Image courtesy of Castello Di Reschio
Michelin first unveiled the Michelin Key — the hotel equivalent of the Michelin Star — earlier this year, solely for French properties. Italy’s honorees came soon thereafter.
Michelin bestows the Key honor based on a hotel’s architecture and design, service, personality, value and “significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.”
To Michelin, a hotel goes far beyond a place to stay (something I strongly believe as well). Below, I’ve highlighted a few of my favorite Key hotels in Italy, and have listed the remaining stunners in each Key category. Needless to say, every Michelin Key hotel is on my bucket list.
When you’re ready to get away, reach out to plan and book your Michelin-approved trip.
Three-Key hotels
A mere eight Italian properties earned the enviable three-Key designation. These hotels redefine what a hotel experience can be.
Aman Venice
Image courtesy of Aman Venice
It’s no surprise Aman Venice earned a coveted three Keys. If any hotel brand knows how to do luxury, it’s Aman. The property is among Fora’s top-booked hotels in the floating city, and for good reason.
Venice’s resplendent 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli, right on the Grand Canal, houses the exclusive, discreet hotel. Inside, an Italian Rococo aesthetic mingles with Aman’s signature minimalism: there are crystal chandeliers and towering ceilings, Italian frescoes and clean, modern furniture.
For dining, choose from seasonal, sustainably sourced Italian cuisine at Arva; a private, market-to-table experience at The Palazzo Kitchen Table; or expertly crafted cocktails and bites at The Bar. During the warmer months, sip your drink outside, in the secret canalside garden.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Castello di Reschio
Image courtesy of Castello di Reschio
This centuries-old estate sits on a sprawling, hilly expanse in Italy’s Umbrian countryside. (It’s Fora's top-booked hotel in Umbria.) Guests stay in stylish, contemporary castle rooms (with original details like exposed beams wisely kept intact), or in one of eight beautifully restored farmhouses. Local artisans crafted much of the intricate decor: unique furniture, stucco work, marble washstands. If not locally made, many pieces of art and furniture were sourced from Italy’s finest antique markets.
Also don’t miss a session at the estate’s Accademia di Cucina della Bottega, Castello di Reschio’s hands-on cookery school. You’ll forage the verdant property grounds and prepare what you’ve collected — in addition to fresh local produce — into an exquisite meal. (The estate even produces their own honey, wine, eggs and olive oil.) Play tennis, bike amid the verdant hills, paddleboard on the property’s secluded lake…Reschio is a self-contained paradise you won’t want to leave.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
J.K. Place Capri
Image courtesy of J.K. Place Capri
Any J.K. Place excels at boutique luxury, which is especially true for this stylish seaside property. Guests stay in clean, breezy rooms with features like elegant four-poster beds, the well-placed splash of nautical navy blue and terraces overlooking the Gulf of Naples. It’s no wonder J.K. Place Capri falls within Fora's five top-booked hotels on the island.
The J.K. SPA offers an array of luxe massages and treatments, including a curated selection of facials designed by none other than Dr. Barbara Sturm. You can also explore the Amalfi Coast by luxury speed boat, tour Pompeii and Herculaneum with an expert guide, hop in a helicopter, take a guided hike or rent a quintessentially Italian Faro scooter to independently explore the island.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
More three-Key hotels to love
I can unlock perks at the majority of these properties. Reach out to learn more.
Image courtesy of Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco
Casa Maria Luigia
Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice
Corte della Maestà
Il San Pietro di Positano
Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco
Two-Key hotels
Michelin awarded two Keys to 31 hotels in Italy, all of which more than deliver on the two-Key promise of “an exceptional stay.”
Therasia Resort
Image courtesy of Therasia Resort
You’ll find this 60-room boutique gem on Vulcanello, a small island just north of Sicily. The spacious rooms and suites boast beautiful terraces overlooking the sea. Thoughtful touches like majolica tile, black-lava stone and Sicilian terracotta add to the accommodations’ clean, Mediterranean allure.
There are four incredible restaurants onsite, two of which are Michelin-Starred: the sustainably minded Il Cappero and the equally sustainable (and vegetarian) I Tenerumi.
