Palazzo Tirso Cagliari Mgallery

The rooftop bar has a pool and panoramic harbour views, and the staff were pleasant, professional, and spoke French. Breakfast was excellent, with fresh juices, great coffee, a generous choice of damman teas, plenty of food, and egg dishes made to order. There’s also a nice little L'Occitane spa. It costs extra, 35€ per access, but it’s worth it if you want to wind down, and the staff are super nice. Valet parking is convenient at 20€ a day, though you can’t book it ahead and it’s first come, first served for the stay. One downside, no smart TV features. Great hotel in the middle of Cagliari.

The spa, cuisine, and modern design and atmosphere of the hotel and rooms all made a great impression on me. From the moment I arrived, I felt comfortable and welcome. The front desk, breakfast restaurant, and spa staff were consistently helpful and had such great attitudes.

The biggest surprise was being upgraded from a Prestige Suite to the Presidential Suite when I arrived at Palazzo Tirso a few hours before guaranteed check-in, because my flight was early. The room was nearly ready by 11 am, and while I waited 15-20 minutes at most, they offered me a welcome drink. I was in Cagliari partly to see a Sardinian friend and do some tourism, and partly to work on my book. The suite was so lovely that I happily spent many mornings and a couple of evenings in, typing away on my laptop from the beautiful leather sofa or bed. Both had stunning views of the sea, port, and Cagliari’s medieval heart, the Quartiere Castello, through a huge floor-to-ceiling window. It was tempting to sleep in, especially with all-day room service for breakfast, lunch and dinner options, desserts, and TV snacks, some available 24/7. When I did head out of the room, the rooftop restaurant Cielo was another great spot, with panoramic city views, a good lunch and dinner menu, and nice tapas, mezzes, and aperitivo options. I really liked their signature cocktail, Mystic River. I’d also recommend spending a couple of hours lounging by the pool late in the afternoon, with or without a cocktail. It’s a peaceful oasis and a good place to recharge after walking Cagliari’s uphill routes in September’s still sultry heat. The SPