Book Excelsior Palace Hotel Rapallo with VIP Benefits

The hotel's story is tied to Rapallo's early casino days. The Kursaal opened in 1901, and the neighboring New Casino Hotel later took the Excelsior Palace name. That history sits comfortably with the hall's collection of old furniture and artwork, though much of a stay centers on the sea beyond the windows.

A bridge walkway links the main building to the Beach Club. Here, terraces descend toward the water, with stepped access for sea bathing. This is a coastal bathing club rather than a broad sandy beach; the changes of level matter for anyone who has difficulty with stairs.

The Beach Club opens from June through September. During the season, the club is open daily from nine in the morning until seven in the evening, with cabanas available. Its two freshwater infinity pools each measure about 14 by 10 meters, with a maximum depth of 1.4 meters. Six hydromassage loungers sit in one pool, and three Jacuzzis are placed around the club's terraces. The jetty can be used for arranged boat outings toward Portofino, San Fruttuoso and the Cinque Terre, as well as private-boat docking.

Classic Rooms begin at approximately 22 square meters, with individually controlled heating and air-conditioning and a bathtub with a shower. Some larger rooms in this category can accommodate three guests. A safe, minibar and satellite television are provided, with bathrobes and slippers in the bathroom.

Superior Rooms also start at about 22 square meters and sit in different parts of the building. Some have a partial view of Rapallo's bay, and some have a small balcony. Larger examples can accommodate three guests. The Exclusive category starts at around 28 square meters and has a sea-view balcony, looking toward either the Portofino coast or Rapallo's bay.

Some Exclusive Rooms connect with a Superior Room, Junior Suite or suite. Selected rooms can also sleep three, so families have options beyond reserving two separate rooms along a corridor. The precise connecting pair needs to be arranged with the hotel.

Junior Suites offer about 50 square meters, with parquet floors and views across the water. Most face the Portofino coast, while some look toward Rapallo. Their bathrooms have a bathtub with a shower, and some can connect with an Exclusive Room.

There are two Deluxe Suites, each starting at 60 square meters. Antique furniture, original prints and paintings furnish the interiors, while the sea-view terrace has a Jacuzzi. A connecting double room can extend the accommodation. Views take in the Portofino coast or Rapallo's marina, depending on the suite.

On the seventh floor, the Relax Suite has a private sauna and a Jacuzzi on its sea-view terrace. It measures 80 square meters inside, with another 30 square meters outdoors facing the Portofino coast.

The Presidential Suite is also on the top floor. Its 130-square-meter interior opens onto a 150-square-meter terrace with awnings, seating, loungers and a Jacuzzi. The main bedroom and living room are joined by two additional Exclusive Rooms, each with its own bathroom. Both added bedrooms overlook the terrace. Inside, parquet flooring runs through the suite, with a desk corner in the living room and two cloakrooms. In the principal bathroom, a double whirlpool tub sits apart from a shower with a Turkish-bath function. The terrace's outlook stretches from Rapallo's bay and harbor toward the Portofino lighthouse.

Lord Byron is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a room furnished with antiques and prints. Large windows and a terrace keep the sea close to the table. The breakfast buffet runs from seven until ten thirty in the morning.

The cooking includes several Ligurian dishes. Seasonal menu examples include herb-and-cheese-filled pansotti with walnut sauce, and trofie served with pesto, potatoes and green beans. Genoese minestrone and fish prepared in the Ligurian style also reflect the region. Sea and inland tasting menus take different routes through the kitchen's repertoire. Other preparations have included pistachio-crusted lamb and cheeses from the hills above Rapallo, served with homemade jams. Dishes vary with the menu.

At the Beach Club, Eden Roc serves summer lunches and dinner on selected evenings, weather permitting. Check dinner availability when arranging your stay. The Sporting Bar supplies poolside snacks. Back in the hotel, the Yachting Bar has warm wood finishes and nautical memorabilia, with a terrace for a summer aperitivo.

The Beauty Spa, Health and Fitness Club operates year-round. Treatment and exercise spaces have a seaside setting, with windows and portholes looking out toward the water. The treatment list includes body massages, facials, scrubs, wraps, manicures and reflexology. Haircuts, styling and coloring can also be arranged by appointment.

The gym uses Technogym equipment, including exercise bikes and treadmills with a sea view. Individual Pilates and stretching sessions are offered alongside personal training. Each of these appointments is listed as an hour-long session, with the exercises tailored to the individual.

An entire floor is devoted to meetings and private occasions. The Duke of Windsor rooms can be divided into separate spaces, and Sala Soraya opens directly onto a terrace facing the sea. The three adjoining Hemingway rooms cover a total of 108 square meters. Movable walls allow them to be used separately or joined together. Sala Faruk has large windows overlooking Rapallo and its Carlo Riva harbor, bringing the marina into the setting for a gathering.

The address is Via San Michele di Pagana 8. Rapallo railway station is approximately one kilometer from the hotel, and Genoa Airport is listed at 32 kilometers. A garage and electric-car charging are available for guests arriving by car. Santa Margherita Ligure is about two kilometers away, while Portofino is listed at six kilometers. Drivers reach Rapallo from the A12; the hotel lists the motorway exit at about one and a half kilometers away.