Eight Hotel Portofino

This boutique hotel is housed in a pretty yellow, three-floor building that makes an unassuming first impression, especially given what lies inside: a classy and intimate stunner of a boutique hotel. In the lobby, a sleek black countertop that serves as the front desk is flanked by black bookshelves and stylish pieces of abstract art. The look throughout fuses traditionally elegant inclinations with cutting edge contemporary accents. Take, for instance, the designer armchairs in the hotel's lobby that combine classic plaid fabrics and Old World silhouettes with black lacquer frames of whimsical proportions. Art plays a big role here as well, and interiors are hung with bold abstract contemporary canvases that accentuate the already chic look. Exteriors are equally lovely, and there are wide hammocks and sun lounges are arranged on the lawn looking back toward the adjacent hills. The hotel attracts mostly couples from around the world, as there's an indisputable romance here, but a few families find their way to Eight Hotel too. 

The hotel sits along the road that leads up into the hills above charming Portofino. Though the hotel isn't smack in the center of town, the busy Piazzetta is only a five-minute walk downhill. The streets that branch off from the Piazzaetta are lined with all manner of shops, bars, and restaurants, and the town's famous harbor is also next to the square. Portofino is located in the western part of the Gulf of Tigullio, in one of the most beautiful bays of the Italian Riviera. Its historic buildings are painted in vibrant colors and surrounded by green hills. Santa Margherita Ligure train station is 10 minutes away by car, while Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport is a 45-minute drive from the hotel. The famous Cinque Terre will take about 90 minutes to reach by train or car.

The Eight Hotel Portofino's 20 rooms differ a bit from one another, but all live up to the hotel's artsy and elegant first impression. Pale yellow walls are hung with fresh abstract and contemporary art, while classic pieces of furniture in black and white sit on hardwood floors. All rooms have a motif that consists of gray, black, yellow, and white that can be seen in seating, dramatic upholstered headboards, curtains, and other soft furnishings including bedding. One of the nicest features, especially given this hotel's boutique status, are the size of the rooms -- even Standard Rooms start at a generous (for Italy) 20 to 23 square meters (215 to 248 square feet). Higher-category rooms are even larger, and Junior Suites include separate living rooms and bedrooms. Some higher-category rooms also offer furnished stone terraces with town views or private hot tubs.

All rooms include large flat-screen TVs in a wall unit of clean white cabinets along with minibars, free Wi-Fi, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Bathrooms correlate with the room category, and Standard Room bathrooms -- while stylish -- are compact. These rooms have a modern shower cubicle and an antique-style vanity with a good amount of counter space. Higher-category rooms, like the Junior Suites, come with large tubs and separate walk-in showers. Fixtures are elegant across the board and the hotel provides premium Bvlgari toiletries. 

This boutique hotel offers a lovely breakfast buffet of freshly baked pastries, fresh meats, cheeses, and yogurt, but it's included only in certain room packages. There is no full-service restaurant, but there is a free shuttle service to the sister Eight hotel on the Bay of Paraggi, which has a popular bar and restaurant. Room service is available around the clock. The grounds feature a lovely garden where guests can lounge in hammocks and relax in the outdoor hot tub. The property is home to a spa with Turkish bath, a sauna with lava rocks, and a selection of massages and beauty treatments. Free Wi-Fi is available, as is parking, but space is limited and it's operated on a first-come-first-served basis.