The Ashbee Hotel

Built in 1908 by renowned British architect Charles Robert Ashbee, a major figure in the Arts & Crafts movement, The Ashbee Hotel is a luxury property that feels like an exclusive villa. The gated mansion is off a busy Taormina road; as soon as guests walk down the lushly hedged path and past the iron gate, they enter a hushed oasis where luxury cars sit on the wide stone drive. Inside the villa, the vibe is like an intimate, refined country club. A red glass chandelier hangs over the lobby, where white leather couches are placed around a fireplace and fine silver objects and fresh orchids are on display. The lobby opens up to Ashbee’s stately back terrace and garden, lush with fruit trees, yucca, palms, and potted cacti. At the edge of the lawn is a shallow fountain and an infinity pool with staggering views of Taormina to the west, and the mountainous island and blue sea to the north and east. (Because the hotel is on the north edge of Taormina and faces north, there are no views of Mount Etna.) Like the rest of the hotel, it’s an incredibly peaceful place sheltered from the hustle of Taormina just outside the gates. The hotel primarily attracts well-off couples of a certain age, though it also caters to well-to-do families with special Family suites. It's worth noting that some past guests didn't find overall experience to match the high nightly rates (specific grumbles have to do with small rooms, lacking service, and few hotel features).

The Ashbee Hotel is right in historic Taormina. It’s directly behind Chiesa di San Pancrazio, a pretty 18th-century church that was itself built on the ruins of an ancient Greek temple. The hotel is within easy walking distance of everything central Taormina has to offer -- shops, restaurants, and sites, including the Duomo (13 minutes by foot); Villa Communale, Taormina’s incredible hanging gardens (11 minutes); and the Greek Theater (eight minutes). The drive between the hotel and Catania Fontanarossa Airport should take a little under an hour.

The Ashbee Hotel has 24 rooms and suites in six categories: Classic, Superior, Deluxe, Deluxe Seaview, Suites, and The Ashbee Suite. Across all, there are elegant furnishings and decor in a rich palette of cream and royal purple. Some rooms have damask wallpapering and all have either hardwood or parquet flooring. All rooms are air-conditioned and stocked with upscale amenities, like minibars, flat-screen TVs, and modern marble bathrooms. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms, but note that past guests have complained about the lack of coffee/tea facilities and free water in the rooms, as well as the small size of the entry-level rooms. 

Classic rooms have views of the courtyard and showers in the bathrooms, while Superiors have the same views, with the option of a tub. The Deluxe category adds a terrace with views of the Strait of Messina. There are a handful of bi-level Suite options, including the Suite del Pittore, the Painter’s Suite, and the Family Suite. The Spa Suite comes with a private Turkish bath. The top-of-the-line Ashbee Suite has two bathrooms (one with a stone tub and shower) and a large terrace with sweeping views of the Ionian Sea.

Breakfast is served on an amazing rooftop terrace, which, unfortunately, is not used for other meals due to the small size of its kitchen. However, past guests have expressed some disappointment that the Ashbee breakfast isn’t more lavish of a buffet. Rather, it consists of croissants, pastries, and ham and cheese sandwiches, with cooked-to-order eggs and fresh-squeezed orange juice available upon request.

The hotel’s St. George Restaurant by Heinz Beck is among the top-ranked restaurants in Taormina on TripAdvisor. The upscale dinner restaurant’s claim to fame is its outdoor seating section with spectacular views of the garden, pool, and Mediterranean Sea. The menu focuses heavily on seafood; tasting menus are available. 

The hotel’s north-facing infinity pool has staggering views of the Sicilian coastline below. There are loungers around the pool deck and a few pieces of exercise equipment under a canopy in the garden. The hotel partners with the Paradise Beach Club down in Letojanni. For a flat rate (per person), guests get round-trip transportation, towels, sun beds, and umbrellas. 

Parking is available for a nightly fee. Wi-Fi is free.