Hotel El Jebel

Hotel el Jebel is housed in a beautiful, Catalan-style building with gorgeous old stone walls, arched doorways, and classic Mediterranean accents throughout. A small flight of stone steps leads to the hotel, which is nestled between other buildings on a narrow side street. The small, charming lobby has intricate detailing, such as a beautifully carved wood door, delicate chandeliers, and curled wrought-iron railings. The hallways are themed in various styles, ranging from Sicilian Baroque to Arabian, with Moroccan-style lighting as an added touch. The majority of guests are spendy international couples looking for a romantic getaway. 

The hotel is located off a pedestrian-only narrow side street within the historic center. It's a short walk to many of the city's popular sights, such as Corso Umberto, Piazza Duomo, as well as to many bars, restaurants, and shops. Here are a few sample distances:

• One-minute walk to Cathedral of Taormina
• Two-minute walk to Palazzo dei Duchi di Santo Stefano
• Five-minute walk to the Museum of Art and Popular Traditions
• Nine-minute walk to Badia Vecchia
• 12-minute walk to Baroque Fountain, to the Church of San Domenico, and the Greek Theater
• 12-minute walk to Church of San Domenico
• 15-minute drive to Taormina Archaeological Museum
• 20-minute drive to Giardini Naxos Beach
• 50-minute drive to Taormina Roman Odeon and to Catania Fontanarossa Airport

Guest rooms are elegant and tranquil, and are all decorated in different styles, such as Classic, Baroque, and Asian. The light-walled rooms have ornate furniture, unusual lighting fixtures, hardwood floors, mirrors in beautiful frames, and large windows that provide fantastic views of the water and surrounding area. Some of the suites include foyers and separate sitting rooms. All the rooms have flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers,  mini-fridges, safes, free Wi-Fi,  and large closets. The bathrooms are decadently grand, with granite countertops and walls, hammered metal sinks, gold-framed mirrors, claw-footed tubs, modern glass showers, and bidets. Some suites look a little dark. 

The all-glass exterior elevator is among the stand-out features, providing a stunning scenic views as guests travel up to the roof terrace. Here, guests can continue to take in the views of the Ionian Sea while sitting on comfy white cushions or at the white table-clothed dining tables at Ciampoli Restaurant (closed during the off-season). There is also a gorgeous indoor restaurant located under an all-glass roof, with beautiful iron chandeliers and tons of natural light. Attached to the restaurant is an intimate, elegant bar with a piano, and bookshelves filled with wine bottles. The hotel also offers a Zen-style spa with treatment rooms, a sauna, and a whirlpool room with comfortable lounge chairs and tiny lights sprinkled across the ceiling like stars. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.