In short… An intimate seaside stay just down the hill from Taormina.
The surroundings… On a lovely bay flanked by Isola Bella and the cliffs on which Taormina sits, this property feels extremely secluded, even if it’s in an extremely popular destination. Part of that has to do with its origin as a private home of the Trewhella family, who came here to create the island’s rail system in the early 20th century, and was the first to develop a home on this beautiful piece of land.
The vibe… Compared to its upstairs hotel neighbors, it feels much more mellow–less influencers posing and more chic families and couples who come here year after year. It has the loveliest garden, the fantastic beach club, and you hear lapping water at night. Their service is stellar–we used their car service to pick us up from the Catania airport and not only did they have a welcome box with Sicilian almonds and local sodas (a nice touch outside of the expected chilled towel and water), they had the restaurant menu in the car so you could figure out what you wanted to eat for lunch along the way.
The design… Interiors-wise all the public spaces are very cool–they used their internal Belmond design team, and that might be what makes it so special–so often I think it’s using a fancy designer that makes the hotel feel like all the other hotels that designer has done. The design so fresh and appropriate to the location–they used local renowned artist Alessandro Florio to paint nine original paintings, and it all works together so brilliantly.
The rooms… All rooms look towards the sea and ours was super comfortable. The interiors felt like they weren’t exactly matching the update of the public spaces, which are very cool–but I imagine they’ll update the rooms in phases.
The food & drink… We were only here for one night, but we loved our lunch so much that we didn’t want to leave for dinner. First off, the staff took our dietaries (gluten and dairy free) and instead of making us feel like we were missing out, they were excited to tell us about all the options. The sommelier really knew his wine—he shared different Etna wines we’d never seen before—a favorite was this sparkling rose. The seafood here is stellar, as is the pasta. And they had a gluten free bread that is made in the next village, Giardini Naxos, that was so delicious. In the evening we asked if we could eat inside—the restaurant was really just set up for outside dining, but we were a bit chilly and also just liked the room so much, and the staff totally accommodated us. They could have totally said no—instead going through the hassle of bringing everything including martinis to us, but they were just happy that we found the spot. (And no, none of them knew we were there on behalf of Yolo.)
The wellness… The gym has an outdoor area with cycling and rowing machines, and inside more machines and Technogym equipment. I didn’t have a spa treatment, but they use Lavika, a brand started by Miriam Leone, an actress who created this holistic brand inspired by her native Sicily.
Is it family-friendly? Very much so! Most of the dining takes place outside on the terrace overlooking the sea. It’s so spacious—the tables are very far apart from each other, so families don’t need to feel self conscious if their kids are being loud. And while waiting for lunch or dinner, the beach is just down a short flight of stairs. I met a mom of three who is a Yolo reader when I was walking on the beach, and she said they came here last year, and immediately booked it again. They never leave the property they just go from beach to pool to restaurant on repeat.
Be sure to… Put on your sneakers and take the walk up the stairs to Taormina. It takes around 30 minutes, and it’s quite steep, but the views towards the sea are just divine. It’s hard to believe that just moments away from one of the most visited towns in Italy you can be alone looking out over wildflowers to the sea below.
Date of stay… April 29, 2026
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