An Audiophile’s Dream Takes Shape on Lake Como
If you’re the kind of person who wants to hear every note ring out clear as a bell, you might want to head to the shores of Lake Como. Il Sereno Lago di Como, the luxury hotel perched right by the water, has just introduced something you won’t find anywhere else in the world – the Darsena Listening Suite, a space built for those obsessed with pure sound.
This isn’t just a fancy hotel room with a good speaker. We’re talking about a huge 200-square-metre retreat, designed by the famed Patricia Urquiola together with hotel owner (and self-professed audiophile) Luis Contreras. They’ve pulled out all the stops: think top-tier gear like Klipsch La Scala II speakers anchoring the room, a McIntosh MC275 tube amp that warms up every track, a Thorens analogue turntable for vinyl lovers, and an old-school Revox reel-to-reel deck that makes you want to rediscover the lost art of tape sessions. Compared to most hotel ‘entertainment systems’, it’s a wild leap forward.
Contreras didn’t just fill the shelves with common records, either. Over 500 vinyl LPs line the suite, all handpicked from his own stash, including hard-to-find Deutsche Grammophon collections and classic Bowie albums. The best part? If you don’t see your favourite, you can ask the staff to add it to the ever-growing selection. It’s a living, breathing music library that grows as guests bring their tastes to the table.
Music, Dining, and Design Meld Together
The Darsena Listening Suite isn’t just for solo sessions with headphones on. Chef Raffaele Lenzi, who brings Michelin-starred cred to the kitchen, serves up tasting menus that match the mood of the music. Imagine sitting at a custom stone table, right in the sweet spot between those La Scala speakers, while tracks curated just for you float through the air—and plates of artfully arranged food land in front of you. Here, eating and listening blend into one seamless sensory experience.
The suite takes clear inspiration from Tokyo’s jazz-kissa bars, legendary for their devotion to perfect sound. Soundproof walnut panelling, plush acoustic textiles from local makers, and huge windows framing the lake make the room as much about comfort as acoustics. Wherever you sprawl out, the music comes through clear and full-bodied, undisturbed by outside noise.
Want to make it yours for the night? You can book the suite for overnight stays, turning this musical escape into your private hideaway on Lake Como. Or, if you’re hosting, use it as a one-of-a-kind venue for small parties or dinners—there’s enough flexible space for anything from a laid-back afternoon of listening to an intimate social gathering.
The Darsena Listening Suite is not just another flashy hotel amenity—it’s a Il Sereno signature, promising exclusive access to rare sounds, exquisite food, and that unbeatable Italian lakeside vibe. It’s luxury reimagined for people who truly love music, and a sign that when it comes to innovation, Lake Como hasn’t lost its rhythm.