We arrived at this small island hotel on beautiful Lago Maggiore in need of sleep, R&R, and a good dinner. We got it all -- stayed two nights in mid-September and hated to leave. The hotel is charming, and our room was quiet, clean, and comfortable, with a gorgeous view. The restaurant is excellent and popular, though service the night we dined there was slow (a big group arrived mid-meal). The islands of Lago Maggiore can be thronged with tourists during the day, but at night they empty out and become true oases for residents and lucky hotel guests. On the mainland, Stresa is a gorgeous upmarket town with many splendid hotels, but we were happier at the Verbano on delightful Isola dei Pescatori.

TERRIBLE ! Honestly I do not understand how people can be so happy to stay in such hotel. OK, the view is nice but how terrible is the food and the noise. 70 Euros for a plate of pasta for 2 , a plate of rabbit and a plate of milanese cottellete !!! And what a taste, beurk... I'm italian and honestly I feel shameful when I discovered that this restaurant was offering such food to all the Americans and British eating there. A shame. For the rooms, they are OK. Not so clean, but OK. But what a noise in this hotel !!!! Impossible to sleep before 1:00 in the morning, the employees of th hotel shouting in the corridors, etc. The most stupid thing is that the WC of the 100 seats restaurant of the hotel is at the first floor of the hotel !! Among the rooms ! Where people are trying to sleep !!! Amazing. Finally, for such price, it is ten times better to choose a 5 stars in Stresa with the lakeview than to spend the same price (I've checked) in the awful hotel in the island...

I have stayed in Hotel Verbano for two nights with my husband and son.We booked a three beded room with an incredible view to the lake!The room called "Iris" was clean,with a lovely furniture and a spacious bathroom with a lot of amenities.
We had dinner in the island both nights,one in the Hotel restaurant and the other in restaurant Unione that belongs to the hotel owners.In both,the food was great as well as the service!
It is impossible to discribe the unique sensation to stay on a small island like Isola dei Pescatori.It was really fantastic having a look to the sunset from the island...and seeing the lights on Stresa,Baveno,Isola Bella and Isola Madre at night!
The cats were an amazing company!!!There are many in the island.
We marked the hotel only with 4 points not five because of the breakfast.It was very poor! On the first day at 9 am there was no more ham or fruits.On the second at 8 am the cooker haven`t arrived yet at the Hotel,so we had to eat only bread with jam and milk...What a petty...this fantastic location deserves a perfect hotel.Anyway it was wonderful to stay there!!!

Great location, friendly staff, comfortable room. We arrived very late, during a storm, soaked to the bone... After being whisked across the dark lake, we freshened up in a warm room and were treated to a very late, simple dinner... It was exactly as expected and a welcome change from the monotony of big hotel life... Personal service and plenty of personality. Highly recommended.

(If you're going to Maggiore - why wouldn't you stay on an island?)