At a Glance

• Location: Torno, Lake Como
• Number of Rooms: 40
• Room Stayed: Grand Suite Lago, Room 307
• Dates of Stay: July 2026
• Rates: From €1,000 per night off peak
• Value for Money: Good. Il Sereno performs well across its accommodation, facilities, dining and service, although a few operational details could be improved.
• Best For: Travellers seeking a sophisticated modern alternative to Lake Como’s traditional grand hotels.
• Would I Return? Yes. I loved Il Sereno and would definitely stay again.

What It Does Well

• Distinctive modern design
• Direct waterfront location with lake views from every room
• Spacious, beautifully designed rooms
• Excellent pool and cabanas
• Intimate and peaceful atmosphere

Areas for Improvement

• Pool service could be more proactive
• Requests need more consistent follow through
• Al Lago food is good but does not deliver on the promise of a Michelin star.

First Impressions

Most of Lake Como’s best known hotels sell a version of traditional Italian grandeur shaped by frescoes, chandeliers, antiques and generations of history. Il Sereno makes a compelling case for something entirely different.

The hotel feels calm, confident and distinctly contemporary from the moment you arrive. Its architecture is restrained rather than decorative, allowing the landscape to provide the drama. I loved the clarity of the concept and how consistently it was carried throughout the property.

Il Sereno is not trying to modernise the traditional Lake Como grand hotel. It offers an alternative for travellers who want the beauty of the destination without its usual formality and ornamentation.

Setting and Design

Il Sereno sits directly on the water, built into the steep lakeside rather than positioned behind extensive grounds. The location feels private and peaceful without being isolated, while the small scale of the hotel prevents it from ever feeling crowded.

Architect Patricia Urquiola has used timber, stone and metal with considerable restraint. The interiors are sophisticated without feeling cold, and the architecture frames the landscape rather than competing with it. Despite having only 40 rooms, the hotel provides generous communal areas and sufficient space for guests to find privacy.

The overall aesthetic is clean and minimal, with a stronger and more masculine design than many of Lake Como’s softer, more romantic hotels. It is beautifully executed and gives Il Sereno a clear sense of identity.

Arrival

We arrived by car at approximately 10.30 am, well before the usual check in time. Rather than asking us to wait at reception, the hotel welcomed us with breakfast while they prepared our room, which felt generous given the early hour.

The team made a genuine effort to have the room ready ahead of schedule, and we were checked in not long afterwards. It was a thoughtful and efficient arrival that immediately made us feel welcome.

The Room

We stayed in a Grand Suite Lago and were allocated a corner room. It was spacious, filled with natural light and finished with clean lines, extensive timber and a limited palette of materials. The simplicity suited the hotel, although guests who prefer softer or more decorative interiors may find it slightly austere.

Every room at Il Sereno has a lake view, but the corner position made our outlook particularly impressive. As the hotel sits directly above the water, the view felt immediate and completely integrated into the room.

Guests should note that a secondary building sits slightly behind the principal waterfront structure. Some views there appear partially obscured by the gardens and building in front. I would recommend confirming accommodation in the main building if an uninterrupted outlook is a priority.

A few details fell below the standard of the overall room. Some of the joinery felt less substantial than expected, and several drawers were difficult to open. The bathroom also had a small window that could not be opened, which felt like a missed opportunity in a corner room that would otherwise have offered views and abundant natural light.

Turndown included mints and a silk scarf. As it was our final night, I cannot say whether the scarf was a departure gesture or whether turndown is this considered every evening. Either way, it was a generous and thoughtful touch.

Dining

Il Sereno’s restaurant occupies a former boathouse carved into the lakeside. Open granite arches sit directly beside the water, giving the space an almost cave like feel and creating one of the most special dining settings I experienced on Lake Como.

The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Dinner was good, although the food did not completely fulfil the expectations created by the Michelin star and the extraordinary surroundings. Several dishes were enjoyable rather than exceptional. We also ordered a bottle of wine and asked whether it should be decanted. The sommelier suggested waiting ten minutes before deciding, which felt more like reluctance than considered advice. Decanting carries little downside, and having to negotiate the point at a restaurant of this level was disappointing.

