There are beautiful places in Italy, and then there’s the Portofino coast—that small stretch of Liguria where the beauty seems straight out of a movie. Colorful villages cling to the hillsides, fishing boats share the sea with large yachts, and small coves appear among pine-covered cliffs as if someone had designed them. But the magic of this coast doesn’t end in Portofino. From Santa Margherita Ligure to Paraggi, Rapallo, and Camogli, the Riviera offers some of Italy’s most alluring hotels: historic palaces, beachfront villas, monasteries converted into hotels, and intimate retreats where true luxury lies as much in the setting as in the way you experience it.
For this Top 10 Hedonist selection, we sought out exactly that: hotels that capture the art of living on the Italian Riviera. Architecture, history, cuisine, extraordinary views, service, and that hard-to-describe feeling of having arrived at a place where, for a few days, there really is no reason to check the time.
1. Imperiale Palace Hotel, Santa Margherita Ligure
Some hotels tell a story, while others are part of it. The Imperiale Palace belongs to the latter category. The villa was built in 1889 as the residence of the noble Costa family, and during the Belle Époque, its salons became a gathering place for kings, aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals. Queen Elena of Savoy stayed here for extended periods, while figures such as Luigi Pirandello and Eleonora Duse became part of the palace’s history. In 1922, it also served as the venue for the signing of the Treaty of Rapallo, in the so-called Treaty Room.
Today, that history coexists with carefully restored elegance. The Art Nouveau architecture, frescoes, marble, balconies, and salons preserve the character of the historic villa, while the guest rooms and suites have been updated to offer the comfort of a true five-star property. All of this is complemented by one of the hotel’s greatest attractions: the view of the Gulf of Tigullio. And when it’s time to head down to the beach, the private Le Vele Beach Club offers one of the property’s most special experiences, with direct access to the water, a heated seawater pool, and that “Dolce Vita” atmosphere that seems to have been invented specifically for this corner of Liguria. The culinary experience completes the ritual, from Imperiale a Mare—practically right on the water—to Novecento, where contemporary Ligurian-inspired cuisine is served amidst frescoes, marble columns, and Murano lamps. And there’s something else that makes the Imperiale Palace truly special: its people. Anna Mattu, Hotel Manager, is deeply involved in the hotel’s day-to-day operations and the details that ensure this historic property maintains the level of service expected of a five-star hotel today. That combination of heritage, beauty, the sea, fine dining, and carefully curated hospitality is precisely why the Imperiale Palace ranks number one on our list. It’s not just a hotel to stay at on the Riviera. It’s one of those places that lets you experience the Riviera at its most elegant, romantic, and authentic.
Website: https://www.imperialepalacehotel.it
Phone:+39 0185 288991
Address :Via Pagana, 19, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy
2. Splendido, Portofino
Few hotels are as closely associated with the essence of Portofino as the Splendido. Housed in a former 16th-century monastery overlooking the bay, the hotel combines lush gardens, terraces, and extraordinary views with that Italian glamour that made Portofino one of the most sought-after destinations in the Mediterranean.
Here, the pleasure lies in doing very little: a morning by the pool overlooking the harbor, a leisurely lunch, a drink at sunset, and the feeling of being suspended above one of Italy’s most beautiful landscapes.
Website: https://www.belmond.com/en/hotels/europe/italy
Phone: +39 0185 2678 01
Address : Salita Baratta 16, 16034 Portofino, Genoa, Italy
3. Splendido Mare, Portofino
While Splendido offers a bird’s-eye view of Portofino, Splendido Mare lets you experience the town from the inside. Its location right next to the Piazzetta means that the harbor, cafés, boutiques, and boats are all part of the experience from the moment you step out of the hotel.
Its limited number of rooms gives it a special sense of intimacy, and its culinary offerings celebrate the flavors of Liguria. It’s the perfect choice for those who want to wake up and find themselves right in the heart of Portofino, experiencing the town’s vibrant atmosphere just a few steps away, yet enjoying the refinement of a private home.
Website: www.belmond.com/es/hotels/europe/italy
Phone: +39 0185 267802
Address :Via Roma, 2, 16034 Portofino GE, Italy
4. Eight Hotel Portofino
Eight Hotel offers a more contemporary and understated take on Portofino. It’s just a few minutes from the Piazzetta, but its atmosphere feels much more intimate, with sophisticated interiors and an aesthetic that combines warm materials, elegant textures, and a deliberately understated luxury.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to have Portofino right at their fingertips while still being able to retreat to a quiet place when the town starts to get crowded. The spa and boutique atmosphere round out an experience that’s much more private than that of the Riviera’s larger hotels.
