Albergo Ristorante San Carlo

“Superb Italian family run hotel - outstanding restaurant - panoramic views - best hotel near best town in Maggiore!”

San Carlo Hotel & Restaurant, Arona - I have been visiting lake maggiore and in particular Arona for quite a few years as we are fortunate enough to live 2&1/2 hours away. Firstly, when you only know Maggiore as a (completely and utterly stunning!) lake, you will go to small towns around the lake w… more

San Carlo Hotel & Restaurant, Arona - I have been visiting lake maggiore and in particular Arona for quite a few years as we are fortunate enough to live 2&1/2 hours away. Firstly, when you only know Maggiore as a (completely and utterly stunning!) lake, you will go to small towns around the lake which are all beautiful in their own way, but to me don’t have much real heart, variety (ALOT are very small for what to do or eat and many are very poorly served for things to do or eat in off season, aren’t served by the ferry in off season, so anytime other than mid spring or autumn there isn’t much going on in almost all the smaller towns) Also traditional shopping or the traditional promenades and cobbled streets etc are lacking in other places. Aroma surpasses all towns in my opinion around Maggiore (I haven’t investigated the North still yet!) I suspect due to the fact it is on the main train line to Milan making it commutable. Then, steep inclines around the lake = THE BEST VIEWS! no trees houses in front of you partially blocking many a fabulous view, but also when being in front of you so detracting from the views. HOTEL SAN CARLO has not one property in front of it, just trees and forest down to the shoreline; it’s views are PANORAMIC through floor to ceiling and wall to wall glass french doors, very unusual in italy as most are small openings with patio doors. It offers its own parking, and, to date, consistently the best restaurant I have still ever eaten at worldwide can you believe with the simply out of this world class of food, and to date, some of the nicest tasting wines which are superbly selected (I’m not usually a big wine drinker) There is an unbroken feeling of welcome, intimacy & care with this secret kept gem on the mountain as well which as a lady on my own makes me feel so at home really in some way when I pop here; unusually I also feel very at home popping down to the restaurant on my own too which takes a certain atmosphere and intimacy of feel for me to ever feel this is ok for me :-) Only thing I can think of is that if you don’t have a car then it’s probably not the hotel for you if it’s not just a lovely overnight stay (you could easily get a taxi from Arona station up here I suspect as must be 5 minutes only) as the very quick little pop into arona by car is what makes this hotel so fabulous being near to arona as opposed to other hotels anywhere else around the lake; you wouldn’t want to walk down to Arona from here, too far, too steep, and it’s a well used road; IF you want an historic old over 100 year old hotel (which will have small window openings to the lake bear in mind..!) this isn’t the hotel for you; what you get here it wall to wall floor to ceiling glass unparalleled views from dining and bedroom, with quirky (I’m a designer..) fabulously successful warm coloured hand finished decor with Gustav klimt artfully placed around; it has a charm and character all uniquely of its own, nestled in the most unparalleled views around the lake with grassed areas (including it’s own grass terraces) and forest below ; the other secret, the lake bends away from you to the left, giving even more depth and interest to this location, and the huge cathedral church ‘thing’! .. lit up at night on the peninsular across the lake, and the mountings BEHIND the mountains all around 180 due to the elevation of this hotel is just wow, wow … wow! It actually prompted me to (try to..) buy on this hill and this location around the lake, and I am a property investor of 37 years :-) There is also this most amazing huge statue literally next door which is steeped in history when you read about ir; it’s bizarrely wonderful & lit up fabulously quirkily (for me anyhow!) at night. I come to Arona a lot and don’t go anywhere else to stay now I found this place; you will stay elsewhere, explore other places around the lake, and when you are lucky enough to stumble on this place as we did, don’t tell anyone else ;-) …..so we can always get in ourselves!….and ENJOY!! Just a superb experience EVERY time we come here; couldn’t fault this place, just feels effortlessly wonderful; 20 out of 10 from me!

less