Grand Hotel San Pietro Taormina

San Pietro in Taormina is one of our favorite stays in Sicily. The views and the staff service is 5 stars. They went out of their way to make sure we had what we needed. But what made it an unforgettable experience was our bartender Christian, he is by far the best. Get the Negroni!

We had a wonderful weeklong stay at the Grand Hotel San Pietro, and highly recommend it for a high end luxury hotel experience with a distinctly gracious Italian feel. First of all, our experience with the staff was exceptional, start to finish. Everyone was helpful but also had that southern European warm, good humor that made all of our interactions with them a pleasure. They have such a nice way of making you feel genuinely welcome in every encounter, and always seemed to want to provide whatever you needed in that moment to make your day – the specific food you craved at breakfast, a recommendation for a restaurant or a tour or the best walking route to get where you’re going. The property is just as exceptional as the staff. Recently renovated, the style is classic European elegance. The colors, textures, design elements– as you spend time in the hotel, you keep noticing these nice touches, like the comfort of the outdoor chairs, the way the vistas are visually framed so that you look up and think “wow, how beautiful is that?” The shower is a work of art – my wife is trying to figure out we could do something similar at home. I consider GHSP a wonderful alternative to international luxury chains, where I think adhering to the brand can get in the way of allowing the local culture to shine. We were so struck with how well everything came together that we asked about the designer, who IS from Italy - but Rome, not Sicily. So many other details stand out. Our breakfasts at the hotel offered consistently the best quality of food we experienced all day. There is a vast variety of food, but everything served is the highest quality: the pastry you have at breakfast will be better than any pastry you buy at a small local shop. Same with the fresh fruit, the cheese, the salumi, the bread, the eggs, the espresso. Orlando and the breakfast staff made sure any need was taken care of with a warm smile and good humor. The spa staff (Monica and Elena) offered a great experience and superb massages. The pool is spectacular – the view over the water was such a treat every time you opened your eyes or looked up from your book. The lobby bar was an unexpected surprise. Several of the bartenders (Marco was one) are superb mixologists. The Negroni made with local gin and amaro was probably the best we’ve ever tasted, same with their version of a Vesper. In short, I’m glad my wife’s research turned up this gem that delivered an experience uniquely Italian in its warmth and elegance. If this sounds appealing to you, I hope you give them a try.

What an amazing hotel experience! The staff was so friendly and kind, the room was beautiful and the views were out of this world. The bed was comfortable and the pillows fluffy. Special thanks to the concierge Luca (sp?) who assisted us in many different travel outings and was always available to help us out. The shuttle even did special runs when we had a schedule outside of the normal times.

Every year this hotel amazes me. It’s stunning location, fabulous new rooms and bars and restaurants. It really is the place to stay in Taormina. What really makes it for us are the staff who are more like friends. Piero is a great GM and his team work seamlessly hard in all areas. Reception couldn’t be more helpful, Marco and all his bar staff, everyone at breakfast, the boys at the pool and their hilarious boss (don’t you dare retire!) and a special shout to the lovely Pizza man - who really knows his stuff and always has a great smile. Needless to say can’t wait to see you again in August for a wonderful holiday. Thank you as always