My wife and I and our two teenage daughters just returned from a week at the G.H. Miramare and I can report that it is magnificent in every way. First, this place is beautiful, its Liberty style architecture evokes a more romantic time. The rooms are gorgeous, and very well-maintained. Beds, bathrooms, furnishings -- all top notch. Views from the front of the hotel are stunning of the harbor; the back is quieter, with lush gardens. Second, the staff is unequaled: to a man they were extremely helpful and friendly. Formal, yes, but never stiff. Perfect, in fact. The head concierge, Ennio -- at least I think he was the head -- has served in that role since 1969 and I suspect he knows more about the Itlaian Riviera than anyone in the world! He never tired of my ceaseless questions. Third, the food. What can I say? These folks know how to eat, and they want you to know too. The buffet breakfast, served exquisitely on the terrace of the hotel and included in the price of the room, was varied and sumptuous. I only wish I had the will power to control myself better at breakfast, so that I could have been better prepared to attack the buffet at lunch! Served at poolside, the elegant luncheon was always a wonderful tour of Ligurian and other Italian cuisine. The wine list contains many wonderful regional wines, and the house wines were outstanding. We never did have dinner at the hotel, but I wish we had, as the menu and room were enchanting. Fourth, the amenities, mainly the pool and beach club, can't be beat. The palm-fringed, salt water pool is delightful; and I could sit for hours enjoying the views of the harbor right from my poolside chair. The beach club, right accross the street, is very pretty, and is pleasantly crowded with young Italian families on vacation. It also has its own, small, very competent, and less expensive restaurant. Fifth, the town of Santa Margherita Liguria itself is a dream. Charming, colorful buildings crowd around the small, lively port. Attractive piazzas and narrow streets are woven through the town; a promenade along the water traces the entire town. Restaurants and shops cater to a range of budgets. Ceserina, La Paranza, and Palma were the restaurants we enjoyed the most, and I list them in descending price. We stayed at the hotel for a week, and did not tire of it. But this is not, in any way, a vacation on the cheap. The dollar's in tough shape against the Euro and prices, in any event, are steep. Nevertheless, of all the great vacations we have taken as a family, this was probably the best...happy to provide additional information.

It really is the best value for ultimate luxury in the Riviera. The location is great, the pool sublime. The beach gets a bit crowded, but it's still a great way to pass the day. The town itself is the only place where you can still find some chic affordable deals. Forget Portofino for that. Only designer shops there. The town itself is a great little gem. Plenty to do and so many restaurants. I would spend three days here and one day (if you can afford it) at the Hotel Splendido. The combination is great and they're very close.

We were celebrating our Pearl Wedding and had a delightful stay at the Miramare. It is in a good position in a lovely resort.
The room was beautifully decorated and the bathroom spotlessly clean with fluffy towels and a good selection of toiletries. As soon as you walked into the room you were greeted by the the fabulous view. We also had a small balcony and we were able to watch the sunrise over the hills and then sparkling on the sea.
There was a good choice for breakfast which was outside on the terrace. We did have an excellent evening meal there which although a little expensive was worth every Euro. The pool was lovely and had an attendant who showed you to a sunbed and collected the towels when you had finished. There was no saving places for later!!The beach area was quite crowded and there was some difficulty getting a spot there but the beach attendent did find us somewhere which was quite suitable.
This was probably one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in and I will be reccommending it to all my friends.

My husband and I spent 3 nights at this hotel in June 2005. Our room was great! It was a large seaview room with a large terrace (room 506). We had a wonderful view of the sea and the town. The hotel pool is very nice. We spent an entire afternoon there. The breakfast buffet was included in our rate and there was a nice selection to choose from. The hotel is situated perfectly at one end of the town. We loved strolling from the hotel into town every day. As well, the bus to Portofino stops right outside of the hotel and the ride is only 5 minutes. Santa Margherita is very beautiful but we absolutely looooved Portofino! If we come back to Santa Margherita, we sill definitely stay at the Grand Hotel Miramare again.