The Il Sereno hotel on Lake Como has designed the world's first suite designed entirely around 'the art of listening', featuring high-end analogue equipment, more than 500 vinyl records and Michelin-starred menus curated to music. Olivia Palamountain reports

Il Sereno Lago di Como has created the ultimate lair for music-aficionados on the shores of Lake Como.

Created by owner-audiophile Luis Contreras in collaboration with designer Patricia Urquiola, the "Darsena Listening Suite" draws inspiration from Tokyo's jazz-kissa listening cafés, where vinyl records are revered in intimate venues dedicated to quiet listening.

Inside, is a high-tech sound system comprising Klipsch La Scala II speakers, a McIntosh MC275 amplifier, MacIntosh C22 pre-amplifier, Thorens 1601 turntable with Sumiko Amethyst cartridge and the restored Revox deck that inspired the project.  More than 500 LPs from Contreras's personal collection are available, ranging from Deutsche Grammophon box sets to original press David Bowie albums.

Guests can request favourite albums in advance, with the records then joining the permanent library for future visitors. The suite operates as what Contreras describes as a "living project" where the collection continues to grow.The suite concept was sparked in early 2021 when Contreras became transfixed by a vintage Revox B77 reel-to-reel tape deck during a dinner shortly after Italy's lockdown lifted. Over the following year, he explored the world of high-end hi-fi equipment, meeting bespoke tube amplifier artisans and searching vintage listings online.
Chef Raffaele Lenzi brings his Michelin-starred Sereno Al Lago menu into the suite, with each dish served against curated vinyl selections. "A primary objective in designing the space was not simply to create a Listening Suite, but a Listening Suite in which dining is central," says Contreras.

The experience might feature smoky jazz accompanying a lapsang-infused artichoke, or a Baroque concerto mirroring the rhythm of delicate Risotto alla Pescatora. Each course is designed as a movement in a larger composition, marked by the ritual of changing records.Urquiola's design includes a 50ft wall of custom-woven jacquard fabric that echoes rippling water while refining acoustics. Rich walnut panelling, sculptural bronze fixtures and a monumental bespoke stone dining table create what the hotel describes as a "theatre of textures and light."

The suite features Molteni sofas, Gio Ponti Leggera chairs and floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the lake, with a private deck offering direct lake access for swimming.When not booked overnight, the suite can transform into an intimate venue for private dinners or curated listening salons for up to ten guests.

The Darsena Listening Suite is available from $6,300 inclusive of breakfast, plus VAT.