Lido Palace

Lido Palace just squeaks into the 19th-century club, founded in 1899 — but it’s got more than enough historic cred to justify its status, having hosted such Belle Époque names as Archduke Franz Ferdinand, King Vittorio Emanuele, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. The hotel’s palatial aspect never went away — it’s just been radically transformed by Alberto Cecchetto’s avant-architectural genius. The lobby, for instance, juts out from the edifice proper, a museum-like extension with a partitioned glass ceiling and swank neon seating. Or take the dining enclosure, a glass-and-metal marvel stretching nearly to the lake.

The 42 rooms, including 12 suites, favor traditional luxury, balancing bracing views of the lake and surrounding snowcapped mountains with a comforting, chocolate-on-white color scheme. The bathrooms are temples of luxury unto themselves, fully equipped with rainforest showers, deep soaking tubs, underfloor heating, steam-resistant mirrors, and Acqua di Parma amenities. All rooms come with king beds and luxe linens; select your preferred pillow, engage the sound system with a soothing instrumental, and recharge in earnest.

The lake, of course, fosters a sense of restorative wellness on its own, but don’t let that keep you from CXI spa, which admits admirable views through floor-to-ceiling windows anyway. Besides the indoor and outdoor pools, both heated, there’s a menu of global treatments as well as here-and-now attractions like the chromatherapy suite and salt room. When you’re ready, sashay into Balì Bar, a vision in watercolor and Stile Liberty frescoes.