Hotel Bella Riva: Contemporary Italian Style on Lake Garda

There is something wonderfully cinematic about arriving at Hotel Bella Riva. The lake is right there, the small harbor of Fasano sits beside the property, and the western shore of Lake Garda stretches out in front of you. But this is not one of those hotels that relies entirely on its postcard setting. Bella Riva has its own personality, pairing the character of a historic building with clean-lined interiors, contemporary design and an easygoing atmosphere.

Built in 1904 by Italian architect and builder Giuseppe Cipani, the hotel has a story that reaches back more than a century. Today, it presents itself as a five-star property with 23 rooms, including six suites, alongside eight apartments in the nearby Villa Mughetto. The mood is elegant without feeling overly formal, which suits Gardone Riviera particularly well.

A Different Side of Lake Garda

Bella Riva sits on the western shore of Lake Garda, next to the little harbor of Fasano. This is a part of the lake where Mediterranean vegetation, mountains and water come together in a way that feels distinctly Italian. Bougainvillea, palms, citrus trees and mature garden planting surround the hotel, while the lake provides the ever-changing backdrop.

Gardone Riviera is also one of the more interesting bases for exploring this side of Garda. The town is closely associated with Gabriele d’Annunzio, whose former home, the Vittoriale degli Italiani, is now a museum and cultural complex. The area also opens the door to botanical gardens, vineyards, olive oil producers, mountain paths and neighboring towns such as Salò and Toscolano Maderno.

The hotel can also arrange private boat excursions, including trips with a skipper, making it possible to see Lake Garda from the water rather than simply admire it from the shore.

Rooms With the Lake as the Main Character

Bella Riva keeps its rooms relatively intimate in number, with 23 bedrooms and six suites. The interiors follow a restrained design language, using brushed oak, natural fabrics and marble bathrooms. Large windows and balconies keep the focus firmly on the scenery outside, with views ranging from the lake and shoreline to the harbor of Fasano and the gardens.

The Terrace Suite is one of the standouts. At 50 square metres, it has a 16-square-metre private terrace facing the lake, giving guests their own outdoor perch above the water. The 40-square-metre View Suite has a front-facing lake view, balcony and separate sitting area with a sofa bed.

For something more unusual, the 70-square-metre Loft Room occupies the top floor and includes a private steam room and bathtub in the bedroom. The 50-square-metre Mansard Room also has its own Turkish bath and in-room bathtub.

There is another option for longer stays or families: Villa Mughetto, a historic residence dating from the early 1900s. It was renovated in 2010 and contains eight apartments designed to combine the hotel's contemporary aesthetic with the practicality of an apartment stay.

Riva Carne al Fuoco

Food is a serious part of the Bella Riva experience. The hotel's restaurant, Riva Carne al Fuoco, has more than 100 seats spread across five different rooms, including an open kitchen and grill, a library and a bar. Outside, tables extend onto the veranda and garden terrace, with some positioned directly along the lakefront.

Chef Stefano Zappa joined Bella Riva in 2017 after working in kitchens including Villa Fiordaliso, Miramonti L’Altro under Michelin-starred chef Philippe Léveillé, Hotel Metropole in Monte Carlo and Four Seasons Milan. His cooking takes Italian tradition as a starting point but leaves room for experimentation and seasonal ingredients.

The restaurant offers an à la carte menu as well as three tasting journeys: Il Lago, La Terra and Lo Chef. The idea is less about creating a formal fine-dining ritual and more about exploring the ingredients and culinary traditions of the Garda region from different angles.

Breakfast is served from 7:15 to 10:45, while lunch runs from 12:00 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:30.

Then there is the cocktail bar, which feels almost like a lakeside living room. There is a broader cocktail list, wines and spirits, along with lighter dishes and snacks. During warmer days, the pool bar takes over, serving its own drinks beside the infinity pool.

The Pool and the Garden

The garden may be one of Bella Riva's most appealing spaces. It reaches towards the lake with palms, magnolias, citrus trees, bamboo and older plants, creating a distinctly Mediterranean feel.

At its center is a 20-by-7-metre infinity pool overlooking Lake Garda. There are loungers, umbrellas and towel service, while morning yoga sessions are offered on the lawn around the pool. In the evening, the illuminated water takes on a completely different character as the surrounding garden is reflected in the surface.

There is also direct access to the lake, so the experience isn't limited to looking at the water from above.

Wellness, Without the Big Resort Feel

Bella Riva takes a more personal approach to wellness rather than trying to be a large spa resort. Treatments can be arranged in the privacy of your room, including Western-style massages, deep-tissue and relaxing treatments with essential oils.

The wellness programme also has an interesting holistic side, with naturopathy, different forms of reflexology, Tui Na, Abhyanga and treatments focused on relaxation and circulation. Private yoga sessions are available for different levels, as are sound-healing experiences using crystal bowls.

It is the kind of wellness offering that works particularly well after a day spent walking around the hills or being out on the lake.

Life on Lake Garda

This is where Bella Riva really earns its setting. Guests can arrange private motorboat excursions, boat rental, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and other water-based activities. The hotel can also help organize windsurfing and kitesurfing experiences, as well as water skiing and wakeboarding.

For those who would rather stay on land, the hotel rents e-bikes and can suggest routes around Salò, Desenzano del Garda and Toscolano Maderno, as well as more challenging hill and mountain trails. There are also opportunities for hiking, wine and olive-oil tastings, guided cultural visits and excursions to places such as Isola del Garda.

And then there is the Vittoriale degli Italiani, perhaps the essential cultural visit in Gardone Riviera. The former home of d’Annunzio has become a museum and open-air cultural venue, giving the area a fascinating literary and artistic dimension beyond the usual lake-and-food itinerary.

What makes Hotel Bella Riva interesting is the contrast. The building dates to 1904, yet the atmosphere is not old-fashioned. The rooms are pared back and contemporary, the restaurant has a distinctly modern approach to local cooking, and the experience is built around doing things on the lake rather than simply admiring it.

You can spend the morning swimming or practicing yoga beside the water, take an e-bike into the hills in the afternoon, return for a treatment, and finish the day with dinner overlooking the lake. Or you can do very little at all.

That flexibility is part of the appeal. Bella Riva works for a romantic escape, an active Lake Garda trip, a food-focused weekend or simply a few days when the only plan is to wake up with the lake outside the window.

Official website: Hotel Bella Riva