Il Sereno Hotel

The design here is deliberate and beautiful. A floating walnut-and-copper staircase descends from the lobby to the Michelin-starred restaurant, where century-old boathouse arches frame the water and Chef Raffaele Lenzi's seasonal menus of lake fish, wild herbs and handmade pasta. Patrick Blanc's vertical gardens (home to over 250 species of greenery) climb the exterior walls like living tapestries. The Valmont spa sits beneath beautiful stone arches with a plunge pool suspended over the lake, and the heated 18-metre infinity pool on the sundeck is, quite honestly, one of the most photogenic spots on Como.

All 40 suites face the water, and all have private terraces that feel like you're literally floating above the lake (some ground-floor suites have private gardens instead). The interiors are warm despite the minimalism: think walnut panelling, caramel marble bathrooms and bespoke fabrics in earthy hues with bursts of colour when needed. Rooms range from the Lario suites (50 square metres) to the Penthouse, a 200-square-metre showstopper with a terrace that wraps around the building. And if you're really taken with the design, the furniture throughout is shoppable, from the B&B Italia sofas to the Gio Ponti vintage chairs.

Torno is a refreshingly un-touristy base for exploring Lake Como. Take one of the hotel's handcrafted Ernesto Riva boats (the family's been building them locally since 1771) to Bellagio, Villa del Balbianello or the glamorous shores of Cernobbio. Back on land, hike the trails that wind through the hills above the lake, or borrow a vintage Fiat 500 from the hotel's fleet for a spin through the local villages. On quieter days, there are cooking classes, wine tastings in the cellar and that irresistible pool...