by the Lake
Contemporary lakeside aparthotel with a residential feel. Clean lines, travertine, marble, and locally sourced wood. No grand-hotel stuffiness. The design makes you feel like you've borrowed a wealthy Italian family's lake house for a few days.
Book directly through laquabythelake.it — it's consistently cheaper than Hyatt or OTAs, and breakfast is always included
Why It Matters
Holds both a Michelin Key (hotel) and a Michelin Star (restaurant) for 2025. The only resort of this modernist caliber on Lake Orta, a lake that remains genuinely off the tourist radar compared to Como. The CryoSuite spa is rare for a property this size. Breakfast is always included in direct bookings. Pets welcome at no extra charge.
Laqua by the Lake sits on a private bay on the eastern shore of Lake Orta in Pettenasco, Piedmont — the quieter, less-crowded cousin to Como and Maggiore. The hotel leans hard into a modernist apartment concept: all 19 units have fully equipped kitchens, proper living rooms, and travertine floors. Celebrity chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo owns the place; his Michelin-starred restaurant is on-site, his 3-star Villa Crespi is a 3-minute drive away, and his kitchen garden supplies the restaurant daily.
Where You'll Stay
13 room types available
Classic Suite with Balcony
52 sqm of clean contemporary design. Full living room, fully equipped kitchen, double bedroom, and a bathroom with shower. The balcony doesn't have a direct lake view but it's a genuinely comfortable apartment-style space. A reviewer noted this was "more than enough" even without a lake-view room.
Double · 52 sqmClassic Suite with Private Garden
Same apartment-style layout as the balcony suite but with a secluded private garden instead. Best for those who want outdoor privacy without being in the upper floors. Ideal for guests travelling with pets.
DoubleComfort Room with Lake View
Same 25 sqm footprint as the garden room but with a cosy balcony overlooking the lake. The most affordable way to wake up to the water.
Double · 25 sqmComfort Room with Private Garden
The entry-level option. 25 sqm of modern design — double bedroom, large bathroom with shower, and a private garden. Small but well-finished. The beach and lake are a short walk. No kitchen here, unlike the suites.
Double · 25 sqm
Darsena 19
An independent boathouse suite on the shores of Lake Orta, a short distance from the main resort. Open-plan living with a lake view, private living room, breakfast nook, and bathroom. Private parking (100m away) and breakfast included. For guests wanting total seclusion from the main building.
Deluxe Suite Overlooking the Lake
Upgrades from Superior to a full view of the lake and surroundings. The apartment layout remains — living room, full kitchen, double bedroom, bathroom with shower.
DoubleExecutive Suite with Panoramic Lake View
The top of the standard suite range. Panoramic views over the lake in a full apartment layout. The colours of the water are the main event here — reviewers consistently call the view extraordinary.
DoubleKing Suite with Lake View
The family-friendly option. Sleeps up to 4 people — master bedroom plus a second room with a French bed or single beds. Full kitchen, spacious living room, and either a balcony with partial lake view or a terrace looking straight out at the water.
KingLaqua Penthouse
The larger of the two penthouses with a colossal 122 sqm panoramic terrace featuring an arbor and a relaxation nook. Spacious master bedroom, full kitchen and living room, and a bathtub that overlooks the lake. The terrace alone is bigger than most hotel rooms in Italy.
King
Orta Penthouse
One of two rooftop penthouses. A 47 sqm private terrace with a Jacuzzi and sitting area gives you unobstructed lake views. Master bedroom, large bathroom with shower, full kitchen and living room. The terrace is the star — reviewers single it out as the best view on the property.
KingSuperior Suite Overlooking the Lake
A partial lake view suite — you get a glimpse of the water, though not the full panorama of the Deluxe or Executive tiers. Still a fully equipped kitchen and living room.
DoubleTwo-Room Apartment with Garden View
A two-bedroom apartment variant with garden orientation. Spacious living room with fully equipped kitchen — better suited for families or couples wanting more room. Sizes range from 50 sqm and up.
50 sqmTwo-Room Apartment with Lake View
Same two-bedroom apartment layout but oriented to the lake. The right move for couples or small families who want the lake right there every morning.
50 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Shell-shaped private beach on the lakefront with sun loungers, pedalos, casual restaurant and cocktail bar. Pool and beach access season runs April to October.
Chef Cannavacciuolo's legendary Villa Crespi — a three-Michelin-star restaurant in an extravagant Moorish-style villa — is 3 km away in Orta San Giulio. The Awake with a View of the Lake package includes a penthouse stay plus a Villa Crespi dinner with drinks included.
Electric bikes available for exploring the surrounding hills and lake viewpoints. Included in several packages; also available to hire independently. Some packages include 1 hour per day complimentary.
Rent the hotel's electric boat for a nearly-silent cruise across the lake. Near-zero noise means you hear birdsong and water lapping rather than an engine. Access the lake's crystal-clear waterfall or reach Orta San Giulio village by water.
Paddleboards available for use on the lake. During autumn and winter season this is replaced with e-bike rental in packages.
2-hour guided electric-bike tour to the best lake viewpoints around Lake Orta. Available as part of the Piemonte Tour package.
3-hour guided tour starting from Villa Crespi through the medieval hamlet, Sacro Monte (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the island of San Giulio including round-trip boat tickets. Available through the Piemonte Tour package.
A 6-hour private driver excursion into the Langhe for wine exploration or truffle hunting, with a light lunch included. Available through the Fall in the Langhe package.
A 30-minute drive gets you to the slopes of Monte Mottarone (~1,500m). In summer it's also a hiking destination with views of seven lakes from the summit.
Seasonal yoga retreats on the lakeside. Listed on the hotel's own navigation menu — specific dates and pricing on request.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Small private beach on the lake shore within the property's secluded bay. Direct water access for swimming.
Breakfast can be delivered to the room. A private chef can be arranged to cook in the suite kitchen on request, at extra charge.
Gym facilities available, with personal trainer sessions bookable on request (at extra charge).
Private parking included in all room rates for hotel guests.
Pets welcome on request with no additional fees — unusual for a property at this price tier.
14m x 6m heated infinity pool, 1.5m deep, overlooking the lake. Open April to October. Sun terrace with luxurious sunbeds surrounding the pool. Completely fenced.
Laqua Collection gift cards available for purchase online — can be used across properties.
On-site kitchen garden supplying fresh local produce daily to the restaurant.
Electric car charging points on site, part of the property's eco-sustainable setup.
BUILD YOUR LAQUA BY THE LAKE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning