Excelsior Palace Hotel

It is an incredible place with an impressive landscape ideal for lovers of the sea and sunsets. The food is of high quality and the service is exceptional. I can always enjoy a lot of tranquility and good service, not to mention that they have a spa where you will not only find a beautiful landscape, I also enjoy a massage that for me is unique and helps me a lot.

This hotel provided even more than expected- and one has high expectations for a 5 star hotel. We stayed here for our honeymoon and the second my husband and I checked in we were treated with phenomenal service, all of the staff is incredibly kind. The views from our balcony suite were stunning, the food at both dinner and the buffet breakfast was EXCEPTIONAL, and the pool area is something out of a fairytale. (Take note that during winter months they keep the hot tubs open and the infinity pool heated). We also loved that checkout is at 12 pm. if you are in rapallo this hotel is a must stay, and we will definitely be back.

Beautiful location. Staff was nice at check in and out but a little snooty. Seems like staff speaks many languages. Hotel was very full for new year’s so no special accommodations were tolerated. Was told food allergies were not a problem but had a pretty severe reaction at the in-hotel restaurant. Breakfast was underwhelming. Lots of goodies in the room. Really nice views. Not a lot of hotel amenities, though.

From the minute we arrived it was all we remembered from our January visit. Our room was to die for - beautifully decorated and with stunning views to the bay in Rapallo and to the sea. All the hotel staff are so lovely and accommodating. The bar is great fun with ample snacks with any drink order and we loved dining in the restaurant again. Marco and his team are first class. The location is the perfect base for Rapallo old town (best deli ever and some great cafes and restaurants) Cinque Terre with the Rapallo train station 15 mins away and local gems such as Portofino and Santa Maria Ligure in walking distance if you are up for a long walk - a short taxi otherwise. Despite average weather for October the 5 days we stayed there, we love, love, love this hotel and can’t wait to return soon. It truly is perfection.

The Excelsior is a hotel I particularly wanted to stay in. Reviews I read were pretty accurate so no surprises. Sadly whilst not uncomfortable the general ambience was not comfortable for me (reminiscent of childhood holidays in a bygone age). Reception and restaurant staff were ruthlessly efficient but not always helpful. We were charged for someone else’s bar bill which was rectified quickly. Angelo however was quite wonderful and brings character which is lacking when he isn’t there. The yacht bar staff were helpful and friendly and the housekeeping staff were delightful and do an excellent job. ||The views from the sun deck are stunning and afternoons spent next to the sea were the real benefit of staying here (and the Baci biscotti they leave during turn down in the evening!) Our room was a good size, well appointed with a balcony overlooking the car park with a partial sea view. Beds were comfortable and we slept well. The bathroom was in need of refurbishment but acceptable. It is an easy walk into Rapello (apart from the steep hotel drive to climb on return). There was a lot of strutting going on in the hotel by young women with high heels and little dogs and instagrammers were annoying on a couple of occasions. Breakfast however was fascinating for people watching!||In summation, it’s a lovely hotel but my expectations were too high partly due to the cost (which may be down to the travel agent tbf) and I was a little disappointed but this was tempered by how good most of the staff were and the position of the hotel overlooking Portofino Bay.

I had a really good short stay here in November. It was quieter than usual (only passed it in the summer when it was extremely busy). They have a great location, proper 5-star service. The mirrors in the room were a little old but that's part of the charm. The entire hotel looked like an 18th century aristocrat's home inside. It was beautiful.

Such a magical place. Everyone is very friendly. Beautiful location. You feel like a movie star in old times. This place is incredible. I will come back.

This would be a 3(at best 4) start hotel in any other part of the world. The basic rooms are extremely tiny. There is not enough room to open 2 suitcases in the room. Considering that they are charging 700+ euro+/night during high season, this is not acceptable. The walls are also super thin and you can hear everything going on in the hallways and the adjacent rooms. We wanted a toothpaste and the ones they gave us had expired in 2021! There is a huge hill/stairs at the hotel entrance and no shuttle whatsoever. A small golf cart would've made everyone happier, but again customer service is not really their top of mind here. Breakfast: The options are very limited and taste bad. The smoked salmon was black and about to go bad. Some of the tomatoes had already gone bad! I am thinking that with the Google reviews and the 5 stars, this hotel ran a very good marketing campaign to achieve its status but it certainly does not live up to it. We were very unhappy - definitely stay away from this property.

