Grand Hotel Cadenabbia

Hotel will close November 2023 for 2 years for a much needed refurbishment and is likely to re-open as 5 star. Biggest problems: The (only) main road runs directly in front of the hotel - traffic day and night - had to keep windows shut, so waste of time having a balcony. Although we were told that the aircon had been switched off for the wintert, we found that it still worked - otherwise we would have suffocated! Guests in garden view rooms complaining that they were dark and cold. Rooms very, very small - it was previously a large villa. Staff excellent, cleaning spotless, food very good - once we got used to the evening meal style - starter from a large and excellent buffet (cold meat cheese, cold fish (smoked mackerel, salmon), prawns, many pasta and potato salads, grilled aubergine slices, asparagus, broccoli etc etc. Could have easily made a good meal from that alone. The soup or a pasta dish from the menu, then main course (e.g. steak, salmon, turkey, chicken) - very well cooked, but with virtually no vegetables - so you need to get those in your starter from the buffet. Large selection of desserts and you could have followed that with cheese from the buffet if you really wanted it¬! (No biscuits though). Good selection of wines starting with a very drinkable rose at 20 euros. Most perhaps 28-32 euros. Not very impressed with the gardens after seeing the Villa Carlotta next door. Cadenabbia is in a good position on the lake for travel north or south and there are boats and ferries to Bellagio and Varrena and t the Villa Balbianello.