The Passalacqua Hotel: Trip Report

Location

The Passalacqua Hotel is located on the shore of Lake Como in the town of Moltrasio. I recommend booking a car service or taking a taxi from Como Town. Taking the train is an option, but requires walking once you arrive in Moltrasio. The property also has its own dock if you prefer to arrive in style by boat transfer.

Hotel

The Passalacqua consists of twenty-four rooms spread across three buildings. We stayed in the Palazz, originally the stables, which have been converted into gorgeous rooms with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. In addition to the Palazz and the Main Villa, there is also the Casa al Lago, a four-bedroom house closer to the lake built into the hillside.

Rooms

Even the most basic rooms at The Passalacqua are loathe to be called as such. Each room has a clawfoot bathtub, separate walk-in shower area, and three Dyson hairdryers. Bath products are supplied by Acqua Di Parma but with a special 'Acqua Di Como' twist. The minibar is stocked with full-sized bottles of wine, which are included in your stay. The beds are cloud-like kings, with the option to purchase the sheets from the online store, should you want to take home a piece of the luxury.

Food

We had the six-course tasting menu at lunch and chose to have dinner a la carte. Each course at both meals was precise and well-crafted. Make sure you save room, because for every course that was advertised, there was an Amuse Bouche or palette cleanser in between. At dinner, we chose to share the appetizer and dessert, and this ended up being the best option since we had three additional rounds of small bites delivered to us. Breakfast is held in the main villa and consists of two rooms of food. The first focuses on pastries, desserts, breads, and cheeses. The second is cooked to-order hot food such as eggs and breakfast meats, in addition to tables of sliced meats and potatoes, hashes, and vegetables at the ready. They also have an amazing A La Carte breakfast menu with items such as Eggs Benedict, Avocado and French Toast, and Crepes. There is no shortage of breakfast beverages either, with a wonderful selection of teas, coffees, juices, and smoothies as well.

Property

Every vantage point of The Passalacqua is picturesque. The pool is situated at the top of the property with lake views. Below, you will find a clay tennis court, bocce ball, herb gardens, and even a chicken coop. The property has direct lake access with options to charter a boat to tour the lake or visit Passalacqua's sister property, Grand Hotel Tremezzo. We opted to maximize our time onsite and relax at the pool and spa.

Every detail of our stay at The Passalacqua was thoughtfully curated with the utmost respect for us as guests. Easily one of my favorite places in the world, this is a bucket-list destination that few will ever check off their lists. If staying at The Passalacqua is not an option, guests staying at Grand Hotel Tremezzo can organize a lunch at The Passalacqua as an opportunity to view this stunning hotel.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Lake Como. In need of further inspiration? Check out Ann Tan’s guide, Lake Como Must See and Do.