This Sleek New Spa Hotel on Lake Garda Is a Wellness Seeker’s Paradise

On the bright spring morning I arrived, the jagged topography of the mountains on the other side of the lake stretched as far as the eye can see, with wisps of cloud swirling above them and Garda’s glittering waters below. At night, the lights on the opposite shore begin to twinkle gently as the property’s gardens were tastefully lit up for an additional touch of drama. And the entire thing is framed by the hotel itself, a sleek architectural marvel designed by Hugo and Alessia Demetz of the locally-based DemetzArch that compliments the surrounding landscapes while never overpowering them.

This respect for the hotel’s natural environment can be chalked up to the family behind it—brothers Christian and Johannes Margesin, and their father Johann—who have been running the similarly wellness-focused resort Alpiana in the hills of South Tyrol for half a century. While they’d always dreamed of opening a property on the lakes, it wasn’t until discovering this site back in 2018 (at the time, it was a neglected olive grove) that they realized they’d found their perfect spot, and spent the next five years bringing their vision meticulously to life.

Overall, there’s a feeling of elegant simplicity, with the pared-back design of the suites (every one of the 55 guestrooms here is a suite, it turns out) seeming almost to become one with the natural surroundings. The vibe is minimal—plush taupe sofas and beds outfitted in crisp white linens might be accented with cushions in a dusty orange, or a towering cheese plant, or a contemporary art accent—but also, firmly comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that you might be tempted to spend all day in them, but thankfully, the property has been carefully designed to constantly lure you back to the great outdoors. (There’s also a vast range of activities on offer for those planning a longer stay, many of which turn the spotlight to local makers working in a similar mode to the team at Cape of Senses, such as tours of local oil mills and wineries.)