Grand Hotel des Etrangers

Rooms are not as described on the website. Paying for a full "360 degree" (?!)ocean view, and you are not even facing the ocean. You cannot even open the window because the stench of garlic and frying fish from some nearby restaurant's fan will fill the room. And then you can add the noise of someone dumping massive amounts of glass and garbage to complete the ambience. Stay away

I have now read a dozen of the prior reviews to see if our experience was unusual - clearly it was not! There is so much going for this hotel - but they definitely have some critical details still to work out. 10/10 for reception staff - so helpful, charming, nothing was too much trouble. Impressive. 10/10 for location - absolutely the perfect spot, especially with sea / bay facing views on the 3rd floor. Nowhere was more than 10 mins walk. 9/10 for the rooms too. Although the foam pillows were pretty shocking. But …. 5/10 for food. Never has a 5 star hotel been more in desperate need of a quality head chef. And surely they can’t be hard to find in Sicily!! We ate dinner upstairs on the 1st night - and out for lunch and dinner the remaining two days. They sure made it easy for every other restaurant to shine. And seriously, how many times and in how many ways can you mess up a breakfast omelette? It was literally a tragic comedy. And don’t get me started on their background music (BGM). We care about this touch - but I was ready to throw myself off the roof terrace if I had to listen to wailing ABBA covers on a loop one more time. This could be such an amazing hotel - but they have work to do.

Classy as heck hotel. Everything including the rooms are extremely well appointed. Service is second to none. Luisa at reception was the kindest and most helpful member of hospitality I've met for a long time. Lots of excellent advice on where to go and wonderful information about this classic property. No spoilers but guys who enjoy cultural history and psychology should ask about it. Indeed, excellent service all round! Thank you!

Nice property in the old town. Recently renovated. Excellent beds. Very poor services overall - like waiting 30m to get our rooms without being asked if we would like a drink. Entire hotel has been waken up by fire alarm at 0500am (which can happen) - but excuse at check out or commercial gesture from the hotel….

The best hotel in Ortigia! Everything is just perfect - the location, the service, the views from the room, the breakfast, Guerlain amenities in the bathroom, turndown service with small sweet treats and of course their rooftop bar. Not to mention their beautiful spa and indoor pool. Got a free upgrade as well, so couldn't be happier. :) Highly recommended!

Very nice city hotel. Hotel is well-situated for exploring Ortigia. Room, with a view of the water, was quite nice and very clean. Staff was very friendly. Breakfast buffet was as expected for a property of this caliber. Hotel is located within restricted zone, so it was possible to drive to hotel but then necessary to valet park (at 50 Euros/day). We also walked to the archeological park and museum in Siracusa although this was quite a ways. There is a rooftop outdoor lounge that has a view but seems too hot for afternoon use and a bit too cool for the evening during our late October visit. We highly recommended this hotel.

It was our best hotel experience in Sicily so far. The hotel is beautifully decorated with Art Deco style. I highly recommend a room with sea view because the sunset from the balcony is super romantic. The staff was lovely and very helpful. The breakfast was delicious with both buffet and à la carte options (not included). We benefited from a free access to the spa (depends on the category of the room) and we really enjoyed the aromatic showers. The hotel is perfectly situated on Ortigia, so close to everything to visit. I would stay definitely here again!

Beautiful property, recently renovated and reopened at a perfect location in Ortigia. Great spaces and awesome design work, including art work in the common areas and the rooms. We had the opportunity to try two different room types - a junior suite facing the sea and a regular double room. The only remark on the downside is in both rooms the standing shower is pretty small, but all very functional any way. Turn-down service offered, tea and coffee service in room, all as expected from a 5* property. What stood out to us was the service - the staff at Reception were simply perfect and so awesome and helpful. And they got us dinner reservations at short notice on both occasions we asked. Breakfast buffet has a good selection and again, super attentive and friendly staff, some of the tables have a very scenic view on the sea. Best thing, that should not be missed, especially at sunset is the rooftop bar! It is a MUST! We'd love to return to Ortigia and Des Etrangers.

Don’t even give a cent to this hotel I gave 400€/night for a room smaller than my kid’s play room and an exceptional view of a factory The hotel interior is absolutely luxurious but unfortunately you don’t sleep in the lobby Probably this suggestion of accommodation is only for ****** rich people