Relais & Chateaux Villa Crespi

Villa Crespi, overlooking the tranquil waters of Lake Orta, is much more than a hotel or a restaurant: it is a vision come true. This extraordinary Moorish-style villa, built in the late 19th century, was purchased by a renowned chef and transformed into a place where hospitality, beauty, and haute cuisine coexist in perfect balance. Crossing the gates is like entering a suspended world. The exotic architecture, the minaret-like tower, the richly detailed interiors and warm colors evoke distant journeys and timeless elegance. The suites, meticulously designed down to the smallest detail, offer an intimate and refined experience, where luxury is not ostentation but care, silence, and harmony. The beating heart of Villa Crespi is the restaurant, led by the chef who has transformed this place into a world-class gastronomic destination. Each dish is pure emotion: a story that unites memory, territory, and creativity, capable of surprising without ever losing depth. The service accompanies the experience with ease and respect, making every moment seamless and memorable. The gardens overlooking the lake invite contemplation, especially at sunset, when the light reflects on the water and everything seems to slow down. Villa Crespi is more than just a destination: it is a complete sensory experience, a place where time stands still and every detail remains imprinted like a precious memory.

If I had to describe Villa Crespi in one word, it would be luxurious. I highly recommend Villa Crespi to anyone looking for a magical stay. The Villa is beautiful and unique and each room is regally furnished and supremely comfortable. The views of the lake and surrounding gardens are lovely. The food was excellent - as expected. Be prepared for a spectacular dining experience at dinner. The club sandwich in the café will ruin normal sandwiches for you. An excellent assortment of mocktails as well. Service was exceptional. The spa is also very relaxing and worth scheduling a treatment. You are very close to Lago Maggiore, perfect for a day trip to explore nearby towns. There is also a pretty trail near the Villa by the lakeside, perfect for a morning stroll.

My partner and I stayed at Villa Crespi on December 3, 2025, to celebrate our anniversary. We arrived at Villa Crespi and were greeted warmly. We chose the "mettici l'anima" (put your soul into it) menu, the chef's signature dish. It was an excellent menu, carefully crafted and executed to perfection, although we found the flavors on offer to be very traditional, and some dishes even tasted like home cooking (like the pre-dessert—spaghetti with tomato sauce). We also found the amuse-bouche to be truly unique, with excellent flavors that conveyed a sense of space. The most popular dishes were the sweetbreads with mushroom cream and the frog. Both were truly delicious and excellent. The rest of the menu was also well received, but not enough to even remember the flavors (as has happened at other Michelin-starred restaurants, even those with just one Michelin star, where, years later, we still remember the taste of every single dish). During the reservation process, we had reported an intolerance to peppers, and before starting the meal, the maître d' came to ask if, even with the intolerance, I could tolerate two dishes (the sweetbread and the leek) because they contained peppers (only as a glaze). I stated that I couldn't tolerate them, even if only in small quantities, and asked to have the dish served without the peppers anyway. Moral of the story: I felt ill at the end of the meal and spent the whole night in the hospital. Upon requesting clarification at the restaurant, I received, only a week later, the allergen list, stating that this menu did not contain any peppers, even though we had been informed otherwise at the table. I would also like to point out that when the dish was served at the table, no distinction was made between mine and my companion's; they were supposed to be different, one with and the other without peppers, according to the maître d'. This inconvenience made our experience disappointing, as in a 3-Michelin-star restaurant, one expects the best after paying a €750 bill. However, we can't say this, unlike other 1-Michelin-star restaurants, which we've thoroughly enjoyed, without a trace of remorse. Furthermore, during service at the restaurant, between courses, we had to ask to use the restroom three times, each time denied because a new course was coming out. This is unacceptable, as health concerns can take priority over the dish's delivery! I understand once, as they're accommodating, but three times is unacceptable. Even the treatment among customers differs, as the guests who paid before us were given a panettone, while we weren't! The cleverness of doing so discreetly, privately and exclusively for that couple, was appreciated. The lunch will always be a memory for us, even if we can't say we had the excellent experience we expected. Furthermore, Chef Cannavacciuolo's absence was a further disappointment, because I understand he has several television commitments, but people go to his restaurant (i.e., his home) and expect him to be a good host, so it would be appreciated if he were specified when booking whether or not he will be at the restaurant.