Italy doesn’t ask for much—just your full attention, maybe your appetite, and ideally, a few weeks of your life. There’s something about the way pasta tastes after a day of doing absolutely nothing. But when it comes to picking a place to stay, things get a bit more complicated. Do we want chandeliers, old-school glamour, and a concierge who’s worked there since 1973? Or do we want handcrafted ceramics, a playlist in the room, and a minibar with kombucha? To make life easier, we’ve split the best hotels into two categories: Grande Dames—the legends, the icons, the five-star matriarchs—and Boutiques, the stylish, heart-warming accommodations that punch well above their size.
Grande Dames
Hotel: Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Location: Lake Como, Italy
Hotel: Mandarin Oriental
Location: Lake Como, Italy
This is a lush lakeside retreat that practically demands a silk robe and room service. It is set in a 19th-century villa in the quiet town of Blevio, just a few minutes from Como proper. The 75 rooms and suites are spread across nine buildings, including two private villas. The design is all contemporary Italian elegance. Soft linens, velvet upholstery, and a soothing color palette that lets the views do the heavy lifting. Those views are best enjoyed from the Panoramic Suite, with its private pool and floor-to-ceiling windows. And in case you fall in love with Lake Como but you’re not ready to buy every villa there yet (we see you, George Clooney), you can extend your stay in one of the hotel’s villas. They are fully equipped to feel like your own home. Maybe just a hundred times better.
The spa is one of the most expansive in the region, with a Finnish sauna, vitality pool, Kneipp circuit, and a long list of Asian-inspired treatments (you’re in a Mandarin, after all). The restaurant, L~Aria, holds a Michelin star and serves Mediterranean dishes with a Japanese twist on a lakeside terrace. The CO.MO Bar & Bistrot keeps things casual with Italian cocktails and comfort food. If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to kayak in the morning, get a facial in the afternoon, and sip Franciacorta by the fire at night—this one’s for you. Or skip the kayaking and sleep in—you’re on vacation, after all.
Hotel: Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel
Location: Venice, Italy
Hotel: Four Season Florence
Location: Florence, Italy
Hotel: Hotel Splendido, A Belmond Hotel
Location: Portofino, Italy
Splendido on the Ligurian Sea in Portofino is still turning heads, after decades of glam. This former 16th-century monastery has long been the hideaway of choice for big names. Names like Winston Churchill, Grace Kelly, Charlie Chaplin, and Walt Disney. It’s not subtle at all—it’s bright tiles, bougainvillea, and old-school glamour. But that’s precisely the point. There are 70 rooms and suites, many with French doors, that open onto sea-facing balconies, all outfitted in chic, sun-washed tones. If you want something special, opt for the newest addition to the hotel: Villa Beatrice. Once the site of lavish parties, it’s now a private haven, with the emphasis on private. Private parkland, private pool, private chauffeur, private chef.
Dining here is a multi-stop affair: splurge on signature dishes and local wines at La Terrazza. Focus on Ligurian classics—trofie al pesto, fresh seafood—at the new Pool Bar, with a more relaxed vibe. Or, just sip an espresso at La Terrazza Bar and pick one of the two great views. Will it be the sea or the hand-painted watercolor murals? For special occasions (or just because) you can book a private dinner in the lush gardens, or a picnic at the nearby eco-farm. And while you’re on a mission to treat yourself, don’t miss the first permanent Dior Spa in Italy, which just opened in 2025. Book one of their transforming treatments in a sea-view cabin or among the gardens. Complete the experience with Dior’s finest skincare, makeup, and fragrances. And then float away in the saltwater pool. And don’t forget the Aperol.
Hotel: Hotel Eden
Location: Rome, Italy
Hotel: Bvlgari Hotel
Location: Rome, Italy
Hotel: Orient Express La Minerva
Location: Rome, Italy
Hotel: San Domenico Palace
Location: Taormina, Italy
In Taormina, San Domenico Palace isn’t just a hotel—it’s a scene. You’ll recognize it from The White Lotus. But don’t worry, the drama here is entirely optional. Built into a former 14th-century convent, this Four Seasons property manages to be both magnificently grand and deeply peaceful. There are 111 rooms, many with private terraces or plunge pools. And the interiors walk the line between monastic minimalism and aristocratic flair. If you’re looking for more space, book one of the five suites with separate sleeping and living areas. If you have a specific view in mind, go for a specialty suite: the Etna Suite offers views of the volcano, while the Teatro Suite overlooks the ancient theatre.
