The Hotel Guru Discovers A Family Affair by Lake Garda: Hotel du Lac and Hotel Gardenia al Lago, Gargnano
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Some corners of Lake Garda seem to exist in their own gentle rhythm. Gargnano is one of them — an unhurried village of cobbled streets, old boats and lemon groves, where two neighbouring hotels quietly uphold a tradition of hospitality that feels deeply Italian. Hotel du Lac and Hotel Gardenia al Lago are both owned and run by the Arosio family, who have been welcoming travellers here for two generations.
Matriarch Tina runs Gardenia with her sons Andrea and Giorgio, while Valerio manages Hotel du Lac just a short stroll away. Together, they offer two different styles of stay, each with the same warmth, pride and sense of home.
Hotel du Lac
Hotel du Lac, painted a deep Venetian red, sits right on the edge of the lake with just 12 rooms — six of which open directly onto balconies or terraces overlooking the water. Inside, there’s a nostalgic charm: Belle Époque furnishings, tiled floors, light-filled bathrooms and the sort of order that comes from being well loved, not over-designed.
Breakfast is generous and homely — a spread of freshly baked cakes, jams, chia pudding, bacon and eggs. The best tables sit above the lapping water, and early risers often swim before coffee, using the hotel’s private steps that dip straight into the lake.
Days here can be lazy or full of activity. You can sunbathe at the family’s Lido dei Limoni, paddle a kayak, or join one of their weekly walks through Gargnano that end at Fondo Crocefisso, the family’s hillside limonaia. Here, olive trees and vines share the terraces with citrus, and you can taste their limoncello, oils and jams — the flavours of this landscape captured in a jar.
After a long walk, book a massage with Raul, who has a natural gift for easing muscles and calming the body. His treatments are the kind you remember for all the right reasons.
Hotel du Lac’s easy charm makes it ideal for couples or honeymooners. It’s romantic without trying, with lakefront breakfasts, privacy and thoughtful simplicity. It’s even been known to host a few proposals — often on the roof terrace under the kiwi canopy or down by the water when the stars appear.
Hotel du Lac, Gargnano – The Hotel Guru
Hotel Gardenia al Lago
A short walk along the shore brings you to Hotel Gardenia, surrounded by olive and palm trees with gardens that spill down to the lake. Meals are served outdoors whenever the weather allows — breakfast, long lunches, and dinners that drift into the night. The raised terrace captures the shifting blues and silvers of the lake, and the rooms upstairs are simple and airy with antique furniture, bright tiled bathrooms and balconies for watching the light change.
Dinner at Ristorante al Lago is worth travelling for: tender octopus salad, beautifully grilled steak, and dishes that celebrate what’s seasonal and local. Service is personal and attentive — the kind that makes you feel like a returning friend.
Before or after dinner, stop by the little bar — one of the most charming in Gargnano. The Negronis are excellent, perfectly balanced and, at under ten euros, among the best-value cocktails on the lake.
Beneath the hotel lies a small wine cellar stocked with bottles from Lake Garda and across Italy, many from small producers who favour native grape varieties. It’s another reflection of the family’s love for authenticity and craftsmanship.
From 2026, both hotels will introduce something new: private tours aboard Galeotto II, a beautifully restored sailing boat built in 1902. Cruising the lake on its deck — sails up, sun dropping behind the hills — will add another layer of magic to the experience.
Hotel Gardenia al Lago – The Hotel Guru
Andrea’s Limonaia
Lemon growing has shaped this part of Lake Garda since medieval times, and Andrea continues the tradition at Fondo Crocefisso. His restored limonaia still uses the old stone shelters that once protected the trees through winter. Guests can visit to learn about the history and craft of citrus growing, taste his limoncello and olive oil, and see how the family’s connection to the land and traditions continues to thrive.
If You Go
Where: Gargnano, on the western shore of Lake Garda. Around 90 minutes from Verona or two hours from Milan.
When to visit: From April to October. Late spring and early autumn are particularly lovely — warm water, mild evenings and fewer visitors.
Stay:
• Hotel du Lac — From about €150 per night with breakfast. Ideal for couples, honeymooners or anyone who wants a lakeside stay with character and value.
• Hotel Gardenia al Lago — From about €220 per night. For travellers who love gardens, slow meals and unhurried service.
Eat nearby: Gargnano’s trattorias are within easy reach on foot, serving lake fish, risotto, handmade pasta and seasonal vegetables with local olive oil. The hotel team always has good local recommendations.
Don’t miss: A morning swim from Hotel du Lac’s private steps, an octopus salad on Gardenia’s terrace, a Negroni at the bar, Raul’s expert massage after a long walk, and from 2026, a sail on the Galeotto II.
In the end, what stays with you is not only the sweep of the lake or the pleasure of eating outside for days on end, but the quiet rhythm of an Italian family who have shaped their lives around this shoreline. You arrive for the water and the views. You leave with the feeling that, for a little while, you slipped into their way of life.
Book: www.thehotelguru.com
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