Best Design Hotels in Italy

Stay a little further out of town (but just a 15-minute drive from the airport), among the region’s vineyards. The Borgobrufa Spa Resort is only for adults and encompasses 29 acres. The architecture blends seamlessly with the traditional buildings, yet is fully fresh and modern. Some of its 50 rooms have private terraces with pools, and in-suite jacuzzis or alfresco hot tubs. Swim in the outdoor hydrotherapy pool, book a couples’ massage and dine by candlelight, sampling produce from the grounds. The food at Borgobrufa is gourmet and beautifully presented.

While dating back to the 18th century, the interior of this property exudes a chic Riviera-style decor. And you can soak up plenty of that Italian sunshine, with an onsite garden (in which you can breakfast) and rooftop terrace, the latter providing loungers and drinks service. Guests can also take it easy, with some time in the wellness suite; it has a sauna, steam room, experience shower and treatment rooms. Hotel Palazzo has 32 bedrooms, including a two-bedroom suite, and is a very short stroll from the Sant’Apollinare Nuovo (one of the foremost mosaic sites).

La Gemma Hotel offers a perfect blend of historical charm and contemporary elegance. Housed in a beautifully restored historic building, the hotel features an array of uniquely designed rooms and suites that exude sophistication, combining classic Florentine architecture with modern amenities.The hotel is renowned for its exceptional dining experience, led by Michelin-starred Chef Paulo Airaudo, offering gourmet cuisine that celebrates the rich flavours of Tuscany. Guests can indulge in a luxurious wellness journey at the Allure Spa, a serene oasis designed to rejuvenate both body and mind. The spa offers a range of treatments and therapies using high-quality products, ensuring a truly relaxing experience. La Gemma’s rooftop terrace provides a breathtaking panoramic view of Florence, making it an ideal spot for enjoying a cocktail at sunset. The hotel’s prime location also means that guests are just steps away from Florence’s most iconic landmarks, including the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio. The hotel’s interior design reflects a sophisticated blend of past and present, with antique furnishings, original artworks, and carefully curated decor creating an atmosphere of timeless elegance. The service at La Gemma is impeccable, with a dedicated concierge team that caters to every guest’s needs, ensuring a personalised and memorable stay.

Hotel Lungarno, a part of the high-end Salvatore Ferragamo family, is a must-visit holiday refuge. It is situated right on the Arno River, with its lobby overlooking the medieval Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The hotel was renovated recently and currently features a bold style with nautical furnishings. From the living room, one can catch a glimpse of the water flowing below. Visitors get to enjoy a serene atmosphere created by the blue and white accents on the leather surfaces within the premises. The rooms and suites are furnished with antique furniture and more than 450 pieces of art, including Picasso’s art, Tuscan artisanship, and works from renowned Italian artists. Historic galleries and fancy shopping malls are a stone’s throw away from the hotel. World-class cuisines are served at the Michelin-starred Borgo San Jacopo restaurant located within its vicinity.

The only 5-star hotel in the Riva Del Garda area, this elegant building from the late 1800s was originally built as a retreat for the well-heeled. The exterior is maintained in its original style, while the interior has undergone major refurbishment, providing a seamless blend of ancient and modern styling. Although located in the centre of the captivating little town of Riva Del Garde, once inside the hotel and its extensive gardens you are surrounded by a serene sense of calm. With two high quality restaurants, and a comprehensively equipped spa and fitness centre, including a Turkish bath, it is the ideal venue to relax and re-charge the batteries.

High above the sleepy lakeside town of Gargnano sits the Lefay & Spa Resort. A popular hotel for those seeking a tranquil, wellness, getaway-from-it-all break, with all the trimmings of 5-star opulence. The resort sits in 27 acres of wooded nature park. Stunning panoramic views across Lake Garda can be had from your room’s terrace. With the warm Mediterranean climate and a spa which has won awards for improving clients’ sleep and posture problems, you will return home refreshed and rejuvenated.

This boutique guesthouse follows an ethos of authenticity and personalised service, catering to a new generation of travellers. It comes from Neri Baccheschi Berti, whose family launched the award-winning Castello di Vicarello in Tuscany, and it only recently became a hotel; prior to this, it had been the Legnano racing bike factory and the Baccheschi Berti family’s fashion brand studio/showroom. Guests can curl up in the sitting room with a good book from Vico Milano’s curated library, work out in the gym and spend evenings in the hotel’s speakeasy bar, sampling Baccheschi Berti award-winning organic wines and nibbling on classic Italian snacks.

Set beside the promenade, this was the first 5-star beachfront hotel in Jesolo when it arrived in 2014. But you don’t have to swim in the neighbouring sea; Almar Stephen Abragan has a 70-metre pool onsite, besides its Mediterra restaurant and LightBlue Bar. The Almablu Spa – which includes a seafront hydromassage area – is connected to the outdoor pool via a glass tunnel. 197 rooms and suites follow a timeless ‘Made in Italy’ design ethos and all have a private terrace. A River Lounge Bar sits next to a cascading water ‘river’ installation, and there are lovely lush gardens.

Cutting edge and uber cool, this immersive lifestyle resort is super trendy and just a little bit alternative. Rooms come with Dorelan mattresses, your choice of soft or hard pillows, a Bluetooth audio system, Gabriella Chieffo toiletries, a bag of beach items and access to a gourmet minibar! Dine at the main eatery Jolà or on the stunning six-floor Tacco11 Rooftop Bar. And book a solo session at the Jade Private Spa with facilities including a barefoot Kneipp path,  a relaxation zone with a Himalayan salt wall and heated water beds.

Combine your beach break with a wellness retreat at the Falkensteiner’s all-new Acquapura SPA, where treatments are based on Hawaiian rituals. This space spans 1,500 square metres including an indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi and a hammam. The restaurant has a sea view terrace and wine cellar, there’s a firelit lobby bar and a cigar lounge, as well as a private stretch of beach. Modernist architect Richard Meier worked alongside interior designer Matteo Thun to create a chic property with a vintage Miami vibe; neutral tones are accented with bold colours and floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the outlook.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, the interior of ROMEO Napoli forms sleek lines, with modern furnishings. A stunning black marble staircase accents the lobby, and there are antiques and artworks throughout. Up on the ninth-floor rooftop, you’ll find a chic pool and bar and a restaurant serving traditional Neapolitan cuisine with a contemporary twist. Adding to its designer cred, the property has its own cigar room, an on-show wine cellar and access to the Dogana del Sale spa with a salt room, three jacuzzis, two saunas and seven treatment rooms. Situated on the waterfront, the hotel provides panoramic views from many of its bedrooms.

Found in the Chiaia neighbourhood, De Bonart Naples was originally built in 1870. Chic rooms have crisp white bedding, polished herringbone wood floors, and individual features such as wrought-iron balconies, panelled walls, minimalist four-posters, retro and modern artworks and sea views. Pets and kids are welcome (under 18s are not charged if sharing rooms with adults). And interconnecting and fully accessible bedrooms are available. Dine with gulf views at the glass-walled, rooftop eatery Le Pavillon, at the refined Macphersons, or in the Niq Bar. The hotel also has a boutique and a fitness centre.