Image courtesy of Giulia Venanzi for Chapter Roma
Italy never goes out of style. It’s perennially popular for a reason. Crowds flock to the country in the summer (and this summer, Rome is especially hot), but a few of our favorite boutique hotels offer the perfect respite and an exclusive, intimate experience. The definition of a boutique hotel varies — we like to think of it as a hotel that’s on the smaller side, with a distinct character and an independent spirit.
Below, we’ve rounded up a list of 10 of our most-booked boutique hotels in Italy for the summer. Read on to learn what makes each so special. Then, connect with one of the featured advisors to plan and book your dream Italian getaway.
Rome
Italy’s capital is in high demand, and our bookings show it. We’ve already booked nearly 1,000 summer trips there, so book your stay here as soon as possible if it’s on your list.
Chapter Roma
Image courtesy of Paola Pansini for Chapter Roma
Chapter Roma is our top-booked boutique hotel this summer. In fact, it’s our top-booked summer hotel overall — and for good reason. This gem of a hotel, in Rome’s central Regola neighborhood, is a master in duality. It tastefully combines refined glamor with a playful edge.
Fora Advisor Natalie Lum-Tai, who has stayed at the hotel herself, describes its decor as industrial-chic. Stylish graffiti mingles with contemporary art. Rooms are spacious and modern, with designer furniture and thoughtful touches like organic bath products and Marshall bluetooth speakers.
Natalie noted how some of the suites were built “in reverse” (guests enter through the bedroom), modeled after the secret room Salvador Dalí built for his wife in their Cadaqués summer home.
Natalie added that the hotel has the best location in Rome. Another Fora Advisor Mindy Gabrielle agreed: it’s within walking distance of Rome’s historical center. Plus, the hotel is close to one of the city’s most reliable taxi stands, “which is no easy feat in Rome.”
Fora Perks:
Complimentary welcome flute of Prosecco and an upgrade whenever possible.
The Hoxton, Rome
Images courtesy of The Hoxton, Rome
The Hoxton brand has a knack for creating hip, local haunts in some of the world’s best cities, Rome included. The youthful hotel is within walking distance of iconic sites like the Villa Borghese gardens and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACRO).
“The location is more of a quiet neighborhood vibe, while still being very walkable to the city center,” Fora Advisor Sara Graham-Baldi, one of The Hoxton’s top bookers within Fora, said. “It's for clients that really want to feel Rome."
Rooms are stylish and playful, with a mid-century aesthetic: statement headboards, brass details, parquet floors. Head to Elio for a fun, laid-back Italian meal among friends, and to Cugino for all-day fare, from coffee and pastries to cocktails and snacks. The Hoxton is also the ideal spot for up-beat celebrations and get-togethers. Special occasion or not, though, it’s always a good time here.
Fora Perks:
A welcome amenity, exclusive rates, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Leon's Place
Image courtesy of Leon's Place
The funky, art-filled Leon’s Palace, in Rome, one of the best places to stay in Italy, is brimming with character. It’s charming and sophisticated, stylish and discreet. Expect patterned wallpaper, gem tones and towering ceilings (which are themselves beautiful).
Even better, the rooms are quite spacious for Rome, noted Fora Advisor Adam Gallagher, one of the hotel’s top bookers within Fora. Adam also lauded its amazing location: right near the train station, the Baths of Diocletian, the National Galleries of Ancient Art and the Borghese Gallery.
After you’ve had your fill of ancient sites and museums, descend the hotel’s spiral staircase to its spa, where a gym, treatment rooms, hot tub, sauna and Turkish bath await. Then, savor a locally sourced meal al fresco in the verdant courtyard, or indoors in the colorful dining room.
Fora Perks:
€20 hotel / resort credit, a welcome amenity, an upgrade & late check-out.
Condominio Monti
Image courtesy of Condominio Monti
An early-20th-century apartment building is the home of this colorful, cheery boutique hotel, steps away from Rome’s Colosseum. Rooms are bright and individually designed, and feature fun embellishments like vibrant padded headboards, bespoke artwork, parquet flooring, patterned accent throws, blue-tiled rain showers and brightly hued walls (peach, blush pink, turquoise). You’ll feel as though you’re staying in your cool best friend’s stylish pied à terre. And in a sense, you are: condominio is in the name, after all.
Fora Perks:
A welcome bottle of Prosecco, welcome treats, an upgrade and late check-out whenever possible.
Florence & Tuscany
Enchanting Tuscany and its vibrant capital city have also garnered a substantial number of bookings. Florence is the second most popular Italian city this summer among Fora travelers.
Hotel Il Pellicano
Images courtesy of Hotel Il Pellicano
This exclusive hideaway on the Tuscan coast is a study in laid-back luxury. The hotel’s Beach Club is among the chicest waterside oases on the Argentario coast, with a juice bar and a private pier from which to enjoy snorkeling, water skiing and paddleboarding.
