Set along the tranquil shores of Lake Garda, Grand Hotel Fasano—the family-owned five-star property and member of Leading Hotels of the World—will reopen for the 2026 season on March 27 with a series of new experiences, refreshed dining concepts and expanded guest offerings.
Among the highlights for the upcoming season are the debut of a lakefront beach bar, two new meeting spaces for private events, updated menus across the hotel’s acclaimed restaurants and bars, and new seasonal treatments at its renowned spa. For the first time in its history, the hotel will also remain open through the Christmas and New Year holidays, extending the traditional Lake Garda season.
A New Culinary Vision
Grand Hotel Fasano welcomes Valerio Dallamano as Executive Chef of its signature restaurants Magnolia and Osteria Il Pescatore. In his new role, Dallamano will guide the culinary direction of both venues while contributing to the broader gastronomic programming across the hotel.
Chef Dallamano’s cuisine blends creativity with regional tradition, drawing heavily on the ingredients and culinary heritage of Lake Garda. His menus highlight seasonal produce and artisanal products sourced locally, presented with contemporary techniques that enhance rather than overshadow the region’s flavors.
At Osteria Il Pescatore, the spring menu focuses on the lake’s exceptional seafood and regional ingredients. One standout dish features Gigante di Vercelli rice with lake perch, nettles, lime pickle, crispifolia kosho, chervil and alpine honey, celebrating both the lake’s bounty and northern Italy’s culinary creativity.
Meanwhile, Magnolia offers a lighter dining experience set beneath the shade of the property’s historic magnolia trees—some more than two centuries old. Guests can choose from bespoke salads, daily fresh fish or pasta selections, all designed to showcase simple, perfectly balanced flavors.
Chef Dallamano joins Chef Maurizio Bufi, who leads the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant Il Fagiano. Chef Bufi’s Spring 2026 menu continues to elevate the property’s reputation as one of northern Italy’s most exciting culinary destinations, with dishes such as lamb with sea lemons, asparagus and broad beans and pigeon with paerà sauce and lampascioni onions.
The beverage program also receives a creative refresh. At La Terrazza and Rama’s Lounge Bar, award-winning Bar Manager Rama Redzepi introduces a new cocktail collection titled “The Seven Wonders of Lake Garda.” Each cocktail draws inspiration from a different area of the lake—from the refined elegance of Salò to the sunlit charm of Limone del Garda—and features regional ingredients including Garda olive oil, Malcesine truffles, saffron from Riva and citrus from Limone.
A Renewed Spa Experience
Guests seeking relaxation will find new offerings at the recently renovated AQVA Spa and Wellness Centre. For 2026, the spa introduces two seasonal treatment menus—one designed for summer and another for winter—each tailored to address changing skincare needs throughout the year.
Among the summer treatments is the Hydra 4HA facial, formulated with BP3, peptides and a tri-complex blend designed to restore hydration and combat sun exposure. The winter menu includes deeply restorative therapies such as a warming Hot Stone Massage, ideal for cooler months.
The spa itself remains one of the highlights of the property. Guests can enjoy an expansive indoor-outdoor swimming pool connected by an underground passage, along with hydromassage areas, sauna and Turkish baths, a modern fitness centre and a serene lakefront spa garden.
New Beach Bar and Event Spaces
Beginning in June, guests will be able to unwind at the hotel’s brand-new Beach Bar, set within the lush lakeside gardens. With sweeping views across Lake Garda, the bar will serve cocktails, wines and light bites in a relaxed open-air setting—perfect for aperitivo at sunset.
Later in the year, the property will introduce two multifunctional meeting rooms, scheduled to open in September. These flexible spaces will accommodate both corporate gatherings and private celebrations, expanding the hotel’s event capabilities.
A Longer Season — Including Christmas and New Year
For the first time, Grand Hotel Fasano will remain open well beyond the traditional Lake Garda season. The hotel will operate from March 27, 2026 through January 6, 2027, allowing guests to experience the quieter, atmospheric months around the lake.
Autumn at Lake Garda brings mild temperatures, vivid foliage and a more relaxed pace, creating what many consider the region’s most enchanting time of year.
Beginning November 14, the hotel will transform into a festive lakeside retreat. Holiday decorations, twinkling lights and seasonal scents will fill the historic property, creating an atmosphere that blends Italian elegance with classic winter charm. The festive calendar will include holiday dining experiences, cocktail evenings, live music and special celebrations throughout the season.
New Year’s Eve will feature a special edition of the hotel’s beloved “Albergo da Gustare” culinary event. For the occasion, the property will be transformed into a vibrant gastronomic marketplace where chefs from across Italy present dishes at interactive cooking stations and buffets throughout the hotel. Live music and entertainment will continue into the night, culminating in a DJ set and traditional midnight “spaghettata” celebration.
Culture and Conversation: Aperitivo d’Autore
Grand Hotel Fasano will also bring back its popular Aperitivo d’Autore cultural program for 2026. Curated by art historian and curator Elisabetta Bresciani, the series invites guests to meet artists, writers and thinkers from across the region while enjoying an evening aperitivo.
These informal cultural salons offer the opportunity to engage directly with creative voices through talks and conversations held within the elegant surroundings of the hotel.
Highlights of the 2026 program include appearances by landscape artists Giorgio Bertelli and Giuseppe De Vincenti, poet Pasquale Di Palmo, photographer Gloria Fenaroli, portrait artist Gustavo Florioli, philosopher Malte Oppermann, and several other notable cultural figures.
With its expanded culinary offerings, renewed wellness experiences and extended seasonal programming, Grand Hotel Fasano continues to position itself as one of Lake Garda’s most refined destinations—a place where historic elegance meets modern luxury along one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes.
