We stayed at the Villa d'Este. A big splurge but worth it in every sense. So romantic. So beautiful. Right on the lake, in fact the swimming pool is built out into the lake! Extremely nice tennis facilities and they even have golf.

I second the movie "A Month by the Lake". Lake Como has a starring role - the film makers did a spectacular job making a romantic comedy that really tied in the backdrops instead of making it merely about the characters. My little quirk: I have a beach house and every time I visit, my "first morning" ritual is to sit down with my Krispy Kremes, mug of tea, and watch my DVD of "A Month by the Lake" and dream of Lake Como.

At any rate: uhohbusted covered Albergo Lenno well.

We have stayed in this hotel three times now (upon our very first visit in 2007 we stayed at the Eremo Gaudio in Varenna).

Albergo Lenno has four stars and has a pool (vital in July and even on our visit last week we could have enjoyed it but we were on the go). Big rooms and definitely get a balcony with lake view. We have had front lake view and side lake view rooms - either are just fine. I will say that if you want the front lake view, ask for the first floor (which would be second floor in US) because the balconies are huge. For the front lake view, the balconies above the first floor are merely for a small table and two chairs. If you get a side lake view balcony, ask for at least the 2d or third floor so that you will be able to see above the house across the street.

Lenno lakefront is so charming and beautiful. Gracious and stately second homes (villas, really) line the promenade and there is little car traffic because you are off the main road - IE the only cars down there actually live there, it's not a through street. And because the homes are mostly second homes, most of the cars are actually visiting the hotel. And because you are BANG on a ferry stop, you don't really need a car and as a result there isn't a lot of car traffic - people park in the hotel garage and take the ferry.

I don't have experiences with other hotels but I would also consider Villa Cipressi in Varenna. We toured the gardens last week and that would be a serene place to stay. Even though it fronts on the road, once you are inside you won't be aware of the village/road because the hotel itself fronts the lake and has extensive gardens. The gardens go down the hillside towards the lake, too, further giving you a sense of isolation from the world above.

A photo I took last week of our view from the balcony at Albergo Lenno:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalk...in/photostream

Hotel Belvedere has gorgeous views, and I liked what I saw of the hotel (it is a quick walk to Bellagio town) but I'm not sure I would call the hotel "cozy," or intimate. It does have a very good swimming pool, though.


Two small hotels with pretty views that come to mind are La Darsena and La Perla, both in the Tremezzo area. (I've visited these, and dined at La Darsena, but have not stayed at either hotel)

http://www.lakecomo-hotel-ladarsena.com/

http://www.laperlatremezzo.com/



I think it would be helpful if you offered an idea of your price range.

eks: Mom commented on La Darsena as we walked by. We didn't dine there, but plan to the next time.

We did dine at Alle Darsene in Loppia and the food was quite good. Serene location, too.