Villa Principe Leopoldo : Via Montalbano 5, 6900 Lugano

A luxury hotel deserving of its reputation. We spent one night for our 20th wedding anniversary and the entire experience was perfect. For a banjo player and a puppeteer, this was a very special place to celebrate.

Full review below but some important notes and opinions… I have no idea how this hotel has earned 2 Michelin Keys. There are some major red flags from our experience. Our first night, turndown service came in and left trash behind? The curtains were only half closed and some things only slightly tidied up.. our first reaction was actually thinking that our room had been broken into. Super bizarre for a 5*. The second day, we had a long excursion all day and returned at 3:30pm. Our room had still not been cleaned by housekeeping. Again, weird for a 5*. We called to reserve the sauna and requested the room be cleaned while we use it. We then find out the Sauna is at a separate hotel?? We have to leave the hotel to use the sauna - or pay $200 to use the one at VPL. Our room rate advertised inclusion of sauna and NOWHERE did it say you have to leave the property to use it? Again, so bizarre for a 5*! Later this day, a large man knocked on the door and entered the room while my wife was in a towel and I was sitting on the couch. Started asking us questions inside the room without being invited it. Super strange and alarming. He was checking on us, great, but he entered the room by key without us opening the door for him?? We have stayed at luxury properties around the world and at multiple Relais and Chateux as well. By far the worst service level we have received in recent memory. Save your money! 📍 Stayed: June 8-10, 2025 🏨 Room Type: Deluxe One Bedroom Suite Room: 7.5/10 The rooms do the job and have been updated while keeping a level of charm and history. The views of the lake are very nice. Rooms have a musty smell, likely due to age and air vent filters. Service: 3/10 Read above. The only stars we experienced were with the bellman. Property & Amenities: 4/10 Beautiful historical property with views but amenities lack and age is showing in some bad places. Spa with sauna, steam room, jacuzzi costs $200+ to use for an hour and it is in what feels like a dungeon from the early 2000s. Location: 6/10 Beautiful view but NOT walkable and nothing is nearby. Taxis cost $30-50 one way to go anywhere. Value: 1/10 Stay elsewhere. Would I return? Absolutely not.

Truly we loved this place. Coming up the hill, on the narrow street and surprise, it opens up to the leopoldo and instantly you know you're somewhere special. And then the concierge meets you and the breakfast is incredible, the people are …