On the return journey from the trip to Bologna, we decided to stop in the Franciacorta region to taste some favorite bubbles in their home region. What a better way to celebrate a first anniversary than with a celebratory glass. We opted to stay at the budget-friendly, yet old school Italian charming, Iseolago Hotel, right on the lakefront of Iseo Lago.

The symmetrical funky lines of the building made it feel like stepping into a vintage Wes Anderson film.

The trip of course had to start with a glass of the esteemed Franciacorta.

The lobby was a wild mix of colors in a formal setting, which was somehow dated, funky, and fun all at once.

A spicy mural, inspiring the viewer to seek the local ‘grapes’ greets guests just opposite of the front desk.

The room was classically old school Italian hotel, confirming that marketing online is superb and likely taken with a very good real estate fish eye camera. As the space, was rather small and a bit old school. However, we found the bed more comfortable than expected, and the space immaculately cleaned. Really, the cleaning team was something to behold with a team of older ladies who clearly took such pride in their craft.

The strange bean bag-like poof in the corner was great for opening big suitcases.

There was a sizable terrace for the room, but the view was a little lackluster onto the dormant grass growing on the roofs below. Maybe you could see the lake on a less hazy weekend, but it seems like there was much more of the property to explore including a pool and beach.

The bathroom was small and dated, but the shower had surprisingly great pressure after a long day of walking among vineyards and between lakefront towns.

We were a bit skeptical upon entering the semi-dated hotel, especially for such a lovely occasion, but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The area is very charming and I can only imagine how darling it is in the summer. On the flip, it did also make us very happy to return to our big bed at home