Via Mariano Stabile 136, Palermo, Italy | (937) 315-4602
Ideally situated to explore top historic sights, markets, and shopping
Modern, pristine rooms have flat-screen TVs, safes, and minibars
Bathrooms come with toiletries and hairdryers
Past guests rave of helpful and warm owners
Exceptional free breakfast, especially the homemade pastries and cakes
Wi-Fi is free throughout the property
Parking is reasonably priced, given the difficulty of doing so in Palermo
Hotel can be hard to find
The building it's located in isn't very attractive
Rooms facing the street can be noisy
Rooms are small by American standards, but typical of Europe
Arguably the best value hotel in Palermo, Alma Hotel emits a bed-and-breakfast vibe, given its location on the fourth floor of a converted office building and extraordinarily welcoming hosts, Paolo and Antonella. Its location is perfect for exploring most of Palermo's top sights on foot, while others are just a short bus ride away. Guests who don't mind minimalist rooms will be happy here: Although small by American standards, the seven rooms are comfortable, spotlessly clean, and equipped with modern amenities. Additionally, one major perk of staying here is Antonella's freshly baked cakes and cannoli at (the free) breakfast -- after all, it's not a trip to Italy without a few pastries. Travelers looking for a few more on-site amenities may enjoy Quintocanto Hotel & Spa.
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Scene
A bed-and-breakfast vibe thanks to excellent hosts
The seven-room Alma Hotel is a tiny property that occupies the fourth floor of a converted office building with other hotels on other floors, and occasionally it can be hard to spot. Neither the building's exterior nor its lobby are promising, but once visitors make their way up, they'll find a clean and modern, if minimalist, property. The vibe is more city bed-and-breakfast than hotel, mostly due to the owners and hosts, Paolo and Antonella, who are welcoming, hands-on, and full of advice about where to go and what to do -- their helpfulness is part of what makes the stay here great.
Location
Located within walking distance (or a short bus ride) from Palermo's top sights
Located on a bustling one-way street a half-block from Palermo's old town, Alma Hotel is ideally located to see top sights. This is particularly important because Palermo is Sicily's largest city and can be very difficult to drive through. A five-minute walk away, Palermo's Massimo Theater is the biggest opera house in Italy. Visitors heading toward the harbor (a 15-minute walk) may want to make the slight detour to walk down the elegant Via Principe di Belmonte to get there. Palermo Cathedral is about 10 minutes by bus, and the stop is located a four-minute walk away. For history buffs, the Regional Archaeology Museum is seven minutes away on foot.
One of Palermo's -- and Sicily's -- must-visits is an open-air market. Sicily's climate means that produce can grow year-round, and a trip wouldn't be complete without sampling some of the island's fresh fruits and vegetables. Two great markets are close by: Ballaro street market dates back to at least the 10th century, and it's where vendors loudly hawk traditional foods like chickpea fritters. It's a 15-minute bus ride from the hotel (the stop is a four-minute walk away). Mercato Vucciria, slightly younger at just 700 years old, is 12 minutes on foot -- but get there early if you want the day's best produce.
Plenty of restaurants and shopping are nearby as well: the excellent Tribeca Cafe is just around the corner, and two minutes away on foot is Via della Liberta, Palermo's main shopping street. Palermo's central train station is a 13-minute direct bus trip away, and the airport is 40 minutes by taxi (though allow extra time for the city's traffic). The hotel also offers transfers to and from the airport.
Rooms
Clean, efficiently outfitted rooms are contemporary and have pops of color.
Though minimally furnished, rooms are spotlessly clean and tick all the three-pearl boxes. Small by American expectations, Standard Rooms are 16 and 20 square meters (172 and 215 square feet, respectively), depending on whether there's a balcony; however suites are much larger at 45 square meters (484 square feet). The modern, minimalist rooms are decorated in shades of gray and pops of primary colors: above the bright-red bed frame, for example, a black-and-white photo dominates the pale-gray wall.
Furnishings are efficiently basic (although the memory foam mattress is a definite plus) and cover the three-pearl basics: There's a minibar and safe next to the glass-topped desk and a flat-screen satellite TV above it. There's also a garment rail with a hanging shelf. Bathrooms are small with a glass shower but come stocked with toiletries and a hairdryer. Rooms facing the street shouldn't be bothered too much by noise; however, ask for a room over the interior courtyard for a truly quiet stay.
Features
The free breakfast, featuring fresh-baked treats from family recipes, is not to be missed.
Breakfast, which is included, is not to be missed: Although Palermo (and Sicily as a whole) abounds with bakeries, the freshly baked cakes and cannoli -- made by Antonella from family recipes -- should be the first stop before visitors head out the door. Meats, cheeses, and fruits are also available. The dining room, like the bedrooms, is simply decorated, with identical tables to the desks in the room and a landscape photo of Palermo on the walls.
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. There is a daily charge for parking, but it's relatively inexpensive and far easier than trying to find parking on Palermo's tight streets.
