The World’s First Hotel Suite Fully Dedicated to the Art of Listening – Redefining Luxury Travel Through Music
This season, Il Sereno Lago di Como unveils its most personal and immersive experience yet: the Darsena Listening Suite. Passionately conceived by hotelier and music enthusiast Luis Contreras in collaboration with acclaimed designer Patricia Urquiola, this 200-square-meter waterfront suite becomes a sanctuary for discerning audiophiles. It merges high-fidelity analog sound, tactile design, and Michelin-starred gastronomy – all against the unforgettable backdrop of Lake Como. Inspired by Tokyo’s legendary jazz kissa listening cafés – intimate spaces where vinyl is revered – the Darsena Listening Suite is the world’s first hotel room entirely centered around the art of listening.
- Built for Sound
Hotelier and music lover Luis Contreras, together with designer Patricia Urquiola, transforms 200 sqm of lakeside space into a high-fidelity sanctuary. - A Tribute to the Analog
Klipsch La Scala speakers, McIntosh tube preamps and amplifiers, a Thorens turntable, and a lovingly restored Revox tape recorder form the acoustic heart. With over 500 records – and growing – music in this suite is never just background noise. - Private Michelin-Starred Dining
Executive Chef Raffaele Lenzi serves tasting menus within the suite – each dish paired with a finely curated soundscape. - A Living Collection
Guests can request favorite albums in advance; they’ll be added to the library and shared with future guests. - Inspired by Japan’s Jazz Kissa Culture
A modern interpretation of the globally trending silent listening bar concept, reimagined for an Italian lakeside setting.
How a Tape Recorder Sparked a Dream
In early 2021 – just after the end of the Italian lockdown – Luis Contreras was dining when he became captivated by the soft rotation and warm analog sound of a Revox B77 tape machine. That hypnotic loop awakened a vision: to create a space where guests could pause and fully immerse themselves in music.
Over the next year, Contreras delved into the world of high-end hi-fi, meeting with tube amp makers, testing hand-built systems, and scouring vintage marketplaces. Yet while classic components were alluring, they often proved too delicate for daily hotel use. The solution? A hybrid approach: modern reproductions of iconic designs – vintage sound, with reliable performance.
Today, the suite’s sound system features Klipsch La Scala II speakers, a glowing McIntosh MC275 tube amp, a McIntosh C22 preamp, a Thorens 1601 turntable with a Sumiko Amethyst cartridge, and the restored Revox that started it all. The personal record collection includes everything from Deutsche Grammophon box sets to original Bowie pressings – with more added regularly, including guest favorites.
Redefining the Luxury Suite as a Cultural Space
To bring the space to life, Contreras turned to Patricia Urquiola with a vision to give the suite the same reverence as the sound it houses. A 15-meter wall of custom-woven jacquard fabric evokes the movement of water while improving acoustics. Rich materials like walnut wood, bronze sculptural elements, and a monumental stone dining table create a stage for sound, light, and texture. Molteni sofas, Gio Ponti Leggera chairs, and textured surfaces invite guests to listen, relax, and savour. Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the lines between indoors and out. A private sundeck offers direct lake access – a seamless connection from the suite’s calm interior to the serene waters of Lake Como. From soft textiles to cool stone and warm wood, every detail is designed to sharpen the senses.
Where Fine Dining Meets Hi-Fi
“The goal wasn’t just to build a listening suite – but one where food plays a central role,” explains Luis Contreras. At his request, Studio Urquiola designed a round stone table for up to ten guests – placed in front of the sound system with sweeping lake views. An evening in the Darsena Listening Suite means hypnotic tape loops, musical depth, lake serenity, and a curated tasting menu by Executive Chef Raffaele Lenzi – paired with finely tuned soundscapes and Italian wines.
Michelin-starred Lenzi brings the cuisine of Il Sereno al Lago directly to the suite. Imagine delicate jazz accompanying a lapsang-kissed artichoke course, or a baroque concerto echoing the elegance of a seafood risotto. The warmth of the tube amp enhances the earthy notes of truffle, while bright string melodies lift the citrus elements in a seafood crudo. Each dish becomes a musical movement – with the tactile ritual of lowering the stylus as an interlude. And to close the evening: one last record – a bold finale or a gentle lullaby – and space for reflection and conversation.
A Living Concept
This suite isn’t static – it evolves with every guest. Requested albums enrich the collection. Even Contreras’ son has contributed favorites – music as a generational bridge. When not booked overnight, the suite transforms into an exclusive venue for private dinners or curated listening salons – as flexible and dynamic as the playlists it brings to life.
Listening Rooms – A Global Trend
Driven by the vinyl renaissance and the demand for intimate, acoustically refined experiences, “listening bars” are popping up from London’s Spiritland to hi-fi lounges in New York. Il Sereno embraces this trend, blending jazz kissa philosophy with timeless Italian elegance – in a suite unlike any other in the world.
Il Sereno Lago di Como – A Pioneer of Purposeful Luxury
Since opening, Il Sereno has been synonymous with design, craftsmanship, and understated luxury. This lakeside jewel offers suites with panoramic views, iconic Italian furniture, and bespoke service. Guests explore Lake Como aboard hand-crafted Ernesto Riva boats, cruise in Maseratis, Fiat 500s or vintage Alfas to hidden villages – or discover the region by Vespa or on foot.
With the Listening Suite, Il Sereno reinforces its role as a cultural curator, host of meaningful experiences, and home for those who find beauty in detail.
The Darsena Listening Suite is now available from approx. CHF 5,025 per night, including breakfast. Book at: www.serenohotels.com/property/il-sereno
About Il Sereno Lago di Como
Il Sereno sets a new standard for luxury on Lake Como with its ethos of understated elegance. Designed by Patricia Urquiola – named Designer of the Year 2015 by Wallpaper – the all-suite hotel garnered international acclaim, landing on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List 2018” and TIME Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places” list the same year. Each of the 40 spacious suites (ranging from 65 to over 200 sqm) features floor-to-ceiling windows and large furnished terraces facing the lake. The lakeside restaurant Il Sereno al Lago, led by Executive Chef Raffaele Lenzi, brings award-winning gastronomy to the region with celebrated menus like Contrasti, Classici, and the renowned Vegetali, Tuberi & Radici. A spa nestled beneath centuries-old stone arches features treatments using Swiss brand Valmont. Guests can also enjoy a 30-meter freshwater infinity pool that appears to float above the lake, or explore the water aboard the hotel’s stylish Riva boats.
About Sereno Hotels
Sereno Hotels is a privately-owned collection offering refined accommodations in two of the world’s most sought-after destinations – including Le Sereno and Le Sereno Villas in St. Barths, as well as Il Sereno Lago di Como and Villa Pliniana on Lake Como. Renowned for spacious rooms and suites, breathtaking views, and discreet luxury service, the brand has received numerous awards – including Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Travel + Leisure’s It List, Afar Traveler’s Choice Awards, and Town & Country’s Hotel Awards. Sereno Hotels are proud members of The Leading Hotels of the World and the Virtuoso luxury travel network.