The clifftop infinity pool is one of the most jaw-dropping spots in Sicily. And the Michelin-starred Principe Cerami—led by chef Massimo Mantarro—delivers quintessential Sicilian cuisine. For a more classical Italian menu, try Rosso, the newest restaurant addition. Post-dinner drinks are served at Bar & Chiostro. Throw in the spa with volcanic stone treatments inspired by local flora, plus saunas, steam rooms, and an indoor pool with a hot tub, and this might just be the closest thing to heaven south of the Vatican.
Boutique Hotels
Hotel: Passalacqua
Location: Lake Como, Italy
Hotel: Villa Feltrinelli
Location: Gardano, Italy
Hotel: Il San Pietro di Positano
Location: Positano, Italy
Hotel: Aman Venice
Location: Venice, Italy
Venice is always a good idea—but staying in a 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal? That’s something else entirely. Aman Venice has just 24 rooms and suites, each one dressed in original frescoes. They are complemented by gilded mirrors, and silk wall coverings that whisper “old money” in the most tasteful way. This is definitely the kind of place where Casanova would’ve flirted his way through the salons. The best pick is the Alcova Tiepolo suite, with its original artworks and terrace over the water. Downstairs, the garden (yes, a garden in Venice) is one of the city’s few private green spaces. It is also the perfect spot for aperitivo.
Dining at Aman is always a superior experience. Arva, the main restaurant, serves Italian cuisine with a modern niche. You can expect dishes like handmade pasta with seasonal truffles and Adriatic seafood risotto. But you can also opt for a personalized private dining experience at the intimate Palazzo Kitchen Table. Here, you can interact with the chef and enjoy a personalized menu. As for drinks, sip a cocktail at The Bar, designed to honor one of the city’s most famous residents, the poet Lord Byron. And if you’re feeling adventurous, create your own fragrance in an expert-led masterclass, and let a resident mixologist craft a drink inspired by it.
The spa is a serene retreat, with three treatment rooms and a fitness studio with skyline views. When it comes to the rituals, you can choose between the Grounding, Nourishing, or Purifying pathways. But also, make sure to try one of the unique experiences. Something like restorative cryotherapy or music therapy sessions enhanced by live harp music. All treatments incorporate mineral-rich waters, thermal salts, and bentonite clays from the spa town of Salsomaggiore Terme in northern Italy. The hotel also offers a 60-minute massage, followed by afternoon tea with homemade pastries. Because you can’t do Italy without pastries—it’s just wrong.
Hotel: Caruso, A Belmont Hotel
Location: Ravello, Italy
Hotel: Palazzo Avino
Location: Ravello, Italy
Hotel: Borgo Santo Pietro
Location: Tuscany, Italy
Deep in the Tuscan countryside, Borgo Santo Pietro is the dream. No, really—this 800-year-old estate turned ultra-luxury hotel feels like someone re-imagined a Renaissance painting with modern magic. There are only 22 rooms and suites, spread across the ivy-clad main villa and garden cottages. Each one is uniquely designed with antique fireplaces, silk-draped beds, and hand-painted frescoes. It’s actually hard to leave the room, but you have to. After all, you have the organic gardens you can wonder through, the hotel’s own dairy to try (the cheese is incredible), and a massage waiting for you in the holistic spa.
Dining is also a big deal here. The hotel’s Saporium Chiusdino restaurant holds a Michelin star and serves seasonal dishes with ingredients picked that morning. There’s also a more casual option: Trattoria sull’Albero, designed around a giant oak tree with rustic interiors. Or, enjoy your beetroot pasta with fresh ricotta—or lamb cooked in hay—in the romantic grotto, a candle-lit, fountain-side nook with no other diners in sight.
The spa is set in a glass conservatory and uses the hotel’s own Seed to Skin product line, incorporating fresh herbs and raw ingredients from the gardens. Treatments include Ayurvedic massages, personalized facials, and classic beauty therapies aimed at holistic rejuvenation. And if that weren’t enough, they’ll even arrange hot air balloon rides over the Val di Merse. It’s not so much a hotel stay as a full-body immersion into the Tuscan lifestyle. And when it’s time to check out—don’t. Instead, take the dream with you by booking their Satori Yacht. It’s still five-star everything—suites, spa, and dining room—but it moves with you, sailing through Italy, Croatia, France, Greece, or Turkey.
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FAQs
Q: How many rooms does Aman Venice have?
A: Aman Venice has 24 rooms.
Q: Where is Hotel Splendido located?
A: Hotel Splendido is located in Portofino, Italy.
Q: Where will the Santori Yacht take me?
A: The Santori Yacht will take you through Italy, Greece, Turkey, France and Croatia.
