La Speranzina Restaurant & Relais

La Speranzina delivers one of the most refined dining experiences I’ve ever had, definitely shows it being a 2 star Michelin restaurant. From start to finish everything was executed with care, precision, and a sense of quiet luxury.What stood out most was the owner. He wasn’t just present, he was involved. Kind, attentive, and completely grounded. He treated every guest with genuine warmth, walking around like any other member of the team, checking in on tables and making sure everything ran smoothly. You rarely see that kind of hands-on leadership, especially in a place of this caliber. Yes it is expensive, but it is absolutely worth it. The level of quality, detail, and professionalism is easily what you would expect at a two Michelin star restaurant. Before dinner we were given a short tour that gave context to the space and the philosophy behind the menu, which set the tone for what followed. Every dish was spot on. Nothing was overdone or flashy, just clean, bold, thoughtful flavors. From the starters to dessert, everything was well balanced and expertly presented. The kind of food that speaks for itself.The service was the best I have ever seen. Not overly formal and not overly friendly, just incredibly smooth. Every need was anticipated without hovering. The timing was perfect, the staff was sharp, and everything felt seamless.

The setting is undeniably spectacular, right on the lake’s edge — but unfortunately, that’s where the positives stop. We had a reservation, yet from the moment we arrived it became obvious that the service fell drastically short of anything expected from a Michelin-starred restaurant. No one greeted us, no one acknowledged us; staff simply rushed past while we stood waiting, increasingly awkwardly. After several minutes, we finally stopped someone, who brushed us off with: “There was a wedding earlier, we’re busy now. Someone will be with you soon,” and promptly walked away. When we were eventually seated, the waitress recited the menu in a monotone, disinterested manner. While setting the table, one of us politely asked for water, and she snapped back: “I’ve only got two hands!” The service errors were endless: reaching over guests to serve others, clumsy movements, careless water pouring, sloppy plating — the sort of behavior you’d forgive in a casual café, not in a Michelin establishment. When the amuse-bouche arrived, someone in our group mentioned an allergy to one of the ingredients. Instead of taking the dish back and offering an alternative, the waitress retorted: “That’s why we ask about allergies at the start!” — conveniently ignoring that the guest had been in the restroom during her initial, robotic explanation. The situation deteriorated further when a different waiter served the next course. He listed the ingredients but omitted an important one. When asked about it, he flatly replied: “No!!!” We gently suggested he check, to which he responded: “There’s no need to insult me.” Insult him — by asking about an ingredient? At that point we asked to speak with the manager. Twenty minutes later — yes, twenty, despite the dining room being almost empty — the owner appeared. Rather than discuss our concerns, he launched into a rambling story about the restaurant’s history and how he prioritizes staff rest. When we pressed him on the actual issue, he merely said he was “surprised,” then left. That was the entirety of the response. If you’re happy to spend €200 per person for excellent food paired with shockingly poor, arrogant service, then this is the spot for you. A real pity — the kitchen clearly has talent, but the front of house is an absolute disgrace.

We had one of the big suites with balcony on the lake, sauna, steam room , jacuzzi and tropical showers. So the room was spectacular. A must reccomend for couples and honeymooners. Service is impeccable and very friendly. Location is smack in the middle of sirmione on the lake next to the castle ruins, simply awesome. Breakfast on the veranda on the lake is a great way to start your day. The restaurant merits a separate stellar review

We dined here two nights ago. Was one of the best meals we have had in years. Food is wonderful, ambiance can't be beat, and the service is perfect. The owner is very welcoming. Highly recommend if you enjoy fine dining.

A wonderful restaurant with an emotional story and a deep dedication to hospitality. We were touched by the warm welcome and the personal tour through the entire house and kitchen. The service was always perfectly timed and left nothing to be desired. Compliments to the chef and the kitchen for the well-composed menu. We had a special evening and will definitely return. Ciao Amore!

Best restaurant in Sirmione with well trained staff for warm but professional service! The property is beautiful and full of history. You are welcome by the owner who’s very Italian :) this is followed by a tour of the property, including wine cellar with some really special wines and kitchen. The lady who guided us seemed very knowledgeable and excited about her task. We appreciated this. We were guided to our table and everything was perfection. There was some delay in taking our order, but this was the only bemol of the entire evening. They were generally quick to refil my water glass, which is something I always look out for. They also provided little lids to cover our glasses because there were some insects when sitting outside. This was thoughtful and a simple touch that added a lot of elegance. The menu itself was delicious. All dishes well balanced and full of taste. We also enjoyed the wine pairing suggested by their sommelier. Overall, the Michelin star is well deserved and you should definitely go!

Amazing experience at La Speranzina. Had dinner there and we can only recommend 100%. Service was outstanding, we truly appreciated the efforts put into by our waiter to present all dishes in French even though he hadn’t practiced in a while (and he did an amazing job !). Everyone else was so nice and we were welcomed in the best way. We got help from the staff to find a parking spot and we also got to visit the kitchens and cellar. We asked for the best table and we got the most beautiful view. Food was incredible, nothing to say. Everything was perfect, as the chef said “Primo, el gusto” and that’s exactly what it was. We really appreciated getting to chat with the chef who was there on that night. Thank you again to the La Speranzina staff for this exceptional moment !

It was really awful today. A great disappointment! I can only say good words about kitchen. But others were really bad.We never return here. For our money we got a terrible dinner.