Imagine a hotel where every corner elicits amazement, and where every turn features a different picture-perfect landscape. Add a rooftop bar, a private beach, a Michelin-recommended restaurant, and a full-sized spa, and you’ve just about conjured up EALA My Lakeside Dream, located near the northern tip of Italy’s Lake Garda.
EALA is found inside a futuristic James Bond-esque lair, built into the lakeside cliffs. Like many of the hotels around the more mountainous part of the lake, you enter at road level and descend towards the banks of the water. On arrival to reception, prepare to be astounded: wraparound glass windows reveal breathtaking views of the most dramatic section of the lake; the jagged zig zag of cliffs plunging into the lake, cypress trees swaying on the banks. It’s so beautiful it’s difficult to comprehend that it’s real.
But, despite the name, EALA My Lakeside Dream is very much a reality – and it’s a miracle that it’s not plastered over every magazine and sold out on every website. This adults-only hotel is relatively new, having opened its doors in 2021. Since then, it has fast built a reputation as one of the leading luxury destinations on Lake Garda, earning a prestigious five star L rating (the ‘l’ signifying luxury experience) that is well-deserved for the sky-high quality of amenities on offer.
Our first stop is the reception bar’s outdoor terrace for a welcome cocktail. It’s late autumn and we’re nearing the end of the season – the perfect time to take in the view in peace, watching the passenger ferries make their regular trips from the south of the lake to Riva del Garda at the north.
Our host leads us down several levels to our suite, which is truly awe-inspiring. A large sitting room space leads to an enormous terrace that stretches the length of the suite and features a jacuzzi bath directly overlooking the lake and rugged mountain landscape. The terrace is accessible from both the living room and bedroom, which have separate French doors. The bedroom is a calming space in muted colours, and a glass partition wall separates it from a huge marble bathroom with walk-in double shower. A standalone bath sits behind the glass partition, enjoying uninterrupted lake views.
The design is minimal, chic and comfortable. The marble of the coffee table mirrors the all-marble walls in the bathroom; pillows are embroidered with the hotel’s swan logo (‘eala’ means swan in Gaelic, named for the many swans on Lake Garda year-round); and little touches like a small bottle of EALA’s own grappa on the dressing table and own-brand cleanser in the bathroom add a more personal feel. The colour palette in earthy tones of brown, beige and white creates a sense of cohesion with the outdoors.
We indulge in a few hours of relaxation before dinner, heading downstairs to EALA’s luxury spa. It is not uncommon for a hotel of this standard to offer spa facilities, but the offering at EALA is quite simply unrivalled. A spiral staircase leads to a full-sized spa resort, boasting two full-sized pools, treatment centre, and a huge multi-room area with several saunas, steam room, ice room, plunge pools, hammam and relaxation rooms.
The indoor pool is warm and low-lit, surrounded by relaxation beds and pendant lamps that drop from the ceiling. An enormous panoramic window showcases the most incredible view of the lake’s scenery, which changes shape and colour with the hours, from bright and sun-kissed in the afternoon to the soft blues of dusk, illuminated by candle lanterns dotted around the room.
Within touching distance of the landscape, the outdoor infinity pool is open from 10am – 8pm every day, and is heated for enjoyment even in the colder autumn months. This vantage point gives the sensation of being at the very top of the lake looking all the way down the valley. It’s the perfect spot at sunset, after the boats have stopped running and the paragliders have gone home, to experience total calmness.
The spa area is softly lit, creating an atmosphere of deep relaxation. The panoramic sauna and relaxation room have views over the water and are bright with natural light. A further relaxation space is stocked with freshly-made herbal teas, infusions, and a small snack bar of dried fruits. There’s more than enough variety on offer to spend a full day in the spa, so the sustenance is welcome.
While there is enough entertainment on offer to justify never stepping off the grounds (we almost felt guilty leaving), EALA has made it very convenient for guests to explore the local area. The town of Limone sul Garda is a twenty minute walk from the hotel, along a pretty lakeside path. There’s also a private shuttle bus service that runs to and from the town, from 7am to 11pm.
Limone sul Garda is one of the main pick-up points for boats across the lake, and a great jump-off point for exploring other beauty spots like Riva del Garda, Malcesine, and Torbole. EALA is one of the few hotels on Lake Garda with its own private miniature beach, complete with daybeds and a beach bar and grill.
The culinary offering at the hotel is also second to none. Senso is the hotel’s fine dining option, boasting exquisite tasting menus by Chef Alfio Ghezzi, who hails from the region and fully understands the provenance and seasonality of the local ingredients. The “Between Lake and Mountains” menu features the best of land and sea, from beetroot with Lake Garda sardines to tarte tatin with sustainable olive ice cream.
We enjoyed a superb meal at the hotel’s Bistrot, which still bears the hallmarks of a fine dining restaurant despite being Chef Ghezzi’s more casual on-site offering. Our wine is recommended by the in-house sommelier (we start with the house cocktail, followed by a crisp, white trebbiano from Lugano and a Sansonina merlot), and are attended to by a suited waiter, who knowledgeably advises us throughout.
The monkfish arrives in meaty medallions atop mashed potatoes and a sauce of olives and tomato. My guest has coeliac disease, which is generally very well catered for in Italy, and EALA is no exception: a beautifully-presented risotto with porcini mushrooms and local saffron from Tremosine. The desserts combine delicate balances of sweet and savoury, utilising the best flavours of the region.
As the night draws to a close, we notice that a number of the tables have joined up and strangers are enjoying a nightcap together. Most visitors to EALA are staying for several nights, and the variety on offer at the spa encourages guests to luxuriate a while, which lends itself well to meeting other guests. This, and the fact that it’s an adults-only hotel, fosters an atmosphere of relaxed conviviality. You are equally welcome to detach and unwind as to make friends and enjoy a lively evening together. The bar is well-equipped with expert mixologists and there’s a large chilled wine room with huge variety of bottles, inviting guests to continue their evening into the small hours if they desire.
Back in our room, turndown service has taken place and a gift of fresh local pasta is waiting for us on the bed. We fill the jacuzzi bath on the balcony and settle in for the night, taking in the indigos and blacks of the night landscape with a glass of local wine in hand. In the morning, the first thing we do – before even leaving the bed – is open the automatic window blinds and relish in the morning view as the rays of the sun appear to individually crawl over the mountain top until the sky is fully illuminated.
Breakfast at EALA is set in the same panoramic restaurant as dinner. First stop is the Bellini stand, followed by a meander around the generous buffet offering of local continental delights such as cheeses, pastries, and the biggest capers we’ve ever seen. A tasting tray is delivered to each table with a small selection of speciality bites from the kitchen, and we order fresh omelettes with prosciutto and sundried tomato toppings.
There is just enough time to enjoy final hours in the glorious spa, and then to take in the surroundings from a different vantage point – the rooftop terrace, with the mixologist’s speciality Negroni in hand. Somehow the colours and shapes of the landscape are in even higher definition today, reintroducing the dreamlike sensation.
We leave wishing for another hour in the spa, another night in the bed, another day to explore the surroundings. Far from ‘once in a lifetime’, EALA is somewhere we want to return every year, and we’re already planning our next visit as we set off for the airport, the landscape returning to normal definition and the skies clouding over.
We stayed
in a Nemos suite, priced from €598 per room, including full spa access and an excellent breakfast.
We ate
at the Bistrot restaurant by chef Alfio Ghezzi
For best rates and some excellent offers (especially in low season), see EALA’s website.
This was a press stay – all opinions are our own.
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