Overnight stay at the three-star Hotel La Vignetta in Cernobbio… On the eve of our departure, we check our hotel reservation once more. Where we expected a booking at Hotel Il Belvedere in Argegno, the booking app shows “no reservations.” Something must have gone wrong? A phone call to the hotel confirms our suspicion: we don’t have a room. Plane tickets, a rental car, two tickets for the Traversata Lago di Como 2025 — but no place to stay. Despite the high season and the urgency, we manage to book the three-star Hotel La Vignetta in Cernobbio at the last minute with a discount. A hotel that had never caught our attention before…
Cheerful and with our Italian playlist turned up to volume seven, we drive from the roundabout in Como into Cernobbio the next day. Traffic immediately comes to a halt and the street turns out to be closed: a sporting event is underway. We insist, and a friendly officer moves aside a barrier, letting us sneak into Cernobbio via a little road marked solo autorizzati. Thanks, foot on the gas! Or maybe not. How narrow and steep can roads possibly get? The first hairpin bend is more of a hairpin corner: forward, reverse, forward, reverse. The car in front of us burns through a clutch. Mirrors are folded in. An oncoming driver, visibly upset, is forced to back up the hill. Traffic chaos in Cernobbio! We’re relieved when we finally park our rental car safely at Hotel La Vignetta.
Hotel La Vignetta is not located directly on the shores of Lake Como, but slightly higher up in Cernobbio. Still, the lake is closer than you might think. Via Monte Grappa, a narrow one-way street, takes you on a four-minute walk to the center of Cernobbio, specifically to Piazza Belinzaghi with the little church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, just a stone’s throw from Villa d’Este. From there you reach restaurants, the chic shopping street, ice cream parlors, or Piazza Risorgimento, the departure point for the ferries in no time. The hotel offers a small private parking lot with about five spaces, costing ten euros per night. But it does give you the convenience of exploring Cernobbio on foot without parking stress, or setting off on day trips by ferry. And let’s be honest, parking meters around Lake Como would cost you more anyway.
From the outside, the hotel makes a fresh and well-kept impression. The shutters are neatly painted in a green shade that contrasts beautifully with the red flowers in the window boxes. The black paint of the elegant lettering is still fresh. And that’s no surprise, as the hotel only opened its doors last year, the receptionist tells us.
Hotel La Vignetta has eight rooms, including two that can accommodate four people. The receptionist welcomes us warmly, provides the practical information, and hands over the keys to our room.
On a mezzanine floor, we open the door to a somewhat smaller room, but once again with that fresh and well-kept touch. This room can also be booked as a triple. In theory, an extra bed can be folded out, but in practice, it’s not very convenient. No, for two people it’s ideal. A subtle drawing of a forest adorns the wall. The color tones are neutral. Otherwise, the room is fairly standard. The bathroom is tidy too, with a spacious shower. Nothing to complain about.
Our room is on the street side of the hotel. There isn’t much through traffic and the road is not busy, so you don’t have to worry about disturbing noise. The terrace is surprisingly large and a pleasant place to sit. There’s a parasol and a table. The sun shines directly onto the terrace, and the view over the neighboring houses is quite nice. You might just get a glimpse of Lake Como from the top floor, but don’t count on it. In any case, our room has the largest and nicest terrace, which we’re very happy with on this warm day.
By now, the sun is at its peak, which calls for an aperitif. At the front of the hotel, there’s a terrace with a brand-new pergola sunshade. We enjoy a glass of prosecco and once again remind ourselves how lovely it is to be by Lake Como in beautiful weather — this time without Wolf and Bas! We’d like to take a short walk in the area without using the car. The hotel staff member Ash recommends Sentée di Sort: a walk from Cernobbio to Moltrasio. The staff at Hotel La Vignetta are welcoming, helpful, and friendly. The hotel is small, and everything here has a relaxed, homely feel.
In the morning, a generous breakfast buffet is laid out. Delicious bread rolls, eggs, and cold cuts. Mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Cake, sweets, fruit, and cereals. Tasty and well-prepared. We only have to ask for any kind of coffee we like. Breakfast is served in the restaurant area of the hotel. Indeed, Hotel La Vignetta also offers restaurant service.
After two nights, our stay at Hotel La Vignetta comes to an end, and we leave with a positive impression. What stands out? Quite a lot, actually. The hotel is not too big, fresh, and well-kept. The staff are friendly and helpful. The location is perfect. Cernobbio is an excellent base for discovering Como — both for a few days on Lake Como or as a stopover while traveling through. Here you can avoid the hustle and bustle yet remain close to the access roads to the motorway. At Hotel La Vignetta you’ll find peace and quiet within walking distance of Lake Como. With a promotional discount, we paid €436 for two nights with breakfast included.
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