8 Best Hotels in Chiaia, Santa Lucia, and Nearby, Naples

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.

Enjoying perhaps the most enchanting setting in all of Naples, this modestly priced hotel tops many a traveler's dream list of places to stay. In one of the buildings of the toy-size Borgo Marinaro harbor, in the shadow of the Castel dell'Ovo medieval fortress, Il Transatlantico has guest rooms fitted out in faux-yacht style, featuring a blue-and-white color scheme and swab-the-decks wooden trim. The vistas—over the harbor and the Lungomare and toward Vesuvius at the end of the bay—are better even than those from far more expensive luxury hotels just across the pier on the mainland.

Just off the chic Piazza dei Martiri, this intimate hotel pairs modern facilities with a traditional feel. Beyond an elegant stone passageway, a chandeliered, marble-floored lobby welcomes you, its impressive size suggesting a much larger property. Although not ultra-luxurious, guest rooms are quiet, tastefully furnished, and equipped with marble bathrooms. Breakfasts are excellent.

Patrizia and Paolo run this homey upscale B&B in a handsome stile-Liberty (Italian Art Nouveau) palazzo on the well-to-do Vomero hill. Breakfast of home baking and relaxation revolves around the kitchen and adjoining cozy lounge; most guest rooms have tasteful decor although some corners look dated and have odd layouts; overall a lovely, homey reliable spot, with a chic suite with a Jacuzzi.

Perfectly located near the posh Via dei Mille shopping street, the buzzing Chiaia nightlife, and the contemporary art gallery at Palazzo Roccella, this hotel has a welcoming lobby area and restful guest rooms with cool colors and sleek windows. Only the junior suites on the 10th floor have sea views, however.

Neapolitan Lungomare enchantment can be yours if you stay at this luxurious, quietly understated hotel, which overlooks the port immortalized in the song "Santa Lucia." Hundreds of boats bob in the water, seafood restaurants line the harbor, and the medieval Castel dell'Ovo presides over it all. The lobby sparkles with chandeliers, mirrors, and gilded antiques, and portraits of Neapolitan aristocrats lend an air of nobility. The comfortable guest rooms are traditional, if somewhat bland (and some are small for the price), the suites come with a whirlpool bath, and the in-house Il Pavone Restaurant offers luxe dining.

Maharajahs, emperors, and Hollywood legends have stayed at this grand-tradition Chiaia seafront outpost, which opened in 1908 and has an interior that's a symphony of soaring columns, gilded French doors, and Venetian chandeliers. Discreet but attentive service is the goal here—if you want to hire a yacht, the concierge will oblige. After a day of sightseeing, repair to the peaceful rooftop bar and restaurant, with its sweeping bay views.