A dedication to well-being — on both an environmental and personal level — reigns at Therasia Resort. The spa is equipped with amenities like a Turkish bath and sauna, while talented therapists, including those rigorously trained in the unique Diabasi® massage method, rejuvenate body and mind with expertly honed techniques.
Fora Perks:
$50 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Forestis Dolomites
Image courtesy of Forestis
Forestis is a master of nature-inspired simplicity. The decor of this alpine retreat in the South Tyrolean mountains is tastefully restrained. Pale wood, muted hues and floor-to-ceiling windows complement the stunning natural surroundings, which are the true stars.
The heavenly spa is a sleek minimalist oasis of stone and wood. Its treatments and products draw on four healing trees for inspiration: mountain pine, spruce, larch and Swiss stone pine. Each possess healing frequencies and active ingredients that replenish body, mind and spirit.
The holistic nourishment extends to Forestis’ gorgeously designed restaurant, where forest-to-table cuisine is served amid vast alpine views.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany
Image courtesy of Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany
A 10th-century castle houses this luxury hotel, perched on a bucolic 4,200 acres in the Tuscan countryside, amid vineyards and olive groves. Thirty-nine well-appointed suites, plus two multi-bedroom villas dot the property. Each room and villa is unique. Depending on which accommodation you choose, expect masterful designs with details including local antiques, sumptuous fabrics, exposed brick, rich textures, mosaic tiling or Carrara marble. Regardless, Castello di Casole, one of Fora’s top-booked hotels in the region, is a study in combining rustic charm with contemporary chic.
The fine-dining restaurant Tosca features seasonal tasting menus highlighting the finest local products and produce from the estate’s gardens — as well as olive oil produced from the hotel's olive groves. The more casual Emporio del Castello serves traditional Italian fare, including pizza fired in a 17th-century oven. Also consider a poolside lunch at Castello Grill, a wine tasting in the hotel’s cellar, a garden picnic or a private dinner in a secluded grove.
Fora Perks:
$90 hotel / resort credit, welcome amenities & an upgrade whenever possible.
More two-Key hotels to love
I can unlock perks at the majority of these properties. Reach out to learn more.
Image courtesy of Portrait Milano
Bellevue Hotel & Spa
Bellevue Syrene 1820
Borgo Santandrea
Bulgari Hotel Milano
Castelfalfi
Castel Fragsburg
EALA My Lakeside Dream
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
Grand Hotel et de Milan
Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Grand Hotel Victoria
Hotel Borgo San Felice
Hotel Gritti Palace
Hotel Santa Caterina
Hotel Vilòn
I Borghi dell'Eremo
Il Sereno
J.K. Place Roma
Jumeirah Capri Palace
La Minervetta
Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti
Palazzo Portinari Salviati Residenza D'Epoca
Portrait Milano
San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel
Villa Cora
Villa Eden The Leading Park Retreat
Villa La Massa
One-Key hotels
There are 107 one-Key hotels in Italy. These character-driven gems each possess a distinct personality and offer an excellent value for their price point.
Passalacqua
Image courtesy of Passalacqua
The extraordinarily talented Italian hotelière Valentina De Santis and her family transformed this 18th-century lakefront villa into, quite literally, the world’s best hotel. (The De Santises are also behind Passalacqua’s stunning sister hotel, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which earned two Keys.)
Italian artisans crafted most of the villa’s stylishly regal decor. Many details were also sourced from antique fairs and markets, as well as from the family’s global travels. Valentina wanted the hotel to feel like a home, and she more than fulfilled this goal.
The property is infused with soul. It’s a love letter to Italian excellence. For Valentina and her family, a hotel is so much more than a hotel. This is especially true at Passalacqua.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Vocabolo Moscatelli Boutique Hotel & Restaurant
Image courtesy of Vocabolo Moscatelli Boutique Hotel & Restaurant
For an especially intimate getaway, escape to the 12-room Vocabolo Moscatelli, centered on a 12th-century monastery in Umbria.
The bespoke, beautifully designed rooms and suites combine local craftsmanship and materials with contemporary, stylish art. (I love the handmade Italian tiles in the modern bathrooms.)
