Charming Naples hotel with good breakfast?
Jun 5th, 2016, 07:27 AM
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Charming Naples hotel with good breakfast?
Firstly, let me preface this request by saying that I have already pored over booking.com, Trip Advisor, Venere and my printed Fodor's guidebook for Naples - I know many people are too lazy to even start looking on their own, and the posters here are rightfully quick to recommend they start there!
My issue is that I am looking for something quite specific, and have particular questions that I hope the wonderfully helpful Fodorite crew can help me with!
So, here's the story. We will be in Naples in July for the last night of our two-week trip to Italy. We arrive in Naples around lunch time, and then our flight home leaves the airport at 12:15pm the next day. Our Naples night is also our 5th anniversary.
Our ideal place, then, is this:
- lovely breakfast, ideally with a view (but view not essential). The next morning, we'll have time for a good breakfast but not really much else, so we'd like it to be something worth lingering over
- would love to stay in the old town, to experience the "real Naples". So far we've only seen "sketchy Naples" near the train station, so this time even though we only have one day we'd like to get a better feel for the city. Water views would have been nice, but we'll just have come from an amazing place right on the water on the Amalfi coast, so we'll be a bit spoiled for sea views (if anything, a view over Naples AND the sea from a bit further back would be good, but don't feel the need to be right on the harbour - but at the same time we don't want to be way out of town and need to take a funicular to do anything).
- up to 200 EUR (flexible if the place is amazing, but Naples in general seems to have a lot of good options well below this - our amazing place near Amalfi is 190 EUR/night, so it would seem odd to need to pay more in Naples!)
- Can be hotel, inn or B&B, we don't mind - I do love the intimate feel of a really helpful B&B host, but
Places I'm already considering:
- Constantinapoli 104 - Lovely decor. A bit pricey, considering we won't really have time to enjoy the pool. Breakfast in the garden sounds nice.
- Hotel Palazzo Decumani - Well reviewed, but the decor is a bit boring (other than the fancy staircase, it looks like it could be a modern hotel anywhere in the world).
- Palazzo Alabardieri - very well reviewed, but doesn't really catch my eye for some reason - ??
- B&B Grand Tour - very different from the others listed, but apparently super friendly and I like the balconies. Breakfast is apparently lacking, though!
While we're at it, if anyone has recommendations for a 5th anniversary dinner, I'd love to hear those too!
Thanks so much in advance!
My issue is that I am looking for something quite specific, and have particular questions that I hope the wonderfully helpful Fodorite crew can help me with!
So, here's the story. We will be in Naples in July for the last night of our two-week trip to Italy. We arrive in Naples around lunch time, and then our flight home leaves the airport at 12:15pm the next day. Our Naples night is also our 5th anniversary.
Our ideal place, then, is this:
- lovely breakfast, ideally with a view (but view not essential). The next morning, we'll have time for a good breakfast but not really much else, so we'd like it to be something worth lingering over
- would love to stay in the old town, to experience the "real Naples". So far we've only seen "sketchy Naples" near the train station, so this time even though we only have one day we'd like to get a better feel for the city. Water views would have been nice, but we'll just have come from an amazing place right on the water on the Amalfi coast, so we'll be a bit spoiled for sea views (if anything, a view over Naples AND the sea from a bit further back would be good, but don't feel the need to be right on the harbour - but at the same time we don't want to be way out of town and need to take a funicular to do anything).
- up to 200 EUR (flexible if the place is amazing, but Naples in general seems to have a lot of good options well below this - our amazing place near Amalfi is 190 EUR/night, so it would seem odd to need to pay more in Naples!)
- Can be hotel, inn or B&B, we don't mind - I do love the intimate feel of a really helpful B&B host, but
Places I'm already considering:
- Constantinapoli 104 - Lovely decor. A bit pricey, considering we won't really have time to enjoy the pool. Breakfast in the garden sounds nice.
- Hotel Palazzo Decumani - Well reviewed, but the decor is a bit boring (other than the fancy staircase, it looks like it could be a modern hotel anywhere in the world).
- Palazzo Alabardieri - very well reviewed, but doesn't really catch my eye for some reason - ??
- B&B Grand Tour - very different from the others listed, but apparently super friendly and I like the balconies. Breakfast is apparently lacking, though!
While we're at it, if anyone has recommendations for a 5th anniversary dinner, I'd love to hear those too!
Thanks so much in advance!
Jun 5th, 2016, 05:38 PM
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Constantinapoli - nice location right beside the historic centre but could unsettle you if 'sketchy'(??) Naples concerns you - the area is beside the Spanish Quarter - lots of noise and graffiti.
