Il Sereno, Lake Como Presents the Darsena Listening Suite: the World’s First Hotel Suite Built Entirely Around the Art of Listening

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Created for sound – Owner-audiophile Luis Contreras and designer Patricia Urquiola turn 200 m² of lakefront space into a dedicated hi-fi sanctuary.
Championing analogue – Klipsch La Scala loudspeakers, McIntosh tube pre-amp and amplifier, Thorens turntable, and a meticulously rebuilt Revox reel-to-reel deck. With over 500 vinyl records—and counting—the music is never just background.
Private Michelin experience – Chef Raffaele Lenzi serves tasting menus in-suite, with each course unfolding to a thoughtfully curated musical backdrop.
Living collection – Guests may request favourite albums in advance, with the records joining the library for future listeners.
Inspired by Japan’s jazz-kissa – Adapts the quiet-listening culture now trending worldwide to an Italian modernist setting on Lake Como.

This season, Il Sereno Lago di Como introduces its most personal and immersive offering yet: The Darsena Listening Suite. Conceived by owner-audiophile Luis Contreras and brought to life together with designer Patricia Urquiola, this 200 m² lakefront sanctuary redefines the travel experience through music. The suite becomes a cultural space where high-fidelity analogue music, tactile contemporary design and Michelin-starred cuisine converge, with the lake as natural backdrop.

Drawing on Tokyo’s jazz-kissa listening cafés—intimate venues where vinyl is revered—The Darsena Listening Suite is believed to be the first hotel guestroom anywhere designed entirely around the act of listening.

How a Reel-to-Reel Sparked the Dream

In early 2021, shortly after Italy’s lockdown lifted, Luis Contreras found himself transfixed by the gentle spin of a vintage Revox B77 reel-to-reel tape deck during a dinner. That simple, hypnotic loop—and the warm, analogue hum that accompanied it—inspired him to create a space where guests could truly pause, lower a stylus and immerse themselves in music. Over the next year, he journeyed through the world of high-end hifi, meeting bespoke tubeamp artisans, exploring artisanal systems and combing vintage hifi listings online.

While handcrafted, old-school rigs proved breathtaking, their delicacy and complexity made them impractical for daily hotel use. Equally tempting were classic vintage turntables and speakers—high-end hifi, like fine automobiles, holds its value—but the unpredictability of older equipment posed too many reliability risks. Ultimately, Contreras chose a hybrid path: modern reissues of iconic designs that deliver classic sound with guest proof stability.

The suite’s core system now features Klipsch La Scala II speakers, a glowing McIntosh MC275 amplifier, a MacIntosh C22 Preamp, a Thorens 1601 turntable with Sumiko Amethyst cartridge and the restored Revox deck that sparked the entire vision. To this, he added more than 500 LPs from his personal collection—from Deutsche Grammophon box sets to original press Bowie—and a promise that any guest’s personal favourites will be sought out and added to the library.

Redesigning The Luxury Suite as a Cultural Space

Contreras involved Urquiola in the design, approaching it with the same reverence given to sound. A 50-foot wall of custom-woven jacquard fabric echoes the rippling water while refining acoustics. Rich walnut panelling, sculptural bronze fixtures and a monumental bespoke stone dining table form a theatre of textures and light. Molteni sofas, Gio Ponti Leggera chairs and tactile surfaces create areas for listening, lounging and gathering. Floor-to-ceiling glass blurs the line between interior and landscape, while a private deck with direct lake access invites guests to step out and swim straight from the sanctuary of the Listening Suite.

From the hush of thick fabrics to the cool solidity of stone and the warm embrace of brushed wood, every detail was selected to heighten the senses.

Culinary Artistry: Soundtrack to Dinner

At Contreras’ request, Studio Urquiola conceived a sculptural round stone table seating up to ten guests, set atop a richly coloured custom rug and positioned directly before the audio system, with Lake Como unfolding beyond. An evening here—watching the hypnotic motion of the Revox Reel-to-Reel, immersed in music, taking in the lake views, and enjoying Chef Lenzi’s refined cuisine alongside a well-chosen Italian wine—offers a sensory experience that is both intimate and unforgettable.

Chef Raffaele Lenzi brings his Michelin-starred Sereno Al Lago menu into the suite, where each dish is served against a backdrop of curated vinyl, perhaps a smoky jazz side to complement a lapsang-infused artichoke, or a Baroque concerto to mirror the rhythm of a delicate Risotto alla Pescatora. The warmth of a vacuum-tube amp deepens the earthy aroma of autumn truffles, while bright string arrangements elevate the citrus-forward seafood crudo.

Each course is experienced as a movement in a larger composition, marked by the quiet, tactile ritual of lifting the tonearm and placing the next record. After dinner, guests may linger over a final side—a bold anthem or a whispered lullaby—transforming the suite into a lounge for lingering conversation and reflection.

A Living Concept

Far from static, The Darsena Listening Suite is a living project. Guest-requested records become part of the permanent archive; Contreras’s son has already added his own selections, bridging generations through shared music. When not booked overnight, the suite transforms into an intimate venue for private dinners or curated listening salons for up to ten guests—keeping the space as dynamic as the playlists it celebrates.

A Global Rise of Listening Rooms

As vinyl sales surge and travellers seek intimate, acoustically tuned experiences, listening bars and private sound sanctuaries have proliferated from London’s Spiritland to New York’s niche hifi lounges. Il Sereno extends this movement, embedding jazz-kissa principles into an immersive guest suite with Lake Como’s timeless elegance.

Il Sereno: Continuing to Set the Standard in Experiential Hospitality

Since its opening, Il Sereno has distinguished itself through its commitment to design, craftsmanship, and understated luxury. A jewel on the shores of Lake Como, the hotel offers lake-facing suites, heritage Italian furnishings, and unparalleled service. Guests can explore the lake on a handcrafted Ernesto Riva boat, enjoy scenic drives in Maseratis, FIAT 500’s and classic Alfas, or discover hidden villages by Vespa or foot. With the unveiling of The Listening Suite, Il Sereno affirms its place at the vanguard of luxury travel—not merely as a destination, but as a curator of culture, a host of meaningful experiences, and a home for those who find beauty in detail.

Rate from $6,300 inclusive of breakfast, plus VAT.

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