We’ve stayed at this hotel 5 times now, each time drawn by the fantastic view over Lake Lugano and the mountains. I would still give it a 3-star for that reason: the view! But the facilities itself are not worth more than two stars! Unfortunately, the quality of the hotel has gone down considerably since our first visit. The dining experience used to be top notch, but now it is rather mediocre. The chef has clearly changed! Breakfast was definitely nothing like it used to be: no fresh fruit salad, no muesli and only store-bought little yoghurt cups, nothing hot at all except for eggs you had to boil yourself, no fresh juice even - only a watered down version of Tang. Extremely disappointing! NOT worth the rating they seem to have given themselves! As for the service, it too was very mediocre. We were celebrating a very big anniversary and two days before, we asked for a specific table but reservations were not permitted! Consequently we booked at the nearby (only 1 km from the hotel) funicular restaurant, which has the same view, the same wine at HALF the price, very good food and very friendly service! On our first night we were seated by the terrace door - it was raining and there was no seating on the terrace. Every time we moved our arms, the automatic doors next to us opened! Good grief! Another thing we found amazing and which I think has changed since the last time we were there: there is no proper bar!!! On our second evening we came down for a pre-dinner drink - 2 couples - and we were given a seat by the entrance of the restaurant, all 4 of us on a bench, next up each other! Very bizarre! People walked by us constantly! There are a few basically unused rooms upstairs, a ‘library’ and a ‘pool room’, which could easily be turned into a bar! This is NOT four-star as the hotel claims to be! This is COVID time, and di there were restrictions: no more than 10 people in the pool at a time! Ha!!! No one checked! It was much too crowded! All in all, the hotel is in VERY dire need of a facelift! The rooms are furnished à la IKEA (not only the rooms! The restaurant glasses and lampshades were from Ikea too!!! This is so not 4-star!!!). I’ve been 5 times now - no more! Do something to spruce things up is my recommendation!!
48 Reviews