San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel

Exceptional service, spacious rooms with stunning views, immaculate cleanliness, and convenient location near the town center. Guests loved the phenomenal breakfast and well-equipped facilities including gym, pool, and spa.

Important to note we were not staying at San Domenico but visited for drinks and dinner at Anciovi. Our evening was plagued from start to finish with bad services and food. I of course understand the hotel has to prioritise their in house guests and they are in high demand from outside visitors given white lotus, but this doesn’t mean they should treat those visiting with a reservation as second class citizens. We arrived one hour early for our dinner reservation thinking we could enjoy a nice drink at the bar ahead of time. We were told by an exasperated front of house that we were way to early and they had no room for us at the bar so please come back in 30 minutes. Fine if you don’t have room, but at least be apologetic and then when we come back in 30 minutes try to remember us not ask for our details again and act like never seen us before. Drinks in the courtyard in lovely setting and ok service. Negroni with a bunch of tiny ice cubes so melts quickly in the drink. Any bar worth their salts would have one big ice cube. Drink left to sit melting while they slowly get my wife’s champagne. One drink took 45 minutes so now 15 minutes late for our dinner. I guess we should have arrived an hour early to fit one drink in… No connectivity between having a drink and restaurant. Just shooed off to restaurant. Host and waiter perfectly ok at restaurant. Food beyond average. Worst meal we had four days in Taormina. Very plain tuna tartar and seafood salad. The ‘special’ pasta dish of ravioli with white fish in it tasted like fish came from a tin. The lobster pasta very fishy with zero presentation. The sommelier was terrible. Took forever to come. Have really enjoyed discovering Sicilian wines at other restaurants. Asked for ‘Chardonnay/burgundy like options. Was given two choices. One for 180 that said very good then on pressing was suggested a 120 bottle that he described as very ‘ordinary/basic’. I get that prices will be elevated at such an in demand hotel but don’t describe to a guest a EUR 120 option as very basic. Doesn’t make them fell great about what they are getting. We stayed at Mazzarò sea palace and had an amazing experience for half the price. And you are on the beach at Mazzaro. Had dinner at Belmond Grand Timeo and got impeccable food and service. Choose either over San Domenico. You’ll only be able to live off the white lotus name for so long with service and food like this. From an otherwise loyal Four Seasons customer.

Just got back from a wonderful stay at this amazing hotel, It is stunning!!! Food was excellent, staff could not do enough for you, lots of Lovley touches, Would highly recommend staying here, The pool area is beautiful, rooms are spacious and comfortable. Will definitely be returning!!