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Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano
Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland · Independent · High Luxury
Villa Merlina faced Lake Lugano in 1870 before it became a hotel in 1887 and took the name Splendide Royal, a house European courts actually used. The Naldi family has run it since 1977: ninety-three rooms, a private pier, and I Due Sud, the Michelin-starred kitchen looking over the water. A harp still plays in the Belle Époque Bar. Via Nassa is a twelve-minute walk along the shore.
- 93 rooms
- Opened 1887
- Neighborhood: Lungolago
About Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano
- Built as Villa Merlina in 1870, turned hotel in 1887, and later renamed Splendide Royal for the royalty who kept coming back to the lake.
- The Naldi family has owned the house since 1977, ninety-three rooms facing Lake Lugano with a private serviced pier.
- I Due Sud is the Michelin-starred dining room; a harp plays in the Belle Époque Bar.
- Via Nassa's shops are a twelve-minute walk along the shore; Michelin gave the house One Key in 2025.
History
Villa Merlina went up on Lake Lugano in 1870 and became a hotel in 1887, later taking the name Splendide Royal for the European courts and heads of state who kept returning to the Belle Époque rooms. The Naldi family has owned and run the house since 1977, adding modern wings without flattening the nineteenth-century palace that still faces the water.
The setting
12-minute walk to shops along Via Nassa. 5 km from Lugano Airport.
Experiences
- English tea — Timeless tradition of English tea offered at the hotel.
- Pizza on the terrace — Pizza served on the terrace on summer evenings.
Amenities
- Michelin-starred dining at I Due Sud
- Splendide Lifestyle Spa with panoramic lake views
- Heated indoor-outdoor pool
- Belle Époque Bar with live harp music
- Private serviced pier for boat rentals
- Lush subtropical gardens and terraces
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
Open Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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