Milan and Lake Como
 

Any hotel/resturant suggestions for Milan/Lake Como grealty appreciated.

Thanks

I have stayed at Albergo Milano in Varenna and found it charming and very inexpensive. The rooms are very plain, with small baths, but there are several rooms with large balconies that overlook the lake, and a beautiful terrace on the lake side of the hotel. Also, Varenna is a nice location for hopping onto ferry boats to take you around the lake to other towns. You can easily walk to the ferry from Albergo Milano.

Budget?

When you are in Milan you must go to Papa Francisco's

From the Domo go through the Galleria and turn right. It is about 1/2 block.

Palo and Luchia speak english. Great food!

http://www.papafrancesco.com/

Hotel Florence in Bellagio.
www.hotelflorencebellagio.it/camereeng.htm
The junior suites offer the best quality/price ratio, book as early as possible. Service is just OK or so so, but its lakefront restaurant and rooms above it make the hotel a great value. Book your table at the restaurant in advance as it is one of the best restaurants in Bellagio.

An even better hotel is the neighboring hotel, Grand Hotel Serbelloni, but with much higher rome rates. The restaurant is also very popular though without any lakeview. The hotel has a lakefront swimming pool.

If you have a car, I would recommend staying in Lenno at http://www.albergolenno.com/inglese/ Very convenient to Villa Balbianello (short walk around the marina) and near Villa Carlotta.

There's ferry service from there to Bellagio, and up the road a bit in Griante (Cadenabbia) there is 20 min ferry service back & forth to Bellagio.

Down the road from Lenno is a fabulous restaurant on the island of Comancia. You take a little dingy out to the island for a great feast. http://www.comacina.it/isola/isle.htm

Lenno is very convenient to other areas if you have a car. ((b))

We stayed at Eremo Gaudio in Varenna and loved it. The view can't be beat and it's a quick walk into town.

Cracco Peck in Milan, superb food!

I second Cracko Peck, it's a great gourmet restaurant at half the price of Alain Ducasse restaurants where Cracko learned his craft. The service & food are almost as impeccable. It's conveniently close to the Duomo & Vittorio Emanuelle complex.

We spent 10 wonderful days at GrandTremezzoHotel.com right next door to the Villa Carlotta. There was a boat stop right there and we did all of the lovely towns on the lake. It's directly across from Belliago. We also liked Varenna and Mennagio.

Breakfast is included on the balcony overlooking the lake. We had a room overlooking the gardens(to save a little) and it was perfect. The rooms on the lake side are a bit noisy anyway due to the road in front.

If you are in that area, try "Al Velue" for dinner. It's in the hills overlooking the lake about a 5-10 min. drive from the hotel. The outside dining has a stunning view, and the food was outstanding. We went there twice.

We've been to Europe many times, and this was one of our favorite places. I know we will return some day.

You might want to consider the duLac in Varenna or the Belvedere in Bellagio (hotels). Some also like the BellaVista hotel in Menaggio.