Best Urban Hotels in Italy

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi, one of the best luxury hotels in Rome and the biggest is located on the grand Piazza della Repubblica, directly opposite the renowned Diocletian Thermal Baths and the 19th-century marble palace hotel offers an ideal base for a city break in Rome. Nearby attractions include Piazza di Spagna, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the main Opera House. This regal hotel features 232 rooms styled in Neoclassical elegance, an Anantara Spa, and a rooftop plunge pool. Dining options include fine dining restaurant INEO and the “Seen By Olvier” Restaurant & Lounge Bar, perfect for enjoying a cocktail while taking in stunning city views.

Radisson Collection Palazzo Touring Club boasts 89 luxurious rooms and suites in a historical building in Italy’s most fashionable city. It is located a mere 5-minute walk from the iconic Duomo of Milan and within walking distance from the world-famous Milanese Fashion District. An international breakfast is served at this hotel while the expertly-crafted menu at Bistrot Bertarelli 1894 Milano takes diners on a journey through food thanks to the expertise of travel influencer, Marko Morciano, and talented chef, Luca Franz. Guests are also welcome to unwind in the cosy Veloce Milano bar. There is a blissful spa facility for guests to relax and enjoy. This hotel is an ideal venue for hosting sophisticated meetings and events in one of six spaces. Radisson Collection Palazzo Touring Club is also pet friendly.

​​Nolinski Venezia, EVOK’s first destination outside of France, is a historic 43-bedroom hotel located in the former old Stock Exchange building in Venice. The hotel’s design, crafted by the French-Italian duo Lecoadic-Scotto, blends Art Nouveau, Stile Liberty, and Modernism in perfect harmony. Situated close to the iconic Piazza San Marco and La Fenice opera house, the hotel captures the refined art de vivre and carnivalesque fantasy of Venice. Nolinski Venezia offers a peaceful oasis discreetly away from the popular shopping district, featuring its own courtyard restaurant and an indoor rooftop swimming pool with stunning 360-degree views of the city skyline. The gastronomy at Nolinski Venezia is overseen by Two-Michelin-starred Chef Philip Chronopoulos, who introduces two restaurants. The courtyard-based Il Caffè Restaurant, inspired by Venetian palaces and the art of the gondola, serves traditional Italian dishes with a contemporary twist, using 100% Italian ingredients. The Library Bar, adorned with art by Simon Buret and a curated library of over four thousand books, offers guests a chance to enjoy live piano music while savouring exquisite cocktails created by Jérémy Bacquet, the Creative Director of the Evok Group’s Bars.

Offering the most spectacular view over Rome from its elevated position on Monte Mario, the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort will exceed your expectations in so many ways. From its Michelin-star dining room, to its luxury palatial spa and resort style pool, through to its 15 acres of lush parkland and world-class art collection the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort offers an elegant refuge away from the hustle and bustle of the city that will satisfy the most discerning of luxury travellers.

At the hotel all rooms are designed with sleeping and living areas and come with a range of stylish features like their indulgent marble bathrooms and spacious balconies for an al fresco breakfast or evening aperitifs. For all-out luxury choose a room on the Imperial floor which includes access to their club lounge and for over the top luxury choose the Planetarium suite which includes masterpieces throughout and a vast private roof terrace and jacuzzi.

This Grand Hotel takes its name from the two large palms outside and has served as a private residence in times past. Reminiscent of the art nouveau era (thanks to a 1907 refurbishment by Ernesto Basile), this palatial property dates back to the late 19th century and exudes old-world grandeur. Yet it remains a family-friendly hotel and accepts pets too. 98 bedrooms here have a classical design, but with mod cons including soundproofing and minibars. With a space dedicated to mixology, this is the place to enjoy a cocktail or two, while the Neo-Bistrot provides a truly Sicilian culinary experience and the Ouverture Terrace offers Mediterranean cuisine in romantic surroundings.

Villa Cora is a luxurious 5-star hotel in Florence, set within a historic 19th-century villa that exudes the charm and sophistication of a bygone era. Perched on the hills overlooking the Boboli Gardens, it offers panoramic views of Florence and a serene retreat from the bustling city. The hotel features 44 rooms and suites, each uniquely decorated with lavish details and period furnishings.

The architecture of Villa Cora reflects a blend of Neo-Classical and Baroque influences, with intricate frescoes, opulent chandeliers, and exquisite marble accents throughout. The interior design harmoniously combines historical elements with modern comforts, providing a timeless elegance that appeals to discerning travellers. The hotel’s lush, Italian-style gardens are an extension of this luxury, offering a peaceful oasis with manicured lawns, towering trees, and colourful flower beds.

