Sorrento’s Hidden Gem Hotel – Grand Hotel Riviera Review

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When I first began planning our stay in Sorrento, I had a difficult time finding a hotel that checked all the boxes: at least 4-star quality, reasonable room rate, charming, comfortable, with sea access, and beautiful views.

It was a tall order yet somehow I found one hotel that met all of our criteria and delivered on every front – the Grand Hotel Riviera.

Grand Hotel Riviera Review

Would I stay at the Grand Hotel Riviera again?

Absolutely! Whenever someone mentions Sorrento, my husband and I immediately say, “You have to stay at this amazing boutique hotel that no one knows about!”  

Even at the height of tourist season in July, the hotel never felt packed. The guests ranged from couples to family groups to families with young children. Despite being fully booked, the hotel maintained a welcoming yet serene atmosphere and consistently attentive service throughout our stay.

I call it Sorrento’s hidden gem hotel because I couldn’t find many reviews and recommendations about it online and was more than pleasantly surprised when it not only met but exceeded our expectations.

Location

The Grand Hotel Riviera is located on Sorrento’s coast, on the edge of a clifftop overlooking the Gulf of Naples. It’s situated on the east side of town and is a just a short walk to the town’s main attractions and services: a 12-minute walk to the city center and a 20-minute walk to the ferry terminal.

When I was researching a 4-Star hotels at reasonable prices in Sorrento, I kept finding either:

Hotels that had fantastic views of the Gulf of Naples and Tyrrhenian Sea but located high up in the hills and a 15-minute drive to Sorrento’s city center

OR

Hotels in the heart of the city that offered no sea access.

My preference is to be close to a city center without being right in the thick of it. We’ve found that central city areas are often loud and overrun with tourists, which can take away from their charm. Our ideal hotel location is to be close enough to walk into town, without having to deal with heavy crowds or constant noise.  

For that reason, the Grand Hotel Riviera is in the perfect location.

Arrival

As we pulled up to the hotel and drove though the pretty flower-lined gated entrance with palm trees on either side, my husband looked at me and said “Honey, where did you book us? This place looks fantastic”.

 It looked just like the charming and authentic boutique Italian and Amalfi hotel I was hoping for.

Upon arrival, you’re warmly welcomed by the front desk staff. Many of their guests have had long travel days so they check you in quickly and graciously insist on taking your bags to the room.

The lobby is inviting with a modern take on Italian Riviera 1960s decor, and ceramic Sicilian pine cones scattered throughout. You will find the pine cones, symbols of fertility and good luck, all along the Amalfi coast. I said to my husband that I felt like I was on the set of White Lotus, without the drama of course!

The Views

We had breakfast included with our room reservation, served each morning on the terrace overlooking the sea. And let me tell you, it truly stops you in your tracks. The view is incredible.

Guests can enjoy dining or sipping a drink on the terrace while taking in panoramic views of sea, the coastline and Mt. Vesivius. You can watch private yachts anchored in the bay and can see the waterfront activity all the way to Sorrento’s main marina.

Rooms

The hotel has 100 rooms spread across three floors, with the option to use either the elevator or stairs. We stayed in a Classic Room overlooking the garden entrance of the hotel. In my true savvy travel life style, I’ve found we’re rarely in the room for long when we travel so I usually don’t want to spend extra on a room just for a view.

That said, there are plenty of upgraded room options- Superior, Premium and Deluxe rooms, with fantastic sea views. Had I known what we were in for, a splurge on a sea-view upgrade would have definitely been worth it in this case.

The Classic Room is spacious by Italian standards, bright, clean and comfortable. There is enough room to move around, plus plenty of drawers and closet space to unpack, which in my experience isn’t always a given in Italy.

The room includes a desk, TV,  modern bathroom, and a balcony, where we could hang our bathing suits to dry. There were also built-in USB ports to charge your phone. We slept well and never heard noise from other rooms during our stay.

Sea Access

What sold me on this hotel, and why we booked it, was its direct access to the sea for swimming.

There are only a handful of hotels on the edge of the clifftops of Sorrento that offer sea access. If you visit Sorrento during the hot Italian summer, like we did, there’s no better way to end the day than with a dip in the water.

And let me tell you, it was the most refreshing and enjoyable swim, and the journey to get there was just as exciting.

You take an elevator from the lobby to the lower level, then walk through a tunnel carved into the rocky cliff the hotel sits on. When you emerge on the other side, you step onto a sun deck furnished with plenty of beach chairs and umbrellas.

There aren’t really beaches at Sorrento hotels, instead sunbed platforms that offer you direct swim access to the water.  

The water temperature was perfect, refreshing and warm at the same time. The hotel provides float tubes so you can relax and lounge in the sea. Getting in them can be a little tricky, which provided lots of laughs amongst hotel guests, and just the kind of fun we needed at the end of a hot day.

There’s also a snack bar on the platform, and as you look back up at the hotel, perched high up on the cliff, you understand why it’s called the Grand.

Pool

The hotel also has a swimming pool. We preferred swimming in the sea, but we saw lots of people hanging out at the pool and enjoying themselves. It’s nice that the hotel offers a choice of two swimming areas for guests.

Food

The hotel has a full-service restaurant. We only ate breakfast here but they also serve lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served Italian buffet style with lots of choices, including pastries, eggs and fruit.

Make sure to order your cappuccino from the waiter instead of using the machine at breakfast. Much tastier and I had two each morning!

Evenings

Each evening, we walked into the city center for dinner. We really enjoyed our short walks back to the hotel—they gave us a feel for the town’s vibe and helped us digest our fantastic meals before bed.

The hotel has a massive full-service bar and often offers live musical entertainment in the evenings. There are plenty of places to sit, both inside and outside on the terrace, where you can enjoy the music and unwind at the end of the night.

The many seating areas throughout the hotel are perfect for relaxing during the day or evening, especially if you are traveling with a large group.  

Hotel Staff

The hotel staff here were so kind and went out of their way to assist us. They made restaurant reservations for us, helped us figure out the bus schedule, and even priced out taxis. This kind of attentive service is exactly what you would expect, but don’t often find, at busy hotels.

Value for Money

It’s hard to believe but this hotel was on the lower end of the price range for a 4-star property. It exceeded our expectations, especially given the price.

I could have easily found another hotel that cost the same or more, but wouldn’t have offered the sea access, panoramic views and boutique hotel atmosphere that this one provides.

Savvy Summary

If you are looking for fantastic views and sea access away from the crowds, you’ll definitely want to stay in this boutique hotel. You will quickly see why I call the Grand Hotel Riviera Sorrento’s hidden gem hotel.

If you are still looking for other hotel options, check out my guide on where to stay in Sorrento.