Best Luxury Hotels in Italy

So named as it’s housed in a perfume factory, Magna Pars L’Hotel à Parfum features olfactory motifs throughout its spaces. As such, each of its 60 subtly decorated suites takes on a floral, fruity, aromatic, woody or resinous theme. Some bedrooms have their own bars, libraries, seating areas with chaise longue, jacuzzi baths and outdoor terraces with sun loungers; all have paintings by up-and-coming Milanese artists. The alfresco dining room has two fireplaces and a state-of-the-art open kitchen. And, when you fancy a beverage, enter the secret door (made from copper, by artists at the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera) to Liquidambar.

Rome Glam Hotel sits right on the edge of the cool, boho Monti neighbourhood where young and local designers are dotted throughout. Its location makes it great for shopping and exploring this area as well as quick access to many of the museums in the centre including Palazzo delle Esposizioni and the Scuderie del Quirinale. Designer and boutique interiors plus a rooftop terrace is a bonus.

In a central location with a water taxi stop right outside and a complimentary airport shuttle, this Hyatt hotel is a modern urban-style retreat. It has 119 bedrooms across eight categories, meeting rooms, a fitness centre and a bijou spa incorporating mood showers, a steam room and a sauna. Centric’s restaurant, Osteriva, is a unique highlight; here breakfast and dinner are served in a bioclimatic greenhouse. Or guests can dine overlooking Murano’s Canal Grande, in the Rivalonga Bar + Lounge — the latter takes the form of a peaceful, contemporary garden with frequent live music.

The luxurious 5-star Palazzo Sangiorgio is a first-class, contemporary getaway in the heart of Catania. The hotel building itself is full of history while the modern interior exudes comfort and sophistication. There are 25 guestrooms made up of Superior and Deluxe rooms in addition to 5 suite types. Each of the spacious rooms has been stylishly decorated and is a cosy retreat for travellers. The exquisite on-sire Ristorante Basalto offers nothing but culinary excellence in a truly stunning setting. Guests can indulge in specially crafted, sumptuous Sicilian dishes and authentic local wines while soaking up their surroundings amidst the charm of the island. The rooftop bar serves many purposes and ranges from a lively bar with a DJ to a relaxing solarium area with a mini pool. The fully equipped Magma Harmony Spa is the perfect place to relax and treat yourself to a specialist treatment. Palazzo Sangiorgio is also home to spectacular event spaces for hosting anything from a simple business meeting to a swanky celebration. 

Offering a very different experience to the Grand Hotel, this is a six-storey boutique design hotel. At its heart is the i-CE AGE swimming pool, a water ‘sculpture’ for swimming, that’s heated to 31-34 degrees and open 24 hours a day. It has a bubble mat, elevated whirlpools, foot water jets and a large cervical blade waterfall that make bathing a luxurious indulgence. The i-FEEL GOOD Seaview Spa is an uber-modern light-filled space and the i-FAME restaurant features high-quality raw materials and a focus on fish. Bedrooms are known as i-SUITES and follow the minimalist design found throughout.

Named after the piazza in which it’s found, Palazzo Dipinto was once a 13th-century palace. Now it is an elegant design hotel. Bedrooms feature Italian made wooden parquet flooring, stylish furnishings in muted tones and spacious bathrooms. There isn’t a restaurant in-house, but there is a bar (in which breakfast is served), an inner courtyard and room service. And, bringing all of the senses into the experience, the hotel has its own scent, chosen in partnership with Acqua dell Elba, so guests staying at the boutique property, are welcomed with a delightful aroma, as well as a smile.

Ten minutes walk from the quieter town of Anacapri on the slopes of Monte Solaro, this boutique hotel is convenient for visiting the Blue Grotto or even Villa San Michele, the botanical Gardens of Augustus, Marina Grande and Marina Piccola, or for hiking off the beaten track. Rooms offer all amenities, and a shuttle service will take guests wherever they want to go. The poolside restaurant opens for lunches, with a bar and room service available for later, and a Roof Top Terrace for spectacular views and special occasions. A spa and gym for just two adds to the intimate feel of this jewel.

Violino d’Oro Venezia is an elegant, inventive, and exquisitely designed boutique hotel set in the heart of the city. This 5-star hotel is the brainchild of the aunt-and-niece team, Sara and Elena Maestrelli, brought to life with the imaginative flair of architects Piera Tempesti Benelli, Riccardo Burigana, and Tiziano Folin. Within close proximity of iconic landmarks such as St Mark’s Basilica, Harry’s Bar, and Rio San Moise, this 32-room boutique hotel is a the perfect base from which to explore Venice. It showcases an impressive art collection that ranges from classical to contemporary, paintings, glass art, and textiles, along with historical tile work and an authentic Venetian seminato floor. Within the hotel, Piccolo Ristorante and Bar, serves traditional and regional dishes tastes, along with cocktails, and guests are always guaranteed a warm welcome.  with cocktails and chicchetti in the elegant comfort reminiscent of a beloved Venetian friend’s home.

Set between Portofino Harbour and the mountains just two hundred metres from the heart of the village, Eight Hotel Portofino features elegant and very comfortable rooms for style lovers to choose from. Each of these rooms boasts beautiful wooden floors and has been decorated in warm and inviting colours. A special shuttle service is provided to the nearby Baia Di Paraggi beach, while guests can also splash around in the onsite swimming pool. This pretty pool comes complete with a sun deck that is set with hammocks and sun loungers, while there is also a Turkish bath and sauna to make use of. Food lovers will want to make sure they sample the Chef’s menu, which includes a whole host of gourmet treats that highlight the best of authentic Italian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood.

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.

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.

This 5-star resort has taken pride of place on Marinella Beach in Porto Rotondo, since its inception in 1963. 59 bedrooms and suites are decorated with Sardinian and Mediterranean furnishings, marble from Orosei, Samugheo rugs and picture windows showcasing the stunning outlook. There are three dining options, two of which are in-house; Mediterraneo (serving family-friendly breakfasts and evening meals), Tzia Maria (for lunch and dinner) and the Marinella Beach Restaurant (for which guests receive a credit). The Lobby Bar accompanies drinks with live piano music, the Pool Bar for beverages, snacks and ice cream and the elegant Marinella Lounge Bar. Hotel Abi D’Oru also has an excellent spa and the Bee Happy Kids’ Club.