Hotel La Palma

The restaurant was what spoiled the stay for us. The menu was identical every night, and it was the same at lunch on the one day we ate there. The food was very salty, and the meat came undercooked. I repeatedly asked for it well done with no blood, but the chef refused. The waiter said he cooked it that way to 'keep the moisture'. When customers ask for meat a certain way, I think that request should be respected. I sent back beef and rack of lamb that were still very pink and uneaten, but nobody asked why or offered to cook them again. They just took the food away. We were lucky we'd bought snacks from the shop to keep in our room. I also asked them to use less salt and was told the chef used specific measured amounts. Eventually I stuck to plain salad, plain vegetables, and basic tomato pasta. That's not what I'd expect from a fine dining restaurant. I overheard other guests asking for their meat well cooked too, so it wasn't just us. It felt like the chef's 'pride' mattered more than what customers wanted. We also heard dogs barking and whining through the night, which kept us awake. There were several dogs staying at the hotel. The hotel itself is lovely and well located, clean, and has excellent facilities. The staff work hard and are very polite, but because of the food and noise, we wouldn't stay again.

We loved the unique view straight onto the lake and how easy it was to walk everywhere in the old town. The staff were super friendly 😊 and even provided two dog beds and two bowls for our Labradors. Breakfast was well balanced. We'll definitely be back.

I booked two nights at the last minute through booking dot com, and check-in was easy. The staff were friendly and helpful, and my room was clean and comfortable. I had a bit of trouble with the thermostat, but it wasn't worth complaining about. The afternoon before I left, they arranged a ride to the airport for me. A lovely modern stay in a historic town by the lake.

We went up to the hotel's Sky bar on the seventh floor. It's a beautiful hotel, and the bar has wonderful views across Lake Maggiore and its three islands, Isola Bella, Isola Superiore and Isola La Malghera. Definitely worth visiting the Sky bar to take in the lake.