Having Winston Churchill and Napoleon as VIPs on your hotel guest list speaks volumes about the standard and opulence inside. And the star-studded guest list at Passalacqua, one of Lake Como's top hotels, has shown no signs of dropping its luxury label, exchanging historic politicians for the equally glamorous modern-day household names of George Clooney, Keeley Hawes, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Charlie Puth, Sofia Coppola and John Legend. Informal al fresco lunches to impromptu pasta-making sessions, as well as seasonally sourced romantic dinners, will punctuate a stay here. And it's evident celebrities have clocked onto the hotel's appeal. Last month, speaking on the Travel Secrets podcast, actor Keeley Hawes said: 'It is one of the most beautiful places. The setting, the interiors, the pool, the staff, the food, that location. 'It is mind-blowingly beautiful, everything about it. There's a spa. They have a boat, so you go out on a trip onto the lake and it's just absolutely stunning. 'It doesn't feel like a hotel, and that's the trick. If you can make that work, you immediately feel relaxed. 'You don't have to spend any time of your holiday getting into the period of relaxation.

You immediately feel like you're staying at a (very wealthy!) friend's house.' The caption read: 'When Keeley Hawes joined me on the podcast, we discovered we’d both completely fallen under its spell. 'So did Piers Morgan, who described it as “utterly beautiful” and “breathtaking” after stopping by for a drink. 'Voted The World’s Best Hotel at the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels Awards in 2023, and named one of Europe’s very best ever since, it’s fair to say is in a league of its own.' Reviews of the hotel demonstrate its luxurious appeal. One visitor last month wrote on Google: 'Heaven! Absolutely magnificent!! I can’t recommend this sanctuary of perfection enough.

What a wonderful time we had.' A second chimed in: 'How are we homesick for a place that isn’t our home and yet Passalacqua calls to us from our beautiful memories. Words can’t convey what a dream our stay was, everything was beautiful. A feast for the senses.' A third added: 'We had one of the most memorable dining experiences of our lives at Passalacqua. From the moment we arrived, every detail felt thoughtful, intentional, and truly elevated.' And another wrote: 'Is this the world’s best hotel? Yes! Everything about this place is stunning. An oasis fitting of the location. Each room is handcrafted and unique.

Luxury knows no limits.' Rooms at Passalacqua start from €1,500 (£1,278) a night . And it's easy to understand why. Every inch the aristocrat's paradise, it has 24 guest rooms, surrounded by seven acres of landscaped gardens. Interiors ooze with silk, extravagant chandeliers, marble, Murano candelabras and mirrors, one-of-a-kind antiques and historic artworks. A pool is set on a garden terrace with lake views, and is moments from the hotel's Winter Garden, a former greenhouse-turned-bar. Forget a golf cart to get from place to place - a vintage orange Fiat 500 transports guests around the property. The premises, set in an 18th-century villa, previously housed Pope Innocent XI. Passalacqua has regularly made top hotel lists, too. It won the Best Boutique Hotel Award 2025 and Best Hotel in Europe 2025 awards in the 50 Best Accolades. As expected from such a lavish, opulent property, food is exceptional. Viviana Varese, one of Italy’s most celebrated chefs, runs the kitchen. Informal al fresco lunches to impromptu pasta-making sessions, as well as seasonally sourced romantic dinners, can form part of a stay here. 'Voted The World’s Best Hotel at the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels Awards in 2023, and named one of Europe’s very best ever since, it’s fair to say it is in a league of its own.' Rooms at Passalacqua start from €1,500 (£1,278) a night.