VOI Grand Hotel Mazzaro Sea Palace

VOI Grand Hotel Mazzaro Sea Palace brings to mind a grand old ocean liner, with an interior heavy with woods and marbles and a sloping facade of private terraces and balconies all overlooking the sparkling Bay of Mazzaro. The classic style of the hotel might feel dated to modern tastes, but not in an egregious way, and the hotel has seen some contemporary updates here and there. Besides, travelers shouldn’t expect design-driven hotels in Sicily (they are the exception, not the rule), and Mazzaro Sea Palace’s fantastic beachfront location, comfortable and well-equipped rooms, nice range of hotel features, and service from the hotel staff are the big draws here. The hotel is popular with guests from all over the world, especially Europe, the U.S., and Russia, who want a relaxing three or four nights by the sea, with easy access to Taormina town (the cable car to Taormina is close to the hotel). Altogether, Mazzaro Sea Palace is one of the best all-around hotels in Taormina.

Mazzaro Sea Palace is located on the Ionian Sea in the Bay of Mazzaro, below the historic Taormina center. The surrounding businesses are mostly hotels and a few restaurants -- good luck trying to get into il Barcaiolo without a reservation. Be cautious on foot around the hotel, as the road it’s off of, Via Nazionale, doesn’t exactly have consistent sidewalks. Mazzaro Sea Palace is a three-minute walk to the cable car that goes up to the Taormina town center and back. Without traffic, the drive to and from Catania Fontanarossa Airport should take 45 minutes.

Nearly all of Mazzaro Sea Palace’s rooms have a view of the Mediterranean; in fact, 72 of the hotel’s 82 face pretty Bay of Mazzaro with its teal water, bobbing boats, rocky outcrops, and gorgeous sunrises. East-facing rooms and suites have a private balcony or, in the case of the 2nd-floor Superior rooms, a terrace so deep, it nearly doubles the room’s square footage. Balconies and terraces have tables, chairs, and loungers; the terraces of the six Pool Suites have outdoor plunge pool/hot tubs. The inner rooms face the street, and only have windows, not a balcony or terrace.

Though some units have been redone with more contemporary decor, rooms and suites are largely decorated in a classic style, with large wooden armoires, writing desks, and hardwood floors. Pale walls might be decorated with large prints of blue water or a closeup of red coral. Rooms have stocked minibars with mini bottles of Amaro, limoncello, and other liquors (fee) and flat-screen Samsung TVs with international channels like Euronews, Skynews, CNN International, and Al Jazeera. The spacious bathrooms have shower/tub combos and red marble vanities with double sinks. Etro toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and bar soap) are provided. Suites have perks like Krups coffee machines, bathrobes, slippers, and bath salts. The nightly turndown service provides a glass bottle of water and a traditional Sicilian sweet.

For guests with mobility issues, the hotel does have some dedicated rooms, so request in advance. Cribs and changing tables are available upon request. Use of the safe and in-room Wi-Fi are both free.

Unlike many Taormina hotels, Mazzaro Sea Palace’s restaurant, Il Gattopardo, is open for all meals. Access to the breakfast buffet is built into the room rates, and the offerings are impressive. Multiple stations include savory fare (eggs, bacon, sautéed vegetables, bagels with cream cheese and fresh salmon) and sweet (Nutella and cream croissants, cakes, loafs, tarts). A whole table is dedicated to various cheeses, like fresh stracciatella di bufala, mozzarella, and ricotta, and drink options include granita, Prosecco, orange juice, and specialty coffee. A show cooking station for omelets is set up outside when the weather is nice. Guests who have lunch here opt to dine pool- or beachside, with easy options like chicken sandwiches, burgers, and fries. Dinners in the restaurant center around traditional Sicilian wine and dishes -- think pasta alla Norma, local fish, and linguine with clams and parsley. Room service is available throughout the day, with options like beef carpaccio and sea bass. Tancredi Bar is open throughout the day and until late at night; drinks and light food are served throughout the day and a live band (singer, guitarist, pianist) plays in the evening. Both Il Gattopardo and Tancredi Bar offer a beachside terrace with panoramic views of the bay. The hotel’s private beach is supervised by lifeguards and lined with loungers and umbrellas. Seating is equipped with buttons that allow guests to summon beach attendants for sparkling water, a fruit plate, or other food and drink. Note that this is a pebbly beach, not a sandy one, so water shoes might be a good idea. 

Other facilities include a good-size, heated swimming pool (nice for when there are jellyfish in the ocean), a free 24-hour fitness center, and the Hyd’Or Spa offering facials, massages, couples’ massage, manis, pedis, waxing, and scrubs. A conference room can accommodate up to 120 meeting attendees. Laundry, ironing, and babysitting are all available for a fee. Note that the hotel closes mid-November through April (same for its sister hotel, Atlantis Bay).