The property’s restaurant focuses on sustainability and local sourcing, of course, as does its Matite Bar. There are yoga classes and qigong, pottery workshops and a negroni “school.” Enjoy a massage in the hotel’s intimate chapel, hike or forest bathe with Vocabolo’s resident Director of Blooming. Whatever you choose, you’ll leave feeling thoroughly pampered and nourished.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit, a welcome drink, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Hotel Il Pellicano / Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Image courtesy of Il Pellicano
Hotel Il Pellicano, on the Monte Argentario peninsula, and its sister hotel, Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, on Ischia, are destinations in and of themselves. Il Pellicano consists of seven cottages and a main building, which host its 50 bright, chic guestrooms. The vibe is effortlessly cool, laid-back luxury. The 48-room Mezzatorre overlooks the sparkling Gulf of Naples. Guests stay in either the 18th-century watchtower or a charming cottage.
Both hotels champion local Italian ingredients at their excellent restaurants. (Ristorante Il Pellicano boasts a Michelin Star, no less.) At either property, prepare to be blown away.
Both hotels have ample wellness offerings, although Ischia’s ancient wellness traditions — mineral-rich springs, volcanic clay — make Mezzatorre especially well suited for a holistic reset. Allow time to relish the spa’s hydrotherapy circuit.
The Pellicano Hotel group also excels at beach clubs: both are chic as they come, and are not to be missed.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
More one-Key hotels to love
I can unlock perks at the majority of these properties. Reach out to learn more.
Image courtesy of Lupaia
Ad Astra
Art Hotel Villa Fiorella
Baglioni Masseria Muzza
Biohotel Hermitage
Borgo Egnazia
Borgo Santo Pietro
Botania Relais & Spa
Brunelleschi Hotel
Bulgari Hotel Roma
Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista
Capri Tiberio Palace
Cape of Senses
Casa Angelina
Casa Clàt
Castello Banfi - Il Borgo Relais & Chateaux
Castello di Vicarello
Corte di Gabriela
COMO Alpina Dolomites
COMO Castello del Nero
Ca’ di Dio
Capri Tiberio Palace
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast
Casa Clàt
Cascioni Eco Retreat
Conti di San Bonifacio
Conti di San Bonifacio
Country House Villadorata
Critabianca
Donna Coraly Country Boutique Hotel
Follonico Suite B&B
Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa
Goldene Rose Karthaus
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria
Grand Hotel Miramare
Hassler Roma
Hotel Calimala
Hotel Castello di Monterone
Hotel Eden, Dorchester Collection
Hotel Locarno
Hotel Londra Palace
Hotel Lungarno
Hotel Principe di Savoia, Dorchester Collection
Il Palazzo Experimental
La Barchessa di Villa Pisani
La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso
La Foresteria Planeta Estate
Laqua by the Lake
L'Andana
Lagació Hotel Mountain Residence
Lake Spa Hotel SEELEITEN
Le Sirenuse
Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda
Lido Palace
Locanda al Colle
Locanda Rossa
Lupaia
Mandarin Oriental Milan
Mandrake delle Terre Nere
Milla Montis
Nolinski Venezia
Nordelaia
Ottolire Resort
Palazzo Albricci Peregrini - Como
Palazzo de Noha
Palazzo Margherita
Palazzo Maria Formosa
Palazzo Pascal
Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel
Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & SPA
Portrait Roma
Precise Tale Poggio Alla Sala
Principe Forte dei Marmi
Relais Blu
Riva Lofts Florence
Rocco Forte Hotel De La Ville
Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie
Seven Rooms Villadorata
Sextantio
Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita
Siena House
Singer Palace Hotel
Six Senses Rome
Susafa
Terra - The Magic Place
The Hoxton, Rome
The Inn at the Roman Forum
The St. Regis Rome
Torre di Bellosguardo
Umiltà 36
Velona's Jungle Luxury Suites
Villa Crespi
Villa Cortine
Villa d'Este
Villa Fontelunga
Villa le Prata - Residenza del Vescovo
Villa Làrio Lake Como
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence
Vigilius Mountain Resort
Vivere Suites and Rooms