Italians Love This Lake Como Alternative — and It Has an Incredible Luxury Hotel

Cape of Senses is a five-star hotel on Lake Garda, a less-touristy and cheaper alternative to Lake Como just two hours north of Milan.

When I first saw Cape of Senses' lake and mountain views from the floor-to-ceiling windows leading from the lobby to the terrace (my welcome sparkling wine in hand), I practically had to pinch myself. The setting was so dreamy.

While nearby Lake Como is more “known” among Americans, Lake Garda is a worthy under-the-radar gem. It’s generally a cheaper and less touristy area than Como — though no less stunning. “This is where Italians come for vacation,” Alena Deutsch, the hotel's general manager, tells me.

The adults-only fairytale escape is just two hours north of Milan, and while Cape of Senses is still an indulgent luxury stay, similarly luxe hotels on Lake Como, like the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo, start at well over $1,000 per night for lake-view rooms on summer weekends.

Cape of Senses opened last May and is aptly named: All five senses will be pampered and indulged throughout your stay. Every room has stunning lake views to feast your eyes on; fresh mountain air fills your nose and lungs, and gentle notes from the on-site olive trees waft through the breeze. You can listen to birds chirping and guests splashing in the pool from your private room terrace or enjoy absolute silence for deep and peaceful rest; get every kink worked out with a massage followed by relaxing in the sauna or indoor-outdoor heated spa pool; and when it comes to the taste, everything on the menu is local, fresh, and divine. Even simple dishes like a prosciutto and melon pool snack featured some of the juiciest melon I’ve ever had and melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto — not to mention the fresh, warm bread paired with olive oil from the olive trees.

Even the water is special here — and I don’t just mean that found in the lake or the heated pools. A new bottle of housemade infused water is brought to the room every morning, with a tag — “Homemade with amore" — tied around the bottle with a white ribbon. Whether it’s the love or the fruit and herbs, it’s extra delicious, and I looked forward to greedily gulping down big glasses of it every day.

Elevated touches like this are, dare I say, infused throughout the entire property. From the luxurious his-and-hers down comforters to the locally made, organic bath products to the comfy sun loungers dotted with black and white pool towels and all positioned for optimal views, every detail is carefully curated and lovingly thought through.

As testament to this, when the hotel was still under construction, Deutsch took one of the tabletops in her car while driving around the area to ensure the cutlery she picked out would go perfectly with the color of the wood. “Not everyone always notices these small details outright,” Deutsch tells me, “but I think when everything is special and thought out, a lasting impression is left on the guests.”

Having just stayed here for three days, I can confirm firsthand that this hotel indeed leaves a lasting impression that will make you want to return again and again. Read on for my full hotel review of Cape of Senses on Lake Garda in Italy.

Cape of Senses

• All rooms have stunning panoramic lake and mountain views.

• Wellness and relaxation are at the forefront via an infinity pool, lap pool, sauna, spa treatments, relaxation rooms, guided meditations, and more.

• Bikes and Vespas are available to rent to zip down and take a dip in the lake or explore nearby wineries.

• The food is fresh and locally sourced (table olive oil is made from the onsite olive trees); half- or full-board options are available for meals.

The Rooms

There are no bad rooms here. Since this is an all-suite property and every room has panoramic lake and mountain views, you don’t need to pay extra for a room upgrade to see a sliver of the main attraction.

Room decor features a neutral but luxe palette: hardwood floors, slate-gray chairs and bed frames, cozy, sand-colored loungers, and gold accent pillows. Terraces feature comfy couches and small black metal tables with wicker chairs, which are just right for starting your day with a warm espresso from the in-room moka pot while enjoying the view.

The king-sized bed was incredibly cozy, with two fluffy duvets and sumptuous down pillows. Even though our room and terrace were quite close to one of the on-site pools, we couldn’t hear a peep from outside when the sliding glass doors were shut.

The bathrooms are equally luxurious, with deep sinks, marbled showers with overhead and handheld showerheads, and separate areas for the toilet. The main rooms also have small, built-in wooden desks with round vanity mirrors and a swivel chair, making for an ideal extra getting-ready spot.

Even entry-level junior suites are practically palatial at 540 square feet and come with large private terraces to boot. Upgrading to a standard or spa suite will net you 100 or 200 extra square feet, respectively, but it’s the hotel's Sky and Sky Pool suites where the upgrade 'wow' factor comes into play. Located on higher floors, the Sky suites feature expansive private outdoor terraces complete with daybeds and hot tubs, while Sky Pool and Deluxe Sky Pool suites, as you may have guessed, feature stunning private infinity pools. Other upgrades in this category include larger rooms and deep soaking tubs positioned to take in the lake view.

