San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel

Tremendous architecture, views, service and food! Breakfasts were super delicious, service impeccable. Not sure why the kitsch art in the rooms(see attached), should hire artists or architects to choose rather than interior decorators..

This is by far the best Four Seasons property I have stayed at.
The staff make you feel so special and taken care of.
Their hospitality is unparalleled. No request is to big and everything is done with a smile and warmth.
The property featured in season 2 of The White Lotus is more beautiful in real life. The show doesn’t even do it justice. The art, the lush gardens and the decor of this former monastery are incredible. The beds and linens are exceptional. The food is beyond delicious but it’s truly the staff that make this place special.

Wow! I can’t fault this hotel on anything! One is the best we have ever stayed at!! It has been perfect! The hotel is in a great location (close to all shops, restaurants and attractions). The rooms are beautifully appointed with fantastic views. I love how they have thoughtfully kept elements of the building’s history and incorporated them beautifully in a modern refresh of the hotel. The food here is incredible and the staff are like family. I honestly cannot say enough about what an incredible place this is! You have to stay if you are thinking of visiting Taormina!!

This place is a ten star (out of five stars) hotel.
Spot on in every category and the friendliest staff.
Love it

One of the best hôtel in the world. Such a historic building with a premium location, facing the Ionian sea and the dramatic Mount Etna. We were amazed by the views from every angle. The gardens are stunning, it is a real enchantment to walk around these plants and beautiful flowers. The gym is very well equipped. The pool is so stylish with all these white and blue umbrellas, besides it’s heated so it is very hard to leave it. No matter where you are seated by the pool, the views are to die for. The breakfast is very rich and delicious, the avocado toast with caramelized onions is delicious. The only disappointment was not to meet Tanya McQuoid from White Lotus. We re watched the show while we were there, it was a lot of fun to see it from the inside.
A special thanks to Pasquale Priore, the very professional associate director of sales as well as Carmelo Assenza, sales director. Thank You everyone for taking care of us, such a well trained team even though it was end of the season.
We loved chatting with Olga and Giulia Paula at Concierge as well as Megan and Irene at Reception, Alberto at the restaurant, Luca at the pool, Giuseppe at room service and the guys outside Giulio, Davide el Argentino. Can’t wait to come back, hoping the spa will be ready next time.

Food and wine here is amazing. Really nice atmosphere and the staff are so accommodating. Was given some food to try for free to go with the drinks which was a pleasant surprise. The restaurant was fully booked so had drinks in the outside court yard.

Last day here and very sad to leave this magical place. Could easily spend a few more and this is our 6th night here.

Let me start by saying if you watched White Lotus and just wanna come for the glam and that exact setup, you’re not thinking it through. So don’t. The beach club in the show is not here for example. What IS here? So much more it’s hard to even start.

The hotel is set up in the absolutely perfect spot. Millions of exceptional, quaint little restaurants within literally hundreds of yards. A dramatic cliff setting that takes your breath away. Gardens that you could walk through and stare at for days. The grounds are absolutely stunning.

Our room has a giant ceiling and it’s own balcony with a plunge pool. If you can, get one of those but try and get one of the ones on the top floor so no one is overlooking your wife sitting in her bikini or whatever. Privacy is great in our room but just ok on the balcony.

The art here is unreal. We are trying to figure out how to buy or replicate some of it. The history blends monastic elements with Christianity and the hotel has done a great job preserving that history. I mean, a great job!

Staff and food and bar? World class. Some of the best of any Four Seasons I’ve ever been to and I’m super loyal to this brand even though it’s a management company, you get no points or credit for your loyalty, etc., which I have always found utterly baffling. But I digress. Staff is EPIC. Friendly and fun and lovely and just cool people.

The town. My god is it charming. It’s not like Santorini with millions of tchotchke shops and overly touristy. Yeah lots of tourists but the town is super stylish and well done and just oozes charm. It’s immaculate but not in a contrived Disney kind of way. Just can’t get enough of the Sicilians and their warmth and humor and hospitality. Some of the best people I’ve ever encountered out of 39 countries visited! LOVE.

