A Lake Garda Love Story: Hotel du Lac and Hotel Gardenia al Lago

Some places don’t need to shout. They speak softly through good coffee, early swims, and faces that greet you like old friends. On the quieter western shore of Lake Garda, in the little town of Gargnano, two hotels tell that story perfectly — Hotel du Lac and Hotel Gardenia al Lago, both run by the Arosio family, who have been welcoming travellers here since 1927.

Hotel du Lac

Hotel du Lac

Painted a deep Venetian red, Hotel du Lac sits so close to the water you can hear the waves lapping against the wall below your breakfast table. It’s small, with just twelve rooms, six of which have lake views and a balcony or terrace. The villa still carries its early 20th-century details: Belle Époque furniture, tiled floors, and sunlight that filters through white curtains onto polished wooden beds. It feels more like a beloved family home than a hotel.

Breakfast is a generous affair — homemade cakes, biscuits, jams, chia pudding, scrambled eggs and bacon — all served on a terrace that almost touches the lake. Get there early and you might catch the morning mist rising from the water. Later, guests head straight down the private steps into the lake for a swim. Hooks for towels and handrails below the surface make it wonderfully easy to slip in. The water is cool, fresh and clear — warm in summer, bracing in October.

This is the kind of place you could honeymoon in or pop the question without needing a big budget. It’s romantic without trying to be: low-key, beautiful, and deeply personal. There’s a small bar and a roof terrace shaded by kiwi vines, perfect for an aperitivo at sunset. I can’t imagine a better spot to pop the question — under the canopy of fruit, with the lake turning gold, or down by the water’s edge when the town quietens at night.

If you prefer evenings out, Gargnano has plenty of small restaurants and trattorie within walking distance. Expect fresh lake fish, risotto, handmade pasta, grilled vegetables, and local olive oil. Simple food, done properly, and often eaten under the stars.

Hotel Gardenia al Lago

Me with Costantina, affectionately known as ‘Tina’ (born 1937) at Hotel Gardenia al Lago

Just a few minutes’ walk away, Hotel Gardenia al Lago is the more traditional and larger of the two. It’s set within a lush garden of olive and palm trees, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served under a canopy of roses and bougainvillea. The terrace overlooks the lake, framed by mountains, and the pace of life here feels effortlessly calm. Dinner is a more formal affair in the dining room with linen tablecloths and lakeside views.

The rooms are airy and elegant, with antique furniture, white curtains, and views across the water. Downstairs, the historic wine cellar is one of the hotel’s hidden treasures — a cool, vaulted space where the Arosio family keep their personal selection of wines from small Lake Garda producers who still grow native grapes rather than international varieties. The bar is a lively place in the evening and the cocktails are so affordable you’ll be forgiven for order two, or three or four! The negroni was our favourite and perfectly made.

Hiking, cycling and kayaking are available from both hotels and after a day out a massage with Raul is the ultimate treat.

Andrea’s Limonaia

One of the most fascinating parts of staying here is the chance to visit Andrea’s Limonaia at Fondo Crocefisso, the family’s lemon house just outside Gargnano. Lemon cultivation has been part of life on Lake Garda since the 13th century, when locals built tall stone greenhouses to shelter the trees from winter frost. Andrea has restored his family’s original terraces, now filled with lemons, olives, and vines, producing limoncello, citrus salts, olive oil, and homemade jams.

You can join a guided walk to the limonaia during your stay at either hotel to learn about the history of the area’s citrus cultivation and taste the family’s produce. Standing among the lemon trees, with the scent of fruit and olive blossom in the air, it’s easy to see why this family and their hotels have become part of Gargnano’s story.

A Last Word

Hotel du Lac and Hotel Gardenia al Lago aren’t about bling, showing off, polished luxury or fleeting trends. They’re about heritage, family and the kind of hospitality that still feels human. You come for the lake, the food, the warmth, and the rare feeling that you’ve found somewhere that truly belongs to its landscape.

If you’re planning a few days on Lake Garda, stay here. Swim before breakfast, drink wine under the kiwi vines, visit Andrea’s lemon terraces, and let time slow down for a while. You’ll leave with sun on your skin, lemon on your lips, and the sense that you’ve stepped into the real Italy.

Both can be booked through www.thehotelguru.com