Minimalist boutique spa hotel with timeless design close to Lake Como

C Hotel & Spa / Cassago Brianza / Lombardia / Italy

You often hear about timeless design. But what is timeless design? These days to stand out, it seems you have to push the design agenda or end up with a look that is generic rather than timeless. And many claim that their design is timeless and here I think that the future will show if this is the case or not. When it comes to C Hotel I can confirm that the design is indeed timeless. We stayed here just after it opened in 2009 and when now being back, the place looks just as good as it did back then.

This 18-key hotel was created by Andrea Colzani. His parents have been producing chocolate and other delicious treats on this site since 1977 and Colzani saw an opportunity to add a hotel to the site to complement what was already there. His ambition was to create something that was to remain modern but not affected by fashion. The result is an all about glass, wood, natural colors and stone. The stone is limestone from nearby Berici Hills and it is aging in the most beautiful way. And the sleekness of the design is a clear contrast to the traditional, lavish Lake Como villas.

The inside mirrors the outside, so it is a fairly minimalist look. One of the features that stand out is the lighting concept, which has been created by Mario Nanni. His way of creating contrasts and shadows in the otherwise straight forward look, makes the design come to life.

The look of our room was all about two features, white and stone. Almost making it feel a little monastic, in a good way. Another thing to highlight is that we had our own little pool on the terrace. And if that isn’t enough there is also a roof top pool with views of the rolling hills of the area.

Welcome to C Hotel. The sign at the entrance lets you know all the things on offer on the site.

The sleek, pared-down design of C Hotel.

The reception area where you can see how the stone of the exterior used to look when the hotel first opened.

Adding green plants is a good way to loosen up the minimalist look.

The view from the shower. I love how they have created a thick hedge outside the windows to create a natural shelter from the outside.

On the top floor of the four-story building there is a pool with views of the Alps.

Next door there is a restaurant where you can get something to eat…

…and maybe even more important, they create their own chocolate pralines.

You can also get some nice food stuff to bing back home.

We came up to the top floor in the evening to enjoy the sun set from there.

And when we came back to our room, there was a little treat waiting for us.

You’ve go to love Italian breakfasts. A huge difference from our sturdy, health conscious Scandi version.

When you are staying here it is a must to visit nearby Lago di Como. A stunning lake, surrounded by mountains and cute little villages.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are traveling in the Milan/Como region and you are looking for a restful place to stay that is close to everything but still a little off the beaten track. If you appreciate minimalist design and small boutique hotels I would propose you check this place out.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is that although this is a small hotel it is a full-service establishment. The hotel is connected to a shop/bakery/cafe/bar/restaurant so you have everything you need right in front of you. Another thing that makes me happy is that we stayed here just after it opened in 2009 and it still looks really good. It goes to show that if you invest in quality and timeless design, it will stand the test of time.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to visit nearby city of Como and the famous lake that it is located next to. And make sure you buy (and eat!) some chocolates from the shop next to the hotel. Simply divine!

If you like this hotel you might also like:

Aire de Bardenas / Tudela, Spain

Casa Modesta / Olhão, Portugal

Masseria Moroseta / Ostuni, Italy