Palazzo Decumani - modern decor - sounds like it's not what you want
Palazzo Alabardieri - in the Chiaia district - very upscale with some good bars and restaurants but not the Historic Centre
B&B Grand Tour is on Via Santa Lucia, right near the watefront - good location - you won't get your grand breakfast in a little place like this.
You need to examine your breakfast expectations. You won't get the full on buffet, bacon, egg, sausage and hash brown experience at a family run B&B.
The Hotel Excelsior has a stupendous breakfast buffet that even includes champagne and views across the bay to Vesuvius. Not sure if it's in your budget but it is an exceptional hotel and showcases the beauty of Naples perfectly.
Palazzo Decumani - modern decor - sounds like it's not what you want
Palazzo Alabardieri - in the Chiaia district - very upscale with some good bars and restaurants but not the Historic Centre
B&B Grand Tour is on Via Santa Lucia, right near the watefront - good location - you won't get your grand breakfast in a little place like this.
You need to examine your breakfast expectations. You won't get the full on buffet, bacon, egg, sausage and hash brown experience at a family run B&B.
The Hotel Excelsior has a stupendous breakfast buffet that even includes champagne and views across the bay to Vesuvius. Not sure if it's in your budget but it is an exceptional hotel and showcases the beauty of Naples perfectly.
Jun 5th, 2016, 06:22 PM
#3
We enjoyed Palazzo Albadieri and recommend it. However, it's not in the Old Town but better yet, near the waterfront and it's promenade. Safe, upscale area. No views from hotel but quiet as it's on a lane off of the busy streets. Helpful friendly staff. They recommended Terrazza Calabritta, a ahort walk away, for dinner and it was spectacular!
At breakfast, a full buffet, they had small sized sfogliatelle, Naples famous pastry. It was a relief to have them in this smaller size so we could eat breakfast items too. Great coffees. Pretty room.
Great snacks at the bar at night before dinner.
At breakfast, a full buffet, they had small sized sfogliatelle, Naples famous pastry. It was a relief to have them in this smaller size so we could eat breakfast items too. Great coffees. Pretty room.
Great snacks at the bar at night before dinner.
Jun 6th, 2016, 12:40 PM
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Thanks to both of you for the insight and suggestions!
I'll look further into Palazzo Albadieri - sounds like that may be the best option. I'll take a look at Excelsior too and see if we can swing it!
Blueeyedcod, I guess I should have been more specific with what I meant re: the breakfast - I'm not so much concerned about the content of the breakfast with bacon and eggs as I am the general experience - somewhere with a view or rooftop patio or a pretty garden. I'd actually prefer coffee and a pastry in a nice spot than a full American or English breakfast in less than inspiring surroundings. We can do that when we get home - this is for making the most of our last morning in Italy!
Also, I hope I didn't offend by calling that area sketchy. I'm not actually a nervous traveller in terms of safety - I just meant it's apparently not the most interesting or picturesque, and has a reputation for pickpockets and con artists near the station. ...Well, I guess calling it boring and crime-filled isn't so nice either! Okay, my apologies. I'm sure there's more to that part of Naples than meets the eye too! I've just heard the rest of Naples is even NICER, and I look forward to exploring it.
I'll look further into Palazzo Albadieri - sounds like that may be the best option. I'll take a look at Excelsior too and see if we can swing it!
Blueeyedcod, I guess I should have been more specific with what I meant re: the breakfast - I'm not so much concerned about the content of the breakfast with bacon and eggs as I am the general experience - somewhere with a view or rooftop patio or a pretty garden. I'd actually prefer coffee and a pastry in a nice spot than a full American or English breakfast in less than inspiring surroundings. We can do that when we get home - this is for making the most of our last morning in Italy!
Also, I hope I didn't offend by calling that area sketchy. I'm not actually a nervous traveller in terms of safety - I just meant it's apparently not the most interesting or picturesque, and has a reputation for pickpockets and con artists near the station. ...Well, I guess calling it boring and crime-filled isn't so nice either! Okay, my apologies. I'm sure there's more to that part of Naples than meets the eye too! I've just heard the rest of Naples is even NICER, and I look forward to exploring it.
Jun 7th, 2016, 05:21 PM
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Blueeyedcod, your description of "stupendous breakfast" has enticed me, and now I'm seriously considering the Excelsior! The other main competitor I'm looking at now is actually the Hotel Miramar, which I see you have also mentioned in other threads.
Do you have a personal preference between Miramar and Excelsior? From what I gather (perhaps you could confirm or deny my perceptions), Excelsior is a bit more upscale, but some reviews complain of cold service. On the other hand, Miramar is smaller and a bit more dated, but family-run and very friendly. Excelsior also sometimes closes the terrace for private events (weddings, etc.), but I don't know if this is true at the Miramar as well.
