Ristorante Hotel Colonne

Großartige italienische Gastfreundschaft

We went with another couple for 3 nights. You wind up the hill to the hotel, alongside the (currently out of service) funicular station, with the Sacromonte to explore just behind and spectacular views out across wooded hillside to the plain and Lake Varese some 1600m below. Buses will take you (with one convenient change) into Varese itself. Silvio and his staff were friendly and attentive throughout, ensuring we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Bedrooms were clean and comfortable, each with a large terrace from which to enjoy the views. The highlight is the cooking. We ate off the card with its wide range of enticing dishes. There is a slightly cheaper menu with fewer choices if you want 3 courses - we found 2 courses off the card better. You must try the tasting menu! At 66 euros each it was a treat but we thought it excellent value for money. It is not specified beforehand - exactly what you get will depend what ingredients are available and best day by day. We started with flavoursome smoked fish, followed by traditional tuna with veal sauce, better than I have ever tasted. Then came risotto with truffle (which we love). We thought the spaghetti with field mushrooms even better. Then duck, beautifully cooked and tender. And an artistically presented chocolate based dessert. Having asked what style of wine we preferred and at roughly what price, Silvio produced a notably excellent Sicilian red to accompany our main course. The evening was outstanding and hugely enjoyable.