Via Aurelia Orientale, 369, Rapallo, Italy | (541) 362-3741
Panoramic views of Rapallo and the Gulf of Tiguillio
Good location within walking distance of the town’s attractions
Attractive rooms, many with balconies and water views
Very good rooftop restaurant overlooking the sea
Large outdoor pool and fitness room overlooking the water
Historical splendor and early 20th-century flair
Wellness center and spa with a sauna and whirlpool
Room service, laundry service, excursions, and babysitting (fee)
On-site parking for a fee
Free Wi-Fi in common spaces
Pets welcome without a fee
Some furniture in guest rooms shows wear and tear
Tiled parts of spa uninviting, with a century of water wear
Some guests complain of street noise in the pool area
Charge for in-room Wi-Fi leaves guests feeling nickel-and-dimed
A grand dame from a bygone era, the Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa sits above the town of Rapallo, on the Italian Riviera. With sweeping views of the Gulf of Tigullio, this upscale 79-room property has historical cachet and modern pluses such as a pool and spa. The many bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops of busy Rapallo are a 15-minute walk away, mostly on a pleasant coastal path (though far enough for some guests to grumble about the walk or the cost of a taxi). Rooms range from attractive but on the small side to large and sumptuous; most have small balconies, many looking over the water. For closer beach and town access, consider the Hotel Astoria, another lovely historical property with spectacular views (but no pool or spa).
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Scene
Early 20th-century style and strikingly modern art
Approaching the Grand Hotel Bristol, the black iron gates and light pink Art Nouveau facade take you back to the early 20th century. Chamberlain stayed here for a meeting with Mussolini, and Hemingway, after whom a suite here is named, wrote a short story set in a hotel in Rapallo. Modern art is on display inside and out: Just outside the hotel’s revolving door stands a sculpture reminiscent of a balloon animal. The hotel was completely refurbished in 2008, and the bright lobby is also strikingly modern, with beige marble tile, high ceilings, and a leather-accented check-in counter. Seating areas have streamlined leather furniture, with large, bold paintings throughout.
Location
On a hill over Rapallo, close to town and convenient to Genoa and the Cinque Terre
The Grand Hotel Bristol is located on a hill over Rapallo, which is a five-minute drive or about a 15-minute walk along a pleasant coastal path. A lively Italian Riviera town, Rapallo has many restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops, as well as an inviting beach. The Rapallo Golf Club is an eight-minute drive from the hotel, and the church of Santuario di Montallegro, popular for its cable car ride and spectacular views, is a 25-minute drive away. The train station, with service to the gorgeous Cinque Terre, is a four-minute drive or a 23-minute walk from the hotel; Cinque Terre's towns are about an hour away by car or an hour and 15 minutes by train. By car, Portofino is 20 minutes away and La Spezia is about an hour away. It’s a 35-minute drive to Genoa, which has the nearest airport.
Rooms
Bright, airy rooms, the best with sea views, plus generic bathrooms and pay-to-play Wi-Fi
The Grand Hotel Bristol’s 79 rooms and suites range in size from just a bit snug to palatial, but all are bright and airy. Many rooms have small French balconies, the best with wide-open views of the Ligurian Sea. Decor is simple and elegant if not super modish, with blond-wood furnishings and gold and white curtains and pillows. Gold fabric hangs over the bed from a simple crown canopy, and headboards are gold-and-white fabric. Each room has a small table with a mirror -- more a makeup table than a writing desk -- and a small flat-screen TV on a round, tablecloth-clad table. Closets hold programmable safes and offer plenty of storage for clothes; most rooms also have a valet stand. Bathrooms are generic, with beige stone floors, white porcelain, and chrome fixtures. Some have tubs and separate showers, while others have just smallish showers; all have bidets, as well as hairdryers, swing-arm mirrors, and robes and slippers. Most rooms come with stocked minibars, but in-room Wi-Fi costs extra.
Features
Charming restaurant with outdoor seating, pool, and attractive gym -- but spa is worn down
The hotel’s well-reviewed and quite expensive restaurant, Le Cupole, under the eponymous cupola on the roof, serves carefully presented Ligurian dinners in a lovely, white-linen setting. The true star, though, is the panoramic sea view, so outdoor seating is popular. The large pool area, surrounded by a wood deck, looks out over the water but sometimes suffers from street noise. Just above the pool, the outdoor bar area is also a pleasant place to have breakfast and lunch. The GHB spa is strikingly modern, with bright yellow walls and funky colored lights. The wellness center has a good sauna and a large tiled area with a whirlpool. While its former grandeur is still apparent, parts are now old and unwelcoming -- the tile is aging terribly. The fitness room is attractive, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool, but not very well equipped; it has a treadmill, free weights, and a couple of exercise machines. Pets are welcome, with no extra fees, but parking and in-room Wi-Fi cost extra.
