Best Luxury Hotels in Italy

Right on the Lido, this luxurious resort has a subtly Moorish interior design. Reminiscent of a former era, the turn of the 20th-century building’s furnishings encapsulate a sense of North African mid-century style. The Excelsior boasts bedrooms with terraces overlooking the sea, tent-like private cabanas on the beach, a swimming pool, complimentary water shuttles, in-room Salvatore Ferragamo bath products, and a renowned intimate candlelit restaurant and some incredible seafood. It may be a glamorous venue – an optimum place to star spot during the film festival – but the resort is very welcoming of families, offering a kids’ club among its amenities.

Art lovers who have a taste for the finer things in life are sure to enjoy staying at the luxurious yet understated Grand Hotel Des Arts. The Piazza Bra is just a five-minute stroll away and wandering through this charming neighbourhood is an uplifting experience. Guests are treated to their choice of tea, coffee and cakes each day and the staff are always on hand to go the extra mile to make them feel special. Guests can take their pick from rooms that overlook the pretty garden or the Corso Porta Nuova and dining in the hotel’s courtyard is a real treat.

People who want the chance to get back into the swing of things while surrounding themselves with luxury are sure to love staying at this traditional Puglian Masseria as it comes complete with its own golf course. Forty bougainvillea-draped rooms feature balconies that face the ocean, while there is a pretty a vine-shaded collonaded pool. Guests are also treated to a private beach as well as several beachside restaurants to unwind at.

In the buzzing Navigli district of Milan lies the modern and luxurious Aethos Milan with 32 vintage Italian-style rooms, suites and an apartment featuring original décor. The Aethos Dependance apartment is located mere steps from the main hotel building and offers charming views of the Darsena. Guests can opt to dine in the divine ZAÏA restaurant with its Mediterranean menu which has influences from all over Italy and the countries that influenced their cuisine. Be sure to stop by the The Doping Bar for an expertly crafted cocktail by one of the inventive mixologists or take part in any of the exciting events. Aethos offers a private member’s club offering benefits in their hotels and restaurants with a club location in this hotel. The hotel also boasts a fully equipped fitness centre and diverse private event space options.

The Pavilions Rome, The First Arte, a boutique five-star hotel, has reopened after a comprehensive renovation by Studio Marincola, transforming the hotel’s lobby, bar, rooms, and suites. The renovation combines sophisticated hospitality with artistic flair, and showcases 200 new pieces of contemporary art, designed to immerse guests in Rome’s artistic heritage. Guest rooms present cream-coloured walls, natural oak floors, and indirect lighting to enhance privacy. Decorative elements like Levanto red marble tables and Canaletto walnut pieces, alongside large, geometrically patterned rugs and vibrant art, add warmth and elegance. The bathrooms have been updated with Emperor marble to further enhance the luxurious feel. The hotel acts as a living art gallery, each floor is dedicated to individual artists, with large installations in public areas and smaller artworks in rooms for private viewing. Key features include a ground floor with interconnected spaces displaying art, including Giovanni Albanese’s ‘Call Centre’ sculpture and Teodosio Magnoni’s ‘Corpo Lungo’ The rooftop garden and Acquaroof restaurant offer panoramic views of Rome, designed to mirror the city’s architecture, and is the perfect place to enjoy coffee at breakfast through to cocktails and sunset. The First Arte, along with The First Musica and The First Dolce, forms part of The First Roma by The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts, offering a unique urban resort experience that merges la dolce vita with modern Roman culture.

With 122 rooms, suites, and villas, Falkensteiner Resort Capo Boi combines mid-century heritage with modern Mediterranean ease. Set along a private sandy cove on Sardinia’s wild southern coast around a one hour drive from Cagliari, the resort retains the charm of its 1960s origins while embracing a design language inspired by Moorish influences, from carved wooden headboards and inlaid tables to softly muted hues of sea blue, blush, and sand.

Dining celebrates both place and imagination. Artigiani serves generous Mediterranean buffets in the main dining space, along with pizza up in the poolside restaurant, KENTO, shaped by Michelin-starred chef Theodor Falser, offers Pan-Asian and Italian flavours, while Sudoki Bar pairs sushi with sunset cocktails. The 750 m² Acquapura Cocoon Spa provides a serene retreat with saunas, a steam room, a heated pool, and wellness classes, complemented by a gym, tennis court, and watersports from the beach.