The à la carte breakfast was of a good quality and served in the same restaurant.

The kitchen could be more accommodating. We asked whether a club sandwich could be prepared with one half vegetarian and were told that this was not possible. Such a simple adjustment should not be difficult at a hotel of this standard.

Food was fine though not especially memorable.

Facilities

The pool is one of Il Sereno's strongest features. Its colour and positioning complement the surrounding landscape, and comfortable lounging options make it an inviting place to spend the afternoon.

The cabanas at the rear are particularly successful. They provide generous space and good protection from the sun, making them comfortable for an entire day. The pool area feels refined, peaceful and entirely appropriate to the scale of the hotel.

The most significant operational issue involved one of the two lifts. Once it reached level three, the internal buttons stopped working and the doors would not open unless someone called it from another floor. On three occasions I was stuck for up to 15 minutes.

We reported the fault, but the lift remained in operation. It should have been switched off until it could be repaired. Leaving guests to manage a known problem was unnecessary and inconsistent with the standard of the property.

Service

Service was generally good, but not always consistent. Some staff were excellent, particularly in the restaurant, and the arrival experience showed that the hotel is capable of thoughtful and personalised hospitality.

The main weakness was around the pool, where staff were not proactive. Towels needed to be requested twice and were initially delivered to the wrong guests, and on one occasion a piña colada also required a follow up before it arrived. None of these issues was serious in isolation, but together they revealed a lack of attention in one of the hotel’s most important areas.

The service was never unfriendly. The issue was follow through. In a hotel of this calibre, requests should be handled smoothly without guests needing to ask again.

Villa Pliniana

We also toured Villa Pliniana, a significant private villa managed by Il Sereno. The property is grand, with high ceilings, original frescoes and impressive reception rooms that would be exceptional for a celebration or private event.

Carved into the stone at the villa’s waterfront entrance is the historic Visconti serpent. During our tour, we were told that Miley Cyrus stayed here and later used the carving as inspiration for the tattoo she commissioned following her visit in 2019.

The shared spaces are dramatic and full of character, from the pool overlooking the lake to two large living rooms, a billiard room and an outdoor dining space on the terrace. The villa is also well equipped for hosting events, with a commercial kitchen. The private accommodation was less convincing. Several of the apartment style interiors felt underwhelming compared with the scale and history of the principal rooms, while some of the furniture appeared too small for the spaces.

At a weekly rate of €150,000 to €180,000, I would expect the bedrooms and apartments to feel more consistently special. Villa Pliniana would be extraordinary for an event where the historic reception rooms are central to the experience. As a purely residential stay, the private accommodation needs to deliver more.

Would I Stay Again?

Yes, particularly if I wanted a quieter, more design-led Lake Como stay rather than the ceremony of one of the historic grand hotels.

It is best suited to travellers who appreciate minimalist architecture, privacy and a more relaxed interpretation of luxury. Those seeking ornate interiors, old-world glamour and a more traditional sense of occasion should choose one of Lake Como’s historic hotels instead.

For guests who prefer modern design, Il Sereno is a compelling and distinctive option that I would confidently recommend.

Final Thoughts

Il Sereno succeeds because it knows exactly what it wants to be. It does not imitate Lake Como’s grand hotels or rely on conventional ideas of Italian glamour. Instead, it presents a confident contemporary alternative with a strong identity and a consistently high standard.

Some service and operational details need refinement, but they did not materially affect how much I enjoyed the stay. Il Sereno is an excellent hotel and one of the strongest choices for modern luxury on Lake Como.

If you wish to have us assist with any bookings email us at bookings@stripetravel.com or contact us here. By booking with us, you will likely receive the following additional benefits:

• Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
• Hotel Credit to be utilised during stay (Guest Rooms: USD 100, Suites USD 200)
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in