake
The strategic location of Villa Lario Resort makes it possible to discover the beauty of Lake Como and experience extraordinary moments: a romantic dinner in the panoramic gazebo of the villa, a tour of Lake Como by boat or helicopter, exciting water sports, tours in Franciacorta and relaxing nature walks on the trails of the surrounding mountains.
