Portofino (all 500 metres of it!) has charmed royals and Hollywood stars since the 1950s – and the famous Eight Hotel charms just as many today! Set inside a renovated Ligurian townhouse on a sleepy side street, the boutique hideaway is a lovely alternative to the grand dames on the water: small, quiet and just a couple of minutes' stroll from the harbour's colourful chaos. Breakfast happens under the chestnut trees in the private garden, there's a heated jacuzzi on the deck for aperitivo hour, and a complimentary shuttle will whisk you down to the emerald cove of Paraggi when the beach calls.
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Room categories start at the comfortable Superior Doubles and Junior Suites and go up to the Deluxe Rooms and the top-tier Eight Suite. Most are a pretty melee of warm wood floors and Mediterranean fabrics, while the revamped Deluxe rooms come with rather luxurious black marble bathrooms with dual sinks, heated floors, the works. Suites have an additional jacuzzi tub and private lounge area, too. Dyson hairdryers, Marvis toothpaste and butler service on request round off a thoughtfully curated amenity list.
On a peninsula with every square metre spoken for, a private enclave of chestnut trees, hammocks and a heated jacuzzi feels like a miracle!
Set an alarm and take your espresso in the Piazzetta before 9am, before the day-trippers arrive. It's the Portofino of fisherman and locals drinking coffee that you see in the postcards.
There's no formal restaurant on-site, though plenty of great eating spots are a five-minute walk away. The beach shuttle runs to Paraggi, but the sunbeds and loungers down there come at an additional cost.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
Eight Hotel Portofino can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Italy trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Italy trips featuring Eight Hotel Portofino or get advice and suggestions from one of our Italy specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Eight Hotel Portofino start from around $480, or US$480, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
A tiny harbour village where Riviera glamour meets impossibly pretty scenery.
