Grand Hotel Menaggio stands on Via IV Novembre in the middle of Menaggio, the west-shore town opposite Bellagio and Varenna, and it is one of the easiest bases on the lake for anyone who wants to move about by boat. The ferry and hydrofoil pier is about 100 metres away, and the main square, Piazza Garibaldi, is a five-minute walk. It is a four-star hotel with 94 rooms, a garden, a panoramic restaurant terrace and a piano bar, and it manages to feel like a grand lakeside hotel without the price of the villa palaces further along the shore. A golf course sits next door, and the town is a good base for walkers.
Location and getting around
The hotel is at Via IV Novembre 77, right on the waterfront road. The pier for ferries and hydrofoils is about 100 metres away, so you can cross to Bellagio, Varenna or Tremezzo and be back for dinner. Piazza Garibaldi, with its cafes and shops, is about five minutes on foot, and the town beach is about a 13-minute walk.
Villa Mylius Vigoni is a couple of minutes by car, and the golf course is about five minutes away. Lugano airport is roughly 40 minutes by car, and Varenna-Esino station is about 25 minutes by car, though most visitors cross by ferry instead.
The rooms
There are 94 rooms in many categories, from standard doubles to lake-view rooms with balconies, junior suites and larger suites with terraces. Rooms have air conditioning, free WiFi, a safe, a minibar and satellite television, and some are connecting, which helps families. The lake-view categories cost more but are the reason to stay here, so choose one if the water matters to you. There is an elevator, and the front desk is staffed around the clock.
Food, pool and facilities
La Veranda serves traditional Italian dishes indoors and on a panoramic terrace, and there is a second restaurant, Clio, as well as a bar with live piano in the evenings. The garden has a heated outdoor pool with a solarium, loungers and a poolside bar, but it is seasonal, open roughly from early summer to early autumn, so do not count on a swim in winter. There is also a whirlpool, a small gym and a library, and the staff can arrange boat tours and watersports.
Who it suits
Couples, small families and walkers who want a classic hotel with a view and a short stroll to the boats. It is a good alternative to staying in Bellagio when you want better value and a bigger town around you.
Good to know
Breakfast is a buffet served in the morning for an additional charge, so compare rates with and without it. Parking on site is limited, so ask in advance if you are driving. Check-in starts at 3 p.m. and check-out is by 11 a.m. Pets are allowed, and an airport shuttle can be arranged for a fee. Opening dates and facilities can change with the season, so check when you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Lakefront location by the ferry pier
- ✓Panoramic restaurant terrace
- ✓Piano bar
- ✓Seasonal garden pool
- ✓Lake-view rooms with balconies
- ✓Free WiFi and air conditioning
- ✓Gym, whirlpool and library
- ✓24-hour front desk
Good questions
How far is Grand Hotel Menaggio from the ferry?+
The pier for ferries and hydrofoils is about 100 metres away, and Piazza Garibaldi is around five minutes on foot.
Is the pool open all year?+
No. The garden pool is seasonal and runs through the warmer months, so check the dates when you book.
Is breakfast included at Grand Hotel Menaggio?+
A buffet is served each morning, usually for an additional charge, so check your rate when you book.