Website: https://portofino.eighthotels.it/en/
Phone: +39 0185 26991
Address :Via del Fondaco, 11, 16034 Portofino GE, Italy
5. Eight Hotel Paraggi
In the small bay of Paraggi, between Santa Margherita and Portofino, Eight Hotel is housed in a fully restored 19th-century villa that has been converted into an intimate hotel with just 12 rooms. The décor blends Ligurian influences with contemporary design, preserving the property’s original character.
But the real reason to stay here lies outside the room. Its private beach club is located right on the famous emerald-watered bay and is reserved exclusively for guests. Waking up, having breakfast, and spending the day practically right on the water is probably one of the most delightful ways to experience this coastline.
Website: https://paraggi.eighthotels.it/
Phone: +39 0185 289961
Address : Via Paraggi a mare, 8, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy
6. Grand Hotel Miramare, Santa Margherita Ligure
Since 1903, the Grand Hotel Miramare has been one of the most renowned hotels in Santa Margherita Ligure. Owned by the Fustinoni family since 1945, it retains the charm of the great Italian hotels, where history and family hospitality are an integral part of the experience. Among others, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh stayed here during their honeymoon.
Its connection to the sea is its main attraction: gardens, a pool, terraces, and a lifestyle that invites you to spend the day enjoying a coffee, a swim, and a long lunch. Even the hotel’s history is tied to the landscape, as Guglielmo Marconi made one of his first major transmissions from its terrace in 1933.
Website: https://www.grandhotelmiramare.it
Phone: +39 0185 287013
Address :Via Milite Ignoto, 30, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure, Genoa, Italy
7. Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort, Rapallo
Overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio and Portofino, the Grand Hotel Bristol offers a more expansive take on Riviera luxury. Its rooms and suites combine classic interiors with large windows facing the sea, while its restaurants showcase Ligurian cuisine and local ingredients.
For those who enjoy dedicating time to their well-being, the 2,000-square-meter ERRE Spa is one of the hotel’s major attractions, featuring a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, a Kneipp circuit, sensory showers, and relaxation areas. And to end the day, the Marina di Bardi Beach Club puts the sea literally at guests’ fingertips.
Website: https://www.grandhotelbristol.it
Phone:+39 0185 273313
Address :Via Aurelia Orientale, 369, 16030 Rapallo GE, Italy
8. Hotel Piccolo Portofino
The Hotel Piccolo boasts one of those locations that make the hotel seem like a natural part of the landscape. Housed in a historic villa overlooking the sea, it offers a more intimate view of Portofino and the chance to fall asleep to the sound of the Mediterranean as your soundtrack.
It’s a particularly appealing option for those seeking romance and tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of the Piazzetta. Here, true luxury lies in the proximity to the water and that feeling of being tucked away in a small villa on the coast.
Website: https://uvethotels.com/piccolohotel
Phone: +39 0185 269015
Address :Via Duca degli Abruzzi, 31, Portofino, 16034, Italy
9. Hotel Metropole, Santa Margherita Ligure
The Metropole offers one of the best options for those who want to enjoy Santa Margherita at a leisurely pace: it’s located right on the Gulf, surrounded by gardens, and combines renovated rooms with spaces within the historic Villa Porticciolo. It also features a heated indoor pool, a private beach club, and a wellness center.
It’s a hotel where you can take your time and enjoy yourself. A morning by the sea, a leisurely lunch, an afternoon by the pool, and—if you like—a moment on its unique salt bed to end the day. The experience has that unhurried pace that makes it so hard to leave the Riviera.
Website: https://www.metropole.it
Phone: +39 0185 286134
Address :Via Pagana, 2, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure, Genoa, Italy
10. Hotel Cenobio dei Dogi, Camogli
To wrap things up, we head slightly away from Portofino to Camogli, one of the most charming towns on the Riviera and a perfect alternative for those seeking a slightly more local experience. The Cenobio dei Dogi is located right on the waterfront, in a prime spot along the coast.Here, the reward is simplicity: the sound of the water, the town’s colorful facades, long lunches overlooking the Mediterranean, and the feeling of having discovered a quieter, more authentic side of Liguria.
Website: https://www.cenobio.it
Phone: +39 0185 7241
Address :Via Nicolò Cuneo, 34, 16032 Camogli GE, Italy
The Portofino coast isn’t a place to rush around. It’s a place to wake up without an alarm, swim in crystal-clear waters, linger over lunch, enjoy an aperitif as the sun sets, and let the afternoon slowly give way to night.
With historic palaces, private villas, hidden beaches, and hotels that have been writing their own stories for over a century, all that’s left is to choose where to start. Because on the Italian Riviera, true luxury isn’t about having it all. It’s about having the time to enjoy it.