I also see you are married to an Italian, and seem to know a lot about Naples - have you lived in the city? I promise I'm not stalking your personal info, I've just been reading a lot of Fodor's threads and your name pops up a lot - I tend to go a bit overboard with my research, so, like I said, I've been doing a lot of reading!
While I'm at it, any recommendations for dinner? We'll likely do pizza for lunch, so something a bit more "sit down", but doesn't have to be high-end by any stretch.
Do you have a personal preference between Miramar and Excelsior? From what I gather (perhaps you could confirm or deny my perceptions), Excelsior is a bit more upscale, but some reviews complain of cold service. On the other hand, Miramar is smaller and a bit more dated, but family-run and very friendly. Excelsior also sometimes closes the terrace for private events (weddings, etc.), but I don't know if this is true at the Miramar as well.
I also see you are married to an Italian, and seem to know a lot about Naples - have you lived in the city? I promise I'm not stalking your personal info, I've just been reading a lot of Fodor's threads and your name pops up a lot - I tend to go a bit overboard with my research, so, like I said, I've been doing a lot of reading!
While I'm at it, any recommendations for dinner? We'll likely do pizza for lunch, so something a bit more "sit down", but doesn't have to be high-end by any stretch.
Jun 7th, 2016, 05:37 PM
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Hi Caralin - The Excelsior is definitely upscale but not in a snooty way. I don't find the staff cold, in fact they've always been lovely when I've been there.
The Miramare is run by the family - the owner often has drinks with the guests in the small bar/foyer area. It has one of those quirky birdcage elevators on the inside. I love it. It's the definition of shabby/chic. The views across the bay are so wonderful you can almost see Spain.
My husband is from the Amalfi Coast. We don't live in Italy but get back there to visit family as often as we can. I know Naples really well - it's one of my favourite cities and is much maligned unfortunately - usually by people who have never been there or who have just seen the train station.
For dinner, if you do stay on the Lungomare, head down to the Borgo Marina near Castel dell Ovo and have some seafood. Otherwise any of the restaurants along the strip have good food and wood fired pizza, plus the lovely atmosphere of the waterfront and 12th century castle in front of you.
Hope this helps.
The Miramare is run by the family - the owner often has drinks with the guests in the small bar/foyer area. It has one of those quirky birdcage elevators on the inside. I love it. It's the definition of shabby/chic. The views across the bay are so wonderful you can almost see Spain.
My husband is from the Amalfi Coast. We don't live in Italy but get back there to visit family as often as we can. I know Naples really well - it's one of my favourite cities and is much maligned unfortunately - usually by people who have never been there or who have just seen the train station.
For dinner, if you do stay on the Lungomare, head down to the Borgo Marina near Castel dell Ovo and have some seafood. Otherwise any of the restaurants along the strip have good food and wood fired pizza, plus the lovely atmosphere of the waterfront and 12th century castle in front of you.
Hope this helps.
Oct 2nd, 2016, 12:10 PM
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Following up - we ended up staying at the Miramare, and we really enjoyed it. Like Blueyedcod said, it was a very cozy family vibe. Our room was a time-warp out of the 1980s, in a good way - everything was still very well-kept (so you know it's real "vintage", not replica 80s!), but you could tell things like the stereo built into the wall by the bed were once very futuristic and high end (and this wall-stereo was about the only thing not still functional). Art-glass bedside lamps were signed by the artist.
We didn't actually get to eat breakfast on the patio after all because it rained that morning (no matter how much you plan, the weather always has plans of its own!), but they served it in a main floor room and it was plentiful and tasty, still with a view of the bay.
We did go down and check out the Excelsior (because I'm nosy and like to compare). We had a drink on their patio - that way we could enjoy the view without even staying there! I think the patio was better at Excelsior - it was much bigger and had regular bar service, while the Miramare was smaller and emptier - fine if you want to read in peace, but bring your own bottle of wine!
Overall, we were glad we chose the Miramare - having looked at both now, I really don't think you could go wrong either way.
We didn't actually get to eat breakfast on the patio after all because it rained that morning (no matter how much you plan, the weather always has plans of its own!), but they served it in a main floor room and it was plentiful and tasty, still with a view of the bay.
We did go down and check out the Excelsior (because I'm nosy and like to compare). We had a drink on their patio - that way we could enjoy the view without even staying there! I think the patio was better at Excelsior - it was much bigger and had regular bar service, while the Miramare was smaller and emptier - fine if you want to read in peace, but bring your own bottle of wine!
Overall, we were glad we chose the Miramare - having looked at both now, I really don't think you could go wrong either way.
Oct 2nd, 2016, 02:23 PM
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We just returned from a 17 day trip to Italy that included 2 nights in Naples. We stayed at the Palazzo Decumani. Great hotel in a fantastic area. In the heart of the historic center. I'm sorry I can't remember the breakfast as we had 16 of them all over southern Italy.
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