The rooms are airy, bright and effortlessly elegant. Don’t miss the hotel’s eponymous Michelin-Starred restaurant, where stellar dishes feature the best Italian produce and products. Fora Advisor Claire Herzog raved about the hotel’s eggplant parmesan — the best she’s ever had.
“Il Pellicano — not Porto Ercole — is the destination,” she added, “which tells you just how epic this property is.”
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Rivoli Boutique Hotel
Images courtesy of Rivoli Boutique Hotel
This family-owned hotel in Florence is warm, intimate and welcoming. The historic Rivoli Boutique Hotel is housed in a 14th-century Franciscan cloister, and each guestroom is unique, with a combination of medieval details and contemporary design.
Fora Advisor Diana Morales is one of Fora’s top bookers for Rivoli Boutique Hotel. She said that, when researching a property, she always asks, “What is the heart of this hotel? What makes it special?” For Rivoli, Diana said two things come to mind: its impeccable service and unbeatable location.
“The [hotel staff is] kind, helpful and willing to do everything in their power to make my clients feel like what they are: VIPs.” Plus, the hotel’s central location puts it within walking distance of the train station, the city’s main attractions and bustling bars and restaurants.
After a day of exploring Tuscany’s capital, take advantage of Rivoli’s ample wellness offerings: the hydromassage pool in the leafy courtyard, the Finnish sauna, the Turkish bath, the heavenly massages. Stay for dinner at Benedicta Restaurant, where you can savor traditional Tuscan cuisine in the elegant dining room or in the garden.
Fora Perks:
€30 food / beverage credit, complimentary spa access and breakfast daily.
Ischia
Ischia feels like a well-kept secret. Go here to relax and reset. The island is the perfect way to end an active Italian vacation.
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Image courtesy of Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
The Mediterranean island of Ischia is perfect for an adults-only getaway. It’s not exclusively adults-only, but it has that kind of luxe, intimate vibe. And Mezzatorre, from the Pellicano Hotels Group, is the ideal island retreat for a chic and understated luxury experience.
Onsite mineral-rich natural hot springs beckon, as do blue-and-white striped umbrellas and plush loungers at the hotel’s beach club. There are hiking trails and private boat tours, wine tastings and breezy Mediterranean dining outlets perfect for long, lingering evenings.
Everything about this hotel — the views, the design, the food — is incredible, but it’s the staff that makes it especially so, said Fora Advisor Gianna Quattrini. Fora Advisor Anny Chen also loves this special retreat. She said the tower suites are particularly stunning, and well worth the upgrade.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Venice
Venice is the third most popular city among our Italian travelers this summer. And Splendid Venice is by far the city’s most popular hotel among our community.
Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione
Image courtesy of Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione
This moody, glamorous Venetian hotel boasts its own private dock on a charming stretch of the city’s famed canal network. Sumptuous fabrics and textiles contribute to the overall luxe, cozy vibe. It’s quiet and discreet, but still mere steps away from some of Venice’s top attractions like the Rialto Bridge.
Don’t miss an aperitivo at the hotel's rooftop altana, or terrace — a true hidden gem, per Fora Advisor Lisa Roah. It's the perfect spot from which to take in the sunset. Then head down to Le Maschere for an elegant Venetian dinner.
Fora Perks:
€90 hotel / resort credit, a welcome treat, an upgrade and late check-out whenever possible.
Lake Como
Lake Como’s timeless glamor never disappoints, nor does its regal icon, Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Image courtesy of Grand Hotel Tremezzo
The hotel’s owner Valentina De Santis practically grew up at this Lake Como hotspot. Her family acquired the hotel in the early 70s, and still helm it today. Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and its stunning little sister Passalacqua, are the rare Italian-owned hotels in the popular area. The hotel is a celebration of Italian craftsmanship and hospitality. It is exceptionally chic, with a refreshing genuineness and a veritable soul.
Wander along the olive groves and flower paths in the impeccably designed gardens, relax in the Lasa-marble hammam before indulging in a massage, take a hands-on cooking class, kayak on the lake…Whatever you do, sampling all the food at the hotel is mandatory. The fine-dining restaurant La Terrazza serves expertly prepared dishes inspired by the legacy of famed Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi. L’Escale adds a modern take to the traditional trattoria. The lakefront Da Giacomo Al Lago highlights the freshest seafood, while T Bar and T Pizza are perfect for casual lunches filled with excellent Italian staples and the essential aperitivo, of course.
“The pools alone are enough to stay at this classic Lake Como property,” Fora Advisor Daryn Schwartz, who has stayed at and booked Tremezzo. “You can't go wrong with taking a dip in both the floating pool positioned in Lake Como or the Flowers Pool surrounded by lush gardens and views of the lake.”
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Connect with one of the featured advisors to plan and book your perfect boutique Italian getaway.
