Villa d’Este revives its Pop Up Spa within historic Villa Malakoff

Villa Malakoff, an intimate nineteenth century residence cradled within Villa d’Este’s historic gardens, reopens its seasonal spa as a sanctuary for those seeking respite from the frenetic pace of contemporary life. The residence gazes toward Lake Como’s luminous waters, its period architecture and refined interiors providing the sort of meditative setting where time itself seems to slow.

The Pop Up Spa draws both hotel residents and outside guests, offering treatments crafted by Biologique Recherche, the Swiss skincare house known for its rigorous, science driven approach to beauty rituals. Each treatment unfolds as a personalised experience, tailored to individual needs rather than prescribed from a standard menu. The setting, ornate furnishings, soft natural light filtering through tall windows, the subtle presence of the lake beyond, transforms the clinical precision of skincare into something approaching ceremony.

Villa Malakoff sits within grounds that have belonged to Villa d’Este for generations, their landscaping and architectural lineage integral to the hotel’s storied character. The Pop Up Spa occupies these spaces seasonally, allowing the residence to serve dual purposes: a private retreat for those seeking deep rejuvenation, and a physical manifestation of Villa d’Este’s commitment to holistic luxury rather than mere indulgence.

For those drawn to Como’s temperate climate and the region’s quiet grandeur, the spa offers reason to linger, to book a treatment and settle into one of Villa Malakoff’s rooms, allowing the Alps and the lake to recalibrate one’s sense of what leisure might mean. Reservations welcome both hotel guests and day visitors.

Imagery courtesy of Villa d'Este Lake Como (@villadestelakecomo).