The Best Boutique Hotels in Sicily

In the shadow of Mount Etna this country retreat is a lush escape from the real world. Stone buildings and a rambling garden create a atmosphere of eco-chic. The rooms have polished wooden floors and enormous windows that flood the space with natural light. The decor features bright pops of color are and clean lines. You will have a difficult time leaving the estate where you can lounge by the pool, sip a cocktail at the bar or take a yoga class in the garden.

Located right in the center of Modica Alta between the Church of San Giorgio and San Giovanni, Le Case dello Zodiaco is the perfect base for exploring the south eastern corner of Sicily. It is called an Albergo Diffuso which means that the different rooms and apartments are scattered in different buildings in the town making you really feel like a part of everyday life. Three of the rooms are completely handicapped accessible. Each of the five rooms have amenities to make it feel like home like kitchens and multi-lingual libraries.

Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian islands that lie off the coast of Sicily. Hotel Mea is a short stroll up from Lipari’s historic center and harbor. There are broad views over the bay of Marina Lunga and towards the castle from the large swimming pool. The rooms are bright with white linens and marble bathrooms. All of the rooms have a balcony and most have sea views. The suite has a large private terrace. The Chimera restaurant serves Aeolian specialities for lunch and dinner.

This elegant hotel in a historic palazzo boasts wooden beamed ceilings and whitewashed walls. The spacious bathrooms have brightly colored ceramics and stacked of fluffy towels. Book the Deluxe Spa room and you will have a private jacuzzi on a seafront terrace all to yourself. The hotel also operates a restaurant which highlights freshly caught fish and local Sicilian wines.

An oasis of calm in beautiful but chaotic Palermo. Hidden away on a narrow lane the rooms in the historic Moncada Palace are bright and full of design details. Deepen your knowledge of Sicilian cuisine with a visit to Palermo’s famous Vucciria, market and on-site cooking classes with the hotel’s owner.

Join the in the know jet set crowd on the far flung island of Panarea. The Quartara Hotel offers simple beachy charm and with dark colonial style wooden furniture that contrast with plenty of flowy white linens. the on-site restaurant has a view over the water and serves modern cuisine created from the island’s traditional bounty of seafood and summer produce.