BB22 Hotel, Palermo
One of our most exciting discoveries this year and an absolute gem for Palermo which, until recently, has been bereft of good hotels offering the same level of service as mainland Italy. BB22 calls itself a boutique B&B, in our opinion however it is far superior to the majority of lacklustre hotels in the city.
Located in a 15th century palazzo in a quiet piazzetta not far from the ancient Arab food market of the Vucciria, once inside you feel a world away from the dust, noise and vibrant chaos that fills the rest of the city. BB22 has 8 beautifully and individually decorated bedrooms as well a delightful light filled breakfast room, lounge area and terrace overlooking the terracotta tiled roofs, laundry lines and twinkling Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
Our favourite rooms include Mandarino which has a terrace with wicker recliners overlooking a tree and private courtyard below and a good sized bathroom decorated with blue mosaic tiles (NB all rooms have showers apart from the suite). Bergamotto is wildly romantic with a small terrace – large enough for a table and chairs for breakfast and covered in lush green climbers and a small twinkling chandelier that overlooks the distant sea. The Orangerie Suite on the first floor is vast, what it lacks in view, it more than makes up for in style; a stunning combination of super contemporary and creaking antiques. A Matteo Thun egg shaped bath sits in front of the bed and a kitchenette makes it ideal for families.
The charming manager Rossana is half-Glaswegian, half-Sicilian. She is a fountain of information and more than happy to tell you her favourite restaurants in the city, arrange excursions both in and out of the city, and make your time in Palermo as enjoyable as possible.
As well as being fantastic value, we would recommend BB22 to anyone visiting Palermo who does not require 24hr room service but instead wants somewhere where you feel welcomed even before arrival and safe in one of the least known of Italy’s cities.