Family-friendly yet tranquil, the resort’s Falky Land offers creative and nature-based programmes for children, alongside a playground, kids’ pool, and beach inflatables. With panoramic views over the Capo Carbonara Marine Reserve, two swimming pools, and easy access to Cagliari Airport, Falkensteiner Resort Capo Boi offers a rare balance of Sardinian authenticity and contemporary coastal luxury.

This majestic Westin Excelsior hotel is established in a 14th-century palace and is one of the time-honoured five-star hotels in Florence. It doesn’t cease to amaze with its opulent interior, outstanding service, and a host of luxury amenities. The property still dons the original rustic furnishings including terracotta floors, coffered ceilings, and massive stained glass windows. However, there have been refurbishments to add a touch of modernity without compromising its contemporary character. Located in the northern bank of Arno, Westin Excelsior hotel is adjacent to a series of high-end fashion boutiques along Via Tornabuoni Street. You can also access the infamous Domenico Ghirlandaio’s workshop displaying his masterpiece fresco, ‘The Last Supper’. Guests occupying the three top floor suites get to enjoy a hot tub, massive terraces, and a magnificent view of the city. The has 171 rooms, each supplied with the hotel’s signature ’Heavenly Bed’, whose comfort is hard to beat. The rooftop Sesto bar & restaurant is a game changer. Besides its great food, it also offers a 360-degree view of the city, which couldn’t be more magical, especially at sunset.

This Grande Dame hotel opened in 1907, under the original name of the Hungaria Palace Hotel. Nicolo Piamonte was the architect of the building’s neo-Rennaisance exterior, whose interiors followed an Art Noveau and Liberty style. Now the five-star venue close to Lungomare d’Annunzio Beach includes a full-service spa with 12 treatments rooms, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a winter garden and two bars (one of which is on the rooftop). A lavish refurbishment has retained original details and stunning frescoes but added many modern amenities like espresso makers and air-con. There are 60 bedrooms in total, including suites, all filled with lashings of character.

Enchanting, eclectic, arty and sophisticated, this hotel makes your city break in the Eternal City, something quite unique. The design features geometric lines, retro patterning, indulgent fabrics and lots of contemporary artwork. There are three dining establishments onsite; the Dandy Cafè, El Porteño Gourmet and Terrazza Flores. Bedrooms and suites are available, with plenty of home comforts. Suites also provide a private living room and kitchenette. Umiltà 36  is just steps from the Trevi Fountain and looks out over the pretty rooftops of Rome on one side, the hotel’s classic courtyard on the other.

Hotel Indigo Milan – Corso Monforte is yet another sensational luxurious getaway to be included in IHG Hotel’s expertly curated portfolio. This boutique hotel is a short walk from the iconic Duomo of Milan and right in the heart of the historical centre. It has been beautifully designed with contemporary furnishings in each of its 51 guestrooms which are perfectly in keeping with Milan’s historical and fashionable reputation. There is a modern fitness centre complete with excellent equipment and open 24 hours a day. The on-site Restaurant Mezzo offers tasty and traditional Italian cuisine for lunches and dinners while Mezzo serves early morning breakfasts and late-night cocktails. This elegant hotel makes for the perfect venue when it comes to hosting any event and its function spaces are fully equipped with state-of-the-art for hosting sophisticated and professional meetings.

Close to the Stock Exchange, Toledo Station and the port, the Grand Hotel Oriente offers classic Italian luxury. Its colour palette centres mostly around black and white, creating an airy feel, with pops of muted greys and greens here and there. Book a table in the second-floor restaurant; sit outside beside the glass balcony, or close to the windows to watch the cruise ships arrive and depart in the harbour. And attend a themed evening in the rouge-coloured rooftop Terrace Bar, with tunes around the grand piano and hanging egg chairs on the balcony.

L’Hotel in Pietra is your luxurious boutique hotel in Sassi Matera. It is housed in a building that was a 1300’s church. You will feel a sense of deep spirituality with the historical charm in any of their en-suite rooms and restaurant. The hotel offers the very best of Italian and European cuisine, a Middle Ages like library and a terrace where you can have your lunch in the warm midday sun or dinner in the golden oars of the setting sun.