The facility has its limitations and I’d suggest expanding the spa, and maybe building a second pool, but the gym is fantastic.

Concierge desk is super friendly and helpful and responsive.

So in summary, you’ll get so much more than you think if you’re coming for a White Lotus scene. You’ll fall in love quickly if you come for a real experience. We are definitely coming back here and given our travel preferences, which involve an insatiable thirst for NEW places, that’s saying a lot. We rarely return to the same place but already can’t wait to come back here!

Other tips. You don’t need a car, but driving to Etna or some other town would be a fun idea. There’s scuba diving down the street at Islo Bella, you can do some epic hiking, lots of ways to get away and enjoy oneself outside the hotel beyond just the town.

One other tip is that it’s hot as hell in Sicily during deep summer months. It’s close to North Africa physically. So that makes a strong case for a plunge pool room.

Rooms are expensive as hell. Easily the most expensive Four Seasons I’ve ever been to. But I think it’s a once in a lifetime experience and a must see. So what the hell, we bit the bullet! And are glad we did.

Regarding the Manager’s response below, there were no challenges that weren’t self inflicted. This staff is just absolutely amazing. Whole team! Love!

If I’m to complain about anything? Of course it’s easy to see it’s crazy expensive. I look forward to the post White Lotus craze which I’ll be honest drew us there in the first place (we were as excited to see the town as the hotel obviously), and prices are more in line with other Four Seasons properties but I don’t regret it at all and they were amazing about offering us upgrades at no up charge because we weren’t totally sure about our room (balcony can be seen from people upstairs and we like privacy). I might recommend looking into that and there are more reasonable rooms. We just opted to go big because it was our anniversary trip.

Anyway, GO! You won’t wanna leave.

Breath taking views at this hotel. Centrally located and everyone on staff is absolutely amazing. This property is beautiful. Wish they had a steam room or sauna but everything else makes it worthwhile. Definitely a must stay.

What else to say but an outstanding stay with a very high standard of service everywhere from the pool, to the food, to the bar, and to the concierge. Just an incredibly elevated experience which we believe was a level higher than other four seasons properties. Also a very unique property with architectural highlights. We had an executive suite with a plunge pool and it was fantastic to do yoga on the terrace and follow with a little plunge in the pool followed by a breakfast.

This is truly an exceptional resort !
From the minute you drive up and are greeted by the professional friendly staff . From the moment we arrived to we departed the staff was consistently making sure our stay was superb . The hotel is beautiful and kept immaculately.The grounds and gardens are breath taking .
The breakfast is amazing and all the views are stunning .
The best part is the location the hotel is tucked away from the main street but a two minute walk into the town. Toramina has beautiful beaches , great restaurants, history , shopping and lovely local people .
We traveled with a baby and he was treated like a prince with all amenities added to our room and everyone new his name which made our trip very special .
Our family will return and we thank you for a beautiful vacation.

The hotel is perfection from start to finish, top to bottom!

It’s a gorgeous property, expertly renovated and restored. The views are magnificent and the grounds are gorgeous.

The location is two blocks off the main tourist street in the center of town. There are a million amazing restaurants that are very close, and the hotel has two fantastic restaurants (and excellent room service)

The rooms are fairly small, but very well-appointed and very comfortable.

The staff and level of service are top notch, seriously some of the best service we’ve ever had at any hotel. Everyone knows your name, they bend over backwards to meet requests, and they’re all pleasant/friendly. It’s a dream!

We’ve stayed for a week for the past two years and plan to continue the tradition as long as we can!

A true Five Star Hotel! We’ve stayed in some truely beautiful resorts over the years, but San Dominican Palace is the best we’ve ever seen. The location is beautiful, the grounds are wonderfully crafted and the location in Taormina is perfect for walking, exploring and immersing yourself in Sicilian culture!

We stayed five days and nights and that seemed to be the right number. I don’t think one or even two nights would have let us really appreciate the property. The room staff was always adding little touches and working to improve our stay. From eye glass polishing cloths left next to our reading glasses to slippers next to the bed, the small touches were elegant and very personal. There is no way to say enough good about the staff and the views, so I’ll add a few pictures and recommend that everyone take the time to visit.