One of the highlights of Villa Cora is its expansive outdoor heated swimming pool, set amidst the gardens. This area provides a tranquil space to relax and enjoy the Tuscan sun, with poolside service offering refreshments and light meals. Adjacent to the pool, the hotel’s spa, located in the Moorish Pavilion, offers a variety of treatments and wellness experiences, including a sauna, hammam, and a small gym.

Dining at Villa Cora is an experience in itself. Le Bistrot, the hotel’s signature restaurant, serves a menu inspired by traditional Tuscan and Mediterranean cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Guests can dine al fresco on the terrace, enjoying views of the gardens and the Florentine skyline. The hotel also features the Bar Longhi, known for its elegant atmosphere, rich with antique mirrors, and a selection of fine wines and signature cocktails.

A former church (consecrated in 1934), this building now houses 185 guest rooms and suites — some of which have private terraces — in the fashionable CityLife district. The brand blends the property’s old original and ecclesiastical features with the NH group’s signature on-trend new decor and a 13-storey tower wing. On the rooftop, a pool and The District cocktail bar offer panoramic views and a solar power system provides greener energy to the four-star property. And at ground level, there’s an urban garden where you can take breakfast. Lunch and dinner are offered at Tailors restaurant, with a retro, midcentury style.

The youthful W brand has made its first foray into Italian territory with a Roman property, which opened at the end of 2021. Two historic palazzos a stone’s throw from the Spanish steps were combined to create W’s 162 bedroom flagship hotel in Italy. The outside may represent the country’s heritage, but inside, it’s entirely evocative of modern Italian style. A secret garden, hand-painted mural, the Michelin-starred Sicilian restaurant Ciccio Sultano, an open-air courtyard, a patisserie selling homemade gelato and the Daria Reina fashion store are all part of the concept, with interiors designed by Meyer Davis. A rooftop bar with WET deck and pool makes the bold, funky hotel party central.

Arguably one of the most stylish hotels in the area, we love this boutique hotel for its refreshing, breezy feel, perfect for escaping that Italian heat. Located right above Sorrento’s original fishing port, hanging onto the cliffs, La Minervetta is owned (and designed) by architect Marco de Luca and has the perfect contemporary nautical look for your ideal summer, seaside retreat! Walls are painted white throughout, whilst hand-painted Vietri tiles and colourful, vibrant ceramics and textiles really make the rooms pop. Many of the rooms have huge picture windows offering unrivalled scenes of the Gulf of Naples whilst open-plan public spaces with comfy sofas offer plenty of opportunities to sit back and relax. This hotel truly feels like someone’s (very stylish) seaside home, with the added luxuries of a sun terrace, a bar, a pool and a small whirlpool tub.

This 16th-century palace is now part of the slick and contemporary NH Collection. It’s an ideal choice for those wishing to escape the throng, yet still within walking distance of the main attractions, as it’s located in the peaceful residential quarter of Sestiere Cannaregio, surrounded by an 18th-century botanical garden. And when you do want a slice of the action, you can easily take a boat trip from the hotel’s private pier, or hop on the complimentary shuttle. 64 Venetian-style rooms are accommodated over five floors, along with its Il Giardino Segreto and La Loggia restaurants and La Voga Bar.

This was a palace back in the early 16th century. Now it’s a palatial boutique hotel with 25 bedrooms that are fit for royalty. Just five minutes walk from the waterside, it has a suitably grand exterior, which gives way to minimal North-Italian designer interiors that are skillfully blended to accentuate original features (think beams, terracotta tiles and frescoes). There’s no restaurant as such, but a memorable breakfast is taken on the rooftop terrace. And with so many Genoan culinary hotspots on the doorstep, you’ll want to try as many as you can manage during your time here.

Providing guests with stunning views of the bay of Portofino, this refined hotel is set on the lush hills set above the fishing village. There are just sixteen rooms and suites for guests to choose from, which gives the hotel a very exclusive and intimate feel. Guests should make sure that they secure one of the rooms that look out over the village, which come complete with pretty wrought-iron balconies and spacious en suite bathrooms. The hotel really excels when it comes to its amenities and people who want the chance to get fit while having fun are treated to large tennis courts to make use of as well as a pretty outdoor swimming pool. Those who simply want to unwind in style will love the sauna and luxurious spa.