Grand Hotel Miramare
One Michelin Key
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Hotel Details
Location
Grand Hotel Miramare · Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy
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Key Highlights
- ✓Location & Views: The hotel's prime position overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio provides stunning sea views, with many rooms offering breathtaking vistas.
- ✓Exceptional Service: The staff's warmth, attentiveness, and friendliness are frequently lauded, with many guests considering the service "outstanding" and "impeccable."
- ✓Beautiful Amenities: The saltwater swimming pool, lush tropical garden, and inviting terraces are significant draws for relaxation.
Expert Review: Grand Hotel Miramare
Grand Hotel Miramare: A Glimpse into Italian Riviera Glamour
The Grand Hotel Miramare, a distinguished Michelin Key One-Key property in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, consistently earns high praise for its timeless elegance, exceptional service, and breathtaking location on the Gulf of Tigullio. Operating since 1903 and owned by the Fustinoni family since 1945, this hotel offers a blend of historic charm and modern comfort, making it a beloved destination on the Italian Riviera.
Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus among guests is overwhelmingly positive, with ratings frequently in the "Exceptional" range (e.g., 9.2 on Agoda, 10/10 on Virtuoso). Guests consistently describe their stays as "fantastic," "amazing," and "perfection," highlighting a strong sense of satisfaction and a desire to return.
Key Highlights
Guests consistently rave about several aspects of the Grand Hotel Miramare:
- Location & Views: The hotel's prime position overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio provides stunning sea views, with many rooms offering breathtaking vistas.
- Exceptional Service: The staff's warmth, attentiveness, and friendliness are frequently lauded, with many guests considering the service "outstanding" and "impeccable."
- Beautiful Amenities: The saltwater swimming pool, lush tropical garden, and inviting terraces are significant draws for relaxation.
- Cleanliness & Comfort: The hotel consistently receives high marks for its cleanliness and overall comfort.
- Classic Design: The hotel retains its Art Nouveau charm with elegant interiors, antique furnishings, crystal chandeliers, and parquet floors.
Room Quality
The 72 rooms and suites at the Grand Hotel Miramare blend classic charm with modern comforts. They are elegantly decorated with high ceilings, crown moldings, and gold headboards. Rooms come equipped with flat-screen TVs, free non-alcoholic minibars, and renovated white marble bathrooms. Many rooms offer furnished terraces or balconies with captivating views of the sea or the serene park. While generally praised for comfort and style, some guests have noted that certain room sizes can be small.
Dining Experience
The hotel offers a varied dining experience with "Vistamare" and "Le Colonne" restaurants, serving the best in Ligurian cuisine and a selection of Italian wines.
- Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is a consistent highlight, with guests appreciating its quality and the gorgeous setting, especially when enjoyed outdoors on the terrace.
- Restaurant Quality: The food, particularly Ligurian dishes, is generally well-received, though some past reviews noted very generous portion sizes. There are also casual poolside dining options.
- Bars: The comfortable lounge bar and the lively Barracuda piano bar provide pleasant settings for evening drinks and entertainment.
Service & Staff
The service and staff at Grand Hotel Miramare are consistently rated as excellent. Guests frequently commend the staff for their warmth, attentiveness, and ability to make everyone feel welcome. Many describe the service as "outstanding," "impeccable," and very friendly and helpful. The concierge service also receives specific praise for assisting with local arrangements and activities.
Location & Accessibility
The Grand Hotel Miramare boasts an excellent location in Santa Margherita Ligure, directly overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio and across the street from a public beach where hotel guests receive free entrance and service in the summer.
- Neighborhood & Attractions: It is ideally situated for exploring the Italian Riviera, with the charming fishing town of Portofino just minutes away and the Cinque Terre easily reachable by train or boat. The hotel is also within walking distance of excellent local restaurants and shopping in Santa Margherita Ligure.
- Transport: The Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino Train Station is approximately 1 km away, offering convenient access for exploring the region.