We absolutely adored our quick trip (2days) to Rapallo and this charming hotel. Beautiful views, excellent service and perfectly located. Drove to Rapallo after spending 3 days at Lake Como (hotel reviewed separately). We arrived on Sunday afternoon (drove in from Como). Upon checking in, weather was perfect so we went out to the pool area for some fresh made Bellini's and to catch some rays. Very nice and large area to lay out. Walked down the steps for a dip in the Sea. The gym is also excellent. Fully stocked with machines and free weights/dumbbells, treadmills and elliptical. Plan was to drive to Portofino for dinner. Being that it was Sunday evening and Mother's Day, traffic was light and parking was easy. Took advice from Angelo at front desk and went to a fabulous restaurant in Portofino "Dai Gemilli". (Amazing! Highly recommend) The next day we caught the ferry and took a trip back to Portofino to see the sights and light shopping. Ferried to Santa Margherita for lunch and walking around and back to our hotel. Will definitely stay here again our next trip to the area.

If you have never stayed at a quality hotel then this will be a fine experience for you. They are clearly coasting on the beautiful location that they are lucky to have. The hotel is well past it's golden age and it shows. The Excelsior Palace Hotel is a joke and a disgrace to all 5 star hotels. I have been treated better at a truck stop gas station, the staff (aside from a select few) are all extremely unprofessional and unpleasant to be around. They do not listen and talk over you, have an attitude when you ask simple questions and punish you if you ask for help. If you are used to staying at 2-3 star hotels you will have a fine experience. But if you are looking for quality, you won't find it here. Your money will be better spent at a villa or literally anywhere else. I can't say I was satisfied after any meal and was shocked by the high price and dismal portions. I can't speak for the lord byron restaurant because it was closed while I was there. My review on the food is for the beach club restaurant. Additionally, they only offer a buffet style continental breakfast. If you don't care about sick children breathing on all your food before you eat it then enjoy! Whatever the case, I do not recommend this place to anyone and it's baffling to me that they are able to maintain a 5 state status.

Beautiful hotel - classic old world. The beach club is beautiful plenty to do. Very relaxing.

Really enjoyed our stay. The concierge was super helpful and the restaurant is Amazing! The staff is very professional and accommodating. The food exquisite! Try the salted fresh fish.

Staying at the Excelsior was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Italy. The rooms were clean and the views were stunning. The lobby itself is beautifully adorned with baroque architecture and classical paintings. The breakfast in the mornings featured a wide array of cheeses, cold cuts, pastries, fruit, scrambled eggs and cooked meats. The infinity pool is worth checking out. I will say that the bar close to the infinity pool was a little overpriced. The location is fantastic. It was easy walking from the hotel to the center of Rapallo, which is close enough to do some day trips to Cinque Terre or Portofino. The train station is only about a 15 minute walk from the hotel or a 5 minute cab ride. Will definitely be back if I'm ever in the area!

Outside bar was great. We didn't stay here but enjoyed the water views. Great service!

We stayed here for 3 nights on our honeymoon, and had an incredible experience. The hotel is elegant and classic, and the view from our room was absolutely amazing. The hotel also has one of the most beautiful pools overlooking the ocean that I have ever seen. The only critique I have is the price of the food and drink. We paid about 25 Euro for a small meat and cheese plate at the casual bar (although I will say it was delicious). I thought the price of our room was very reasonable, given the incredible facilities and view. Rapallo is a bit sleepy and the main harbor is mostly touristy restaurants, but it is a close shot to Cinque Terre and Portafino, which are both incredible.

This fabulous hotel has a stunning view. Lobby and halls full of great paintings and art history. Rooms are comfy and service good. Restaurant and lounge with a stunning terrace view.

This was the best week we have ever spent anywhere in the world. This hotel is beautifully located with Ocean views as well as mountain views. The staff is accommodating in every way. Ali' stood out to us the most. Each night he remembered our orders and made us feel at home. He did everything possible to make our experience perfect. Staying at a five-star hotel is also accompanied with challenging snobby guests. We saw multiple instances where guests were being ridiculous and rude. The staff handled the situation with the up most professionalism. Another manager that stood out to us was Marco. He was very professional and did everything he could to make sure all guests (even the snobby ones and entitled ones) were kept overly satisfied even when the guests were COMPLETELY in the wrong. You will be extremely happy if you choose to book a stay at this hotel.