On Lake Garda's western shore, olive groves and lemon terraces tumble down to the water, and high above is the flagship wellness resort of the Leali family, Lefay Resort & SPA. Opened in 2008, it's still the lake's headline act for serious spa-retreaters and the signature wellness method pairs Classical Chinese Medicine with Western methods that play out across a variety of programmes, longevity consultations and treatments from an in-house doctor. It's set in a stunning 11-hectare private park above Gargnano, and you'll also find two accomplished restaurants with a proper sommelier for when you're not ensconced in the 4,300 square-metre spa.
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La Limonaia, the main restaurant, nods to Lake Garda's lemon houses with light-flooded rooms and a Vital Gourmet menu that leans hard on regional produce. For something more, try Gramen, a plant-and-fish fine-dining concept with tasting menus mapped to the five areas of the on-site Energy and Therapeutic Garden. It's a mouthful... but definitely worth a try! The Lounge Bar is the place to be for sunset cocktails with a piano soundtrack, while the 25 metre outdoor infinity pool makes a persuasive case for doing very little.
All suites face the lake, and there are no standard rooms here to speak of. Even the entry-level Junior Suites start at a generous 50 square-metres! Natural materials rule throughout: Italian walnut panelling, creamy marble bathrooms, and a gentle olive-leaf scent said to aid rest. Each rooms has a king or twin bed, walk-in wardrobe, separate living area and a terrace or balcony looking across the water. At the top is the Royal Pool & SPA Suite, which comes with its own infinity pool and private spa.
The spa is the main event with indoor and outdoor pools, six saunas, a floatable salt grotto, Kneipp paths and a roster of treatments rooted in Classical Chinese Medicine, from acupuncture to moxibustion. Yoga, Qi Gong and Pilates sessions run throughout the day, while the parkland threads a two-kilometre jogging circuit and therapeutic garden trail. Beyond the gates, the team can arrange boat trips on the lake, private transfers to Bogliaco (Garda's oldest golf course) and hikes into the surrounding Alto Garda regional park.
The spa. Six saunas, a floatable salt lake, an infinity pool staring down at Garda and tailored wellness programmes that are so fabulous you'll leave wondering how you ever lived without them.
The detox menu and the Vital Gourmet à la carte are served at the same table, so you can start the meal with a superfood salad and end with a glass of Franciacorta.
Lefay is a sizeable resort built around the spa rather than a small boutique hideaway. Come for the wellness and the views, not an intimate atmosphere.
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Italy’s largest lake, where mountains rub shoulders with lemon groves & lively waterfront towns.