Value & Pricing
The Grand Hotel Miramare is considered a luxury property, and its pricing reflects this. While offering an unparalleled experience, average room prices can be significantly higher than the city's average, with rates from around $198, but commonly ranging from $456 for a Deluxe room to $764 for a Double room, and up to an average of $922 for the exquisite experience. Many guests feel the experience is well worth the cost, particularly for those seeking a splurge on Italian luxury.
Common Complaints
Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:
- Room Size: Some guests have mentioned that certain room sizes can be small.
- Street Noise: Lower-floor rooms facing the street may experience some noise from traffic, especially during the daytime in summer.
- Heating: A few guests have suggested that the heating could be improved in some instances.
- Beach Club Access: While there's a public beach across the street with free hotel guest service in summer, some past guests have noted that only a limited number of sun loungers are free for hotel guests at the beach club, and additional ones may incur a charge if the complimentary ones are occupied.
- No Gym (Historically): Older reviews sometimes mentioned the lack of a gym, however, a new fitness center was built in 2023.
- Pool Not Heated: The outdoor saltwater pool is not heated.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:
Google Reviews
682 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Peter Campfield
The GHM is simply exceptional. The views, accommodations, grounds, food, drinks, and service are all among the best I’ve experienced across Europe. While staying here, I planned a surprise proposal to my fiancée which the staff tactfully helped facilitate, and surprised us with champagne in our room after our dinner! The in-house spa and dry-cleaning were excellent, and the concierge was helpful a...
Dallas Hoff
What a perfect hotel. Simply the best hotel experience I’ve ever had. Incredible caring and attentive staff from the moment we arrived to a warm helpful welcome at the valet up to the reception. Then every interaction afterwards, maids, room service, bartenders, servers, hosts, laundry service. Everything was flawless. Admittedly, I initially was slightly bummed I couldn’t make the splurge of Spl...
Response from the owner
Dear Dallas Hoff,<br><br>Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a wonderful review. We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your stay with us was the best hotel experience you’ve ever had....
L VeithL
Another wonderful late season stay at this iconic hotel. Great location close to the harbor, shopping, restaurants, beach across the street. Beautiful walk to Portofino. Staff are very friendly and helpful. The only disappointment is having to pay for extras at breakfast, and a somewhat slow food service by the pool. All in all a wonderful stay.
Response from the owner
Dear L VeithL<br><br>Thank you for sharing your kind feedback. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed another late-season stay with us and appreciated our location, the proximity to the beach and Portofi...
LeeAnne Freddo
My husband and I recently stayed at the Grand Hotel Miramare, as part of a Backroads tour. We have nothing but good things to say about it. The location is stunning, the hotel is beautiful, and the staff was excellent. Our room was clean and spacious, especially the bathroom. This hotel is a perfect location for just relaxing, or wandering the streets of Santa Margherita, and it’s close to Portifi...
Response from the owner
Dear LeeAnne Freddo,<br><br>Thank you so much for your kind words.<br><br>We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beauty of our hotel and the attentive service provided by our staff. <br>O...
Wm N Aitkenhead
Beautiful hotel, 4/5 star.$$$$$. A bit far from town center which is about 20 minutes where all the local restaurants are. Recommend St Michelle, family owned for 30 years. The hotel restaurant looked exceptional with an never ending wine list $$$$$$. View is the best and the service outstanding. World class hotel.
Response from the owner
Dear Wm N Aitkenhead,<br><br>Thank you for your lovely review! We're glad you enjoyed the views and outstanding service. <br>We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon.<br><br...
Ahmed Azab
Horrible service,,I don’t understand why this hotel is rated five stars and the service has been terrible since the first day I arrived. I arrived a bit late, and the night menu was extremely limited and, according to the reception, the food had been COOKED since the morning and just ready to heat up and serve. I said I’d order food from outside, but they told me I had to go down myself to pick i...
Response from the owner
Dear Ahmed Azab,<br><br>We thank you for taking the time to share your opinion regarding your stay with us.<br><br>We are truly sorry to hear that some aspects did not meet your expectations, but plea...
About One Michelin Key
One Michelin Key is awarded to hotels that offer a very special stay. These properties are characterized by their unique personality, high quality, and ability to create memorable experiences for guests.
