6 Best Hotels in Naples, Italy

You'd never guess from the blandly modern exterior that this is the oldest of the city's great seafront hotels—the place where Enrico Caruso died, where Oscar Wilde dallied with lover Lord Alfred Douglas, and where Bill Clinton charmed the waitresses—but, fortunately, the spacious, soothing interior compensates for what's lacking on the outside. Guest rooms, the best of which overlook the bay, are luxurious and traditional, with antique accents, vibrantly colored walls, and gleaming bathrooms. On-site amenities include the famous Caruso restaurant, the rooftop Sky Lounge, a small gym, and a spa with myriad (though pricey) pampering services.

A little up the hill from Chiaia, with fine views of the bay and distant Capri, this landmark hotel first opened in 1870 and continues to offer a supreme dose of elegance. The glittering interior is an homage to the neoclassical style brought to Naples by Napoleon and his general Joachim Murat, with gilt-trimmed Empire bureaus, shimmering chandeliers, fluted pilasters, and ornate ceilings. Drink in the view from the superb rooftop-garden at George's restaurant, which serves outstandingly good regional specialties—its chef, Domenico Candela, has been awarded a second Michelin star.

In what was the 19th-century residence of Cardinal Sisto Riario Sforza, this charming hotel has pleasant, spacious rooms, some with frescoed wooden roof beams. Each of the two floors has a large welcoming communal area, but the showstopper is the breakfast room, covered from floor to ceiling with mirrors and gold decorations.

This high-end hotel retains hints of its former life as a Franciscan monastery, with a small lobby that leads to narrow corridors whose doors seem as if they would open into cell-like quarters but instead lead to surprisingly spacious, simply decorated, majolica-floor-tiled rooms, many with their own hot tubs and furnishings no monk would dream of. The hotel's two restaurants offer regional specialties, and its two terrace bars serve up drinks and views of the city below and the bay beyond.

Tucked behind the beginning of Corso Umberto I, this pleasant boutique hotel has a soothing lobby and a large bar area filled with plush sofas, antiques, and Art Nouveau works. Some rooms are a little on the small side, but are comfortable and airy—the larger, superior rooms have balconies. The hotel's best feature is the roof, where there is a bar and where breakfast is served, with great views of the dome of next door's Basilica of Santissima Annunziata Maggiore.

A pastel oasis of calm amid hectic Piazza Garibaldi, this sleek, clean, and stylish hotel has up-to-date, comfortable rooms. The big pluses are the excellent staff and emphasis on fine food—the chef here is known to invent dishes with what's available at the market on a given day. Other draws include a panoramic roof terrace and a small gym. The closest hotel to the station, Terminus is also near the main highways to Rome and the south.