Food and Drink

Start your morning with breakfast on the terrazza from the buffet or a la carte menu. Or, opt for a private meal on your balcony with room service. Fresh seasonal fruit, deliciously flaky pastries, eggs and milk from local farms, and Italian sausage are all on the menu.

Later, grab a bite at Osteria La Pergola, where you can sit poolside or upstairs while enjoying a club sandwich or bowl of spaghetti with cherry tomato sauce and buffalo stracciatella. Even simple favorites here, like prosciutto with melon or a Caesar salad, are exceptional versions of the classics.

At Restaurant Al Tramonto, the exceptional sunset view from the dining terrace is the main course. Still, fine dining-worthy options like potato dumplings filled with roasted cuttlefish or duck leg in an anchovy sauce will leave your stomach plenty satiated, too.

Activities and Amenities

Cape of Senses offers two pools. Relax and float in the indoor-outdoor pool that starts inside at the spa level and ends as a gorgeous outdoor infinity pool, looking directly at the best mountain and lake view, or swim a few laps in the nearby outdoor sports pool. Of course, sitting in the lounge chairs around the pools and garden lawn with a good book is also an option.

The gym has everything you need to keep your body healthy, from stationary bikes and treadmills to weight machines. Private yoga sessions and personal trainers are also available for booking.

While I certainly enjoyed my blissful massage and a dip in the pool, perhaps my favorite amenity was the cherry red e-Vespas, available to rent by the hour or for the half or full day. I lived out my Lizzie McGuire Italian fantasies, zooming down the winding roads and zipping around the lake. Though, if the Vespas aren’t quite your speed, the hotel also has an electric Fiat 500 and several bikes available instead.

The hotel concierge is also more than happy to arrange tours and activities for you, from tastings at nearby wineries to a day sailing out on the lake or a ride in a vintage car.

The Spa

Wellness is at the heart of the property, so the spa does not disappoint. Seven treatment rooms offer a range of options, from classic massages and anti-aging facials to anti-cellulite body treatments and massages that incorporate Tibetan singing bowls. Manicures and pedicures are also available at the spa, plus a relaxation room complete with a spa library and a sauna and steam room.

Before or after your treatment, I recommend stopping by the tea corner and cozying up in the cushy indoor daybeds, which overlook the pool and the lake view beyond.

Family-friendly Offerings

The hotel is open to guests 14 and up. Small dogs are allowed in dedicated dog-friendly rooms for those traveling with four-legged family members.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Preserving the surrounding area's natural beauty was ingrained in the hotel concept from the beginning. The hotel was also built with sustainable technologies in mind and uses heat pumps, solar panels, and rainwater collectors to minimize the energy footprint.

Meanwhile, interiors rely heavily on regionally sourced materials, and the hotel owners and architects prioritized 100 percent made-in-Italy products, from wooden outdoor furniture to stone tiles. The hotel also works with environmentally friendly companies for its cleaning products and works to minimize plastic consumption as much as possible across the entire hotel.

Cape of Senses also has ADA-compliant, handicap-accessible suites and bathrooms available.

Location

Cape of Senses is roughly two hours from Milan and less than 40 minutes from the Verona airport. It overlooks the town of Torri del Benaco, and other small cities like Garda and Bardolino are within a short drive. However, the hotel's real draw is that it is secluded and not right in town. Being higher up in the hills above the lake allows for optimal views, but be aware that you won’t be right on the lake, and you’ll need to drive down some steep and winding roads to get there.

Sirmione, a historic town where you can explore 13th-century castles, makes for an excellent day trip. It is about 40 minutes away by car. We also spent a lovely afternoon set up by the hotel concierge at Zeni winery nearby Bardolino, enjoying a wine tasting in their beautiful cellar.

While you can always rent the hotel’s Vespas or Fiat for the day to head into town or down to the lake, I recommend renting a car for ease and flexibility.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Breakfast-only and half-board (breakfast and dinner) options are available when booking. If you plan on eating most of your meals on-site, opt for the half-board to reduce a la carte food charges.

The hotel also offers special packages designed around wellness or staying active, including spa treatments or activities like e-bike tours. Cape of Senses also has a sister property in the Dolomites, ALPIANA, and you can pair the two together as a five-night stay in a special Mountain & Lake package.

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