Took 3 mornings before I discovered their omelet. Delicious. For all the negative reviews on this property: if you don’t have a reservation: stay away. There is a reason they don’t let guests in. Call that privilege or whatever you want, you pay for the experience and it’s worth 2500+/night minimum.

Had an amazing time at this beautiful property. My husband and I are a big fan of the brand and only stay at the fourseasons properties whenever we go. We were here in April for a week and loved it so much that we planned a 3 nights visit during our European trip this august. The property is absolutely stunning, words and pictures do not do it justice! The food and drinks always consistent and fresh with the highest quality. The service is next level as always, white glove! So much attention paid to details! So many beautiful people work at this hotel, everyone always helpful with a smile. Special thanks to Ms. Smeralda and Ms. Flavia for always going above and beyond. No matter what I say it doesn’t do it justice. We highly recommend anyone who has the means to experience this gem to do so at least once in their life! Superb!

Simply exceptional. The best place we have been to. Service is outstanding. You are not treated like royalty or made to feel that you owe them something at all times. The team goes above and beyond to take care of you while staying more like friends and not some sort of servants.
Food and drinks are amazing in all bars and restaurants. Garden and facilities are impeccable throughout. This hotel doesn't have the best view in the city, that title goes to another hotel, but being second best still means breathtaking views to sea and Etna.

There is no doubt that the Four Seasons Hotel is the most advanced hotel in Taormina. The gate is guarded tightly, and the tenants have high privacy and are very safe. The Four Seasons Hotel seems like a painting, and every corner is like a work of art worthy of collection and aftertaste. The infinity swimming pool and the place for breakfast, you can see the mountain and sea views, which makes people feel very comfortable and relaxed. The hotel staff are friendly and enthusiastic, willing to listen to all the needs of customers, and think of customer demand as the most important thing. In this life, you must come to the Four Seasons Hotel San Domenico Palace Hotel.
If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the beauty of Four Seasons Hotel San Domenico Palace the best month：From November to March
In terms of weather alone, the best months to visit Four Seasons Hotel San Domenico Palace: From April to June and September and October.

Of all the hotels I’ve stayed at in my entire life, this one is truly the best. This place is paradise. From the moment you enter, every detail and interaction is tailor made - treating you like VIP. Our mouths dropped at the beautify of this place and the kindness of this staff. Thank you for the experience of a lifetime and making our honeymoon unlike any other - above our wildest expectations.

Having had the opportunity to stay at many Four Seasons properties, I was [truly] in awe the moment we arrived at the San Domenico Palace in Taormina. The monastery turned resort is steeped in history, original artwork, stunningly beautiful grounds and ambiance one expects at a Four Seasons—and an infinity pool at the perfect temperature with attentive staff and outstanding views.

The San Domenico Palace in Taormina is—by far—my favorite Four Seasons. Not only did they not allow non-guests to enter the property, something I greatly respected and appreciated, but each member of the staff was extremely accommodating, warm, and our experience felt very personalized from the moment we walked up to the entrance. We also stayed at the Grand Hotel Timeo during our trip to Taormina, but I much prefer the location and overall luxury experience of the San Domenico Palace.

We arrived a few days after Mount Etna’s latest eruption (in May 2023), and seeing Etna’s puffing peek from the gardens of the San Domenico was awe-inspiring. Our room was what one would expect from a Four Seasons. With that being said, I was impressed by the high ceilings and breathtaking view from our veranda. All in all, spectacularly done, San Domenico Palace. We will be back—that’s for sure.

My only regret was having not purchased a San Domenico Palace Taormina tote, as I do at every Four Seasons I stay.

Stunning vistas! The most amazing breakfast spread on the planet! Best place for an Aperol Spritz in Sicily!
By far the most stunning location and service for a hotel anywhere in Europe. We stayed just as they were opening for the season in March of 2023, and they went out of their way to provide 5 star service. Every detail was considered, and every person we encountered was friendly and helpful. We can't wait to come back!

We had a wonderful meal overlooking the water. The octopus carpaccio was fantastic and the sommelier recommended some spectacular local wines.