Villa d'Este

"A luxurious hotel with a rich history, Villa d'Este was once a grand private villa. It transforms into an enchanted palace during the winter festive season."

"Villa D’Este in Lake Como, Italy, provides babysitting upon request." - Cat Sposato

"Built: 1568 Originally built in the 16th century as a summer home for an Italian cardinal, this stunning building was eventually converted into a hotel more than three centuries later. It now serves as a classic hotel with 25 acres of gardens that are absolutely immaculate. A favorite feature is the hotel's pool, which sits on a platform in the lake and is a major place for Italians (and Hollywood heavyweights) to see and be seen with estates that were once—and still are—owned by the likes of the Heinz family, Versace, and, of course, George and Amal Clooney."

"Located in the Villa d’Este Hotel, this spot requires you to wear formal attire to gain access to their Italian à la carte menu. So, yes, prices skew a bit high (main dishes are €50-€85), like the hearty lobster and scallop with veal sweetbreads—but you’re in Lake Como, where you're going to pretend like you’re a celebrity who doesn’t care about the price of food. Go for the smoked veal fillet that surprisingly works well with a licorice-like tarragon sauce, or whatever sauce they’ve topped it with that day, and imagine yourself rubbing elbows with important people. The attentive staff and fancy vibe level up the whole experience, whether you come for lunch, dinner, or a pre-dinner cocktail." - anna rahmanan, bryan kim

"Located in the Villa d’Este Hotel, this spot requires you to wear formal attire to gain access to their Italian à la carte menu. So, yes, prices skew a bit high (main dishes are €50-€85), like the hearty lobster and scallop with veal sweetbreads—but you’re in Lake Como, where you're going to pretend like you’re a celebrity who doesn’t care about the price of food. Go for the smoked veal fillet that surprisingly works well with the licorice-like tarragon sauce, or whatever sauce they’ve topped it with that day, and imagine yourself rubbing elbows with important people. The attentive staff and fancy vibe level up the whole experience whether you come for lunch, dinner, or a pre-dinner cocktail." - Anna Rahmanan