Grand Hotel

Fantastic Stay at Grand Hotel Portovenere! 🌊

I've just had the most magical 3-night stay at the Grand Hotel Portovenere, and I'm already dreaming of going back! This place is an absolute gem, set in a beautifully restored 17th-century convent right on the water's edge.

From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Their kindness and passion for the region truly made our trip special.

The food was a highlight every single day. Dining at the Palmaria Restaurant with its stunning panoramic terrace views was an experience in itself. The cuisine was innovative, fresh, and absolutely delicious—a perfect taste of Liguria!

Waking up to the view of the colorful harbor and Palmaria Island from our balcony was unforgettable. The hotel's location is perfect, right in the heart of charming Portovenere and with the ferry to the Cinque Terre literally at your doorstep.

If you're looking for a luxurious, romantic, and utterly satisfying escape, look no further. I can't recommend this hotel enough!

We originally stayed at Grand Hotel in May for a short 2-night stay and loved it so much we decided to return in September and get married in Portovenere.

We booked rooms for ourselves and four other guests (including a very distinguished golden retriever!), and a dinner for after our wedding ceremony.

We stayed in the Cloister Suite which is spacious, has a lovely terrace and beautiful views of both the bay and the town/marina.

The staff team were amazing; from Marta and Francesco who helped us with booking and arrangements, Alessio who helped us with our menu and throughout our dining experiences (arranging a tiramisu wedding cake!), Simone who helped us pre-arrival, and all the other wonderful people in the restaurant, bar staff, housekeeping, room service, bellhops and reception. They were all so incredibly kind and welcoming. Our guests continuously commented on how exceptional the service was.

We were treated like family, welcomed with Prosecco and a letter of congratulations on arrival, and the day after our wedding when my husband called down for room service he was greeted with, “good morning Nate, how is your wife?”! There were so many of these sweet interactions during our stay that made it truly special.

In my ‘normal life’ I am a sales operations manager for a bespoke travel company, with discerning tastes in hotels, and I have been almost constantly recommending Grand Hotel since we returned.

Thank you so, so much for a wonderful experience (you were right, Alessio, the small weddings are magical!), we’ll see you next September for our anniversary.

Wonderful staff, very helpful with recommendations for activities as well as booking what you might need.

Rooms were very clean, views were amazing and the breakfast may be the best I've ever had at any resort including some 5 star hotels in New York.

My wife and I weren't sure we'd realize the value we paid initially, but after leaving I would say it's a great deal given what the hotel provides from a service and location standpoint.

We will be returning next year.

I can not recommend The Grand Hotel Portovenere enough. From the moment we checked in the staff made us feel welcome and comfortable. When I walked into the room my jaw dropped. I could lay on the bed and stare at the beautiful see right out of the hotel room window. Whenever we needed any advice on anything we went to the lobby and the staff at the desk were always so very helpful. They were very friendly and full of great advice and bent over backwards to make sure we had our needs taken care of. We were even treated to a few surprise gifts during our stay.

The restaurant and enoteca at the hotel are fantastic. Truly great food with outstanding views of the sea and a wait staff that made the experience even better. Breakfasts in the same spot were truly enjoyable as well.

I will always recommend Portovenere to anybody I know traveling to Italy as a must-stay place. And I will always recommend The Grand Hotel Portovenere to anybody I know going to Portovenere as a must- stay at hotel! A truly wonderful experience!

Extremely attentive staff. The room had a view on the sea and it was very beautiful during the day but also during the night with the lights reflecting on the water.
Location, I would say perfect as it's in the city's center, and can easily reach the other towns of the cinque terre with the boat. Also the view from the sea is great, having the hotel easily standout makes you feel you are in a special place.
Finally, the breakfast, in my opinion is one of the strongest points of the hotel. Everything was of excellent quality and delicious making me want to eat everything all the time.

Incredible hosts! I don't write reviews unless something is beyond exceptional and I felt The Grand Hotel Portovenere was one of my best hotel experiences (and I have stayed at over 200 hotels) and deserved to be acknowledged!

My friend booked the hotel for three nights and we shared a room. The price of the hotel was more than I would usually pay and even though the room was not very big, it was simple, elegant and comfortable. However, The service from ALL staff was beyond anything I have every experienced (even at the Four Seasons hotels). From the front desk staff to the restaurant manager and severs, house keeping and maintenance, and general manager, EVERY SINGLE one of them went out of their way to create a magical experience where we felt taken care of. It was more than people doing their job and "trying" to be good hosts. It was the very nature of the individuals, so kind and genuinely excited to be of service.

Small examples: At dinner, the waiter suggested wine and when we hesitated, he brought out 4 different bottles for us to taste before deciding and was delighted to do it.

We had a small issue with noise from a storm our first night (not the hotel's fault) but the restaurant manager must have been informed because we were treated to a drink and dessert.

That night the wind was still insane and the hotel manager worried we would have another sleepless night offered us another room just to sleep in (away from the rattling wind)! He said he knew what a hassle it would be to pack up to change rooms mid stay and so we just took our phones and slept soundly. We didn't ask, he just offered truly wanting the best for our stay.
The breakfast (included in the price of the room) was absolutely of the highest quality but again, the staff was remarkable and would remember our order from the day before and ask if we wanted it again and before we realized we needed something, they would just be there, making sure we had everything and more. I have never seen anything like it. Smiles and joy and great energy from every staff we encountered.

This hotel should be up for a service award in the industry. Things often go wrong when you travel (bad weather, catching a cold, injury) but when you have a team that wants the best for you it makes everything better! P.S We used the spa and gym and had a massage, again a fantastic experience and facilities.

Hotel was amazing and staff were brilliant! Location is great. Breakfast as stunning as the views!

Excellent in all respects! Proximity to the sea is a big bonus!

My travel agent booked me here for a “da sola” trip. From the minute I walked in the door to my exit three days later, everything was perfect. The room was clean (housekeeping stopped by twice a day) and the bed was comfortable. I had a gorgeous view of the Bay of La Spezia and the village. The staff were friendly and helpful (especially Sarah at the front desk). Everyone I encountered spoke English (while I know some basic Italian, they made it easy for me). The location can’t be beat for catching a boat to Cinque Terre or for walking through the village to Chiesi San Pietro, Chiesi San Lorenzo, or Doria Castle. Porto Venere is a hidden gem, and this hotel was well worth the splurge.