La Darbia Resort

My husband and I spent 4 days here, and it will forever remain a perfect piece of memory in our hearts✨ This place is truly a hidden gem. From our room, we could see Monte Rosa and were surrounded by the breathtaking view of Lake Orta and the mountains. The scenery was so beautiful it almost felt unreal We absolutely loved everything about our stay! The welcoming cake on the dry hay and the bouquet wrapped in rough jute, the garden design, and the breakfast, all are raw, honest, and beautifully unpolished, nothing feels excessive, everything feels intentional. The staff told us we were their first Asian guests, and every single person here made us feel so welcomed. A special thanks to the ladies at the front desk Francesca and Beatrice, Fabrizio who kindly drove us from the train station, the entire restaurant team and Chef Matteo, and Chiara, the owner’s lovely daughter. We were so lucky to be here during the grape harvesting. We joined the picking and then shared a long lunch under the trees with other travelers and staff from all over. Truly felt like a scene from an Italian movie. On our last night, we were invited by the chef to join a chef’s table, which was the perfect way to end our unforgettable stay, we enjoyed the whole experience more than the Michelin star restaurants we had had in Italy. We’ll definitely be back. Hopefully next time we’ll get to see all these wonderful people again✨🤍

Wow. That says it in one word. It's a magical and very special place - family owned and managed, and with a team that really seems to care. The owner - Matteo I believe - treats his guests like family members. In fact, when we were there - as the chestnuts were falling - he had a special event for all guests where the staff roasted chestnuts outside, and we ate warm chestnuts, great Italian cheeses and meats - and drank some amazing Italian wines - all courtesy of the house. It was even more special as we were joined by Matteo's 95 year old father and other family members. A very memorable gathering. ||The property is also a wonderful boutique hotel. With only around 20 rooms, all it seems really "mini apartments" and all in close proximty to outside bar, restaurant and pool, it feels very comfortable. Breakast is included and is delivered to your suite - a contintal version included and warm breakfasts avaialable for a very reasonable rate. The restaurant was also memorable - tableside preparation of a flaming crepe dessert topped off a marvelous meal. Lighter meals can be had in the outside bar area which has a higher elevation view of the lake and surrounding hills. ||The staff deserves a special "shout out" - Beatrice showed us to our room and was available whenever needed (and she also did social media on the side!); Fabrizio was our wonderful bartender, and we were also taken care of by Ludovica and Francesca. What a wonderful team! ||We will look to be back as soon as we can - and as the family is opening a second property in Tuscany we'll likely head that way as well.

A beautiful, immersive resort full of special touches and the most amazing service. We loved appertivos and dining at the restaurant. Our apartment style room was gorgeous and we immediately felt at home. The service was attentive and left little to be desired because EVERYTHING thought of. Highly recommend and can’t wait to visit their Tuscany property in the future!

Location was lovely, great views of the lake and to the snowcapped mountains beyond.|Set in a vineyard, beautifully tended, also a kitchen garden that was straight out of a text book, with a bar and chairs dotted around, we enjoyed evening drinks there. Pool area was lovely, lots of loungers and shade, with free soft drinks, tea etc on hand and other amenities. The staff were extremely friendly, courteous and helpful. The restaurant was a very noce room indeed, and the chef is clearly ambitious and preparing very good food. Yes, as others have noted, portions are on the small side, but it was plenty for us, especially as they provided lots of very delicious bread and butter. The only let down, and the reason for only 4 stars, is that the rooms are very basic and lacking in charm. No drawer space in bedroom, very dull lighting, and no imaginative touches to make it feel special, astonishing given the level of attention to detail in the public areas. I shared these views with the staff via email but received no reply.

Without having to write a very long review I’ll try to condense it. First views and the gardens are beautiful. As far as it being a quiet and romantic lakeside retreat we found none of that. Unfortunately we had more children than adults. We were celebrating our 50 wedding anniversary and the end of a two week stay in Italy. Without a car you are stranded taxis are hard to get and have to be reserved. We did not know that in advance . The menu is the same whether lunch or dinner. We had lunch when we arrived and bread was brought to our table who knew it would be 10 Euros for four slices that we didn’t even ask for. The first night my dinner was a pasta with shrimp no shrimp and lukewarm. My husband had the fish it was cold. The cute basket with pastry’s ect. well if you order coffee they bring two cups with espresso and a little pitcher of hot water hum I guess that to is supposed to be cold as well.Our room was number 1 dark depressing and anything but peaceful. The door going out to the patio didn’t have a doorknob and it wouldn’t stay closed. I finally tied a towel around the inside handle to pull it closed to keep bugs out. I’m only 5’2 and the shower is extremely small. I had such high hopes for this place and was extremely let down. Someone needs to rewrite the website. This was only a few of the problems. Look elsewhere for a place to stay if you think you are going to have a a peaceful lakeside retreat.

Our stay at La Darbia Resort was nothing short of exceptional. My wife and I enjoyed three wonderfully relaxing days in a truly stunning setting. From the moment we arrived, the staff made everything seamless with their warm and attentive service. The food was outstanding — creative, fresh, and deeply rooted in the flavors of the region — but somehow the scenery was even better. Overlooking Lago Orta, every view feels like a postcard, especially at sunrise and sunset. La Darbia is the perfect balance of luxury, tranquility, and authentic Italian charm. We left feeling refreshed, spoiled, and already dreaming of when we can return. Absolutely five stars.

This is an exceptionally special hotel. We visited for part of our honeymoon (July) and it was truly breathtaking. The design puts nature at the heart of the place, with vines around the property, herbs and kitchen gardens at the centre of the vibe. The views were spectacular. The food and wine were AMAZING. We particularly recommend the 'bistrot' in the kitchen garden. Not to mention the 'Cantina' on a Wednesday which is NOT TO BE MISSED. The staff and owners were friendly and helpful. We cannot wait to see what their Tuscany property will be like.

Like many, I've stayed in a looooot of hotels across the globe and this one stands out as a top contender for the best experience of my life. We stayed there by recommendation of our travel agent (Mr. and Mrs. Italy) for our honeymoon almost a year ago and I'm STILL dreaming about it. I hesitate to gush about it too much because it felt like a well-kept secret and allowed for such a serene, calm experience that felt well off the beaten path of tourists. But, I have to gush a little because the staff deserve such high praise. The experience they gave us was unbeatable — thoughtful service, warm and hospitable, incredible cleanliness and little touches everywhere... it was total bliss. We will be back for years to come and can't express enough gratitude to the people at La Darbia who make it so special.