Glazed ceramic retreat
Semi-reflective mint-green ceramic tiles wrap the facade, giving way to curated local art, exposed timber, and a subtropical courtyard garden.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Clad in forty-four thousand sage-green ceramic tiles with exposed timber beams and custom modular furniture inside.
Listed
Century-old masonry from 1923 anchors the building alongside contemporary structural interventions and preserved ceiling woodwork.
Listed
Breakfast showcases Ticino artisanal breads, alpine butter, local cheeses, and salametti from regional producers.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set in the Besso district, the hotel sits steps from Lugano station and the funicular gliding down to the lakefront.
The rooms
Compact rooms pair original ceiling beams and century-old masonry with custom modular furnishings and clean, minimalist lines.
Restaurant
Salotto
Mornings center on regional breads and Ticino cheeses served at angular wooden tables along textured plaster walls.
How it began
Originally opened in 1923 as Albergo Stella, the building was reimagined by architecture studio DF_DC using sustainable, fossil-fuel-free engineering.
Good to know
Stay here
B5 Boutique Hotel Lugano
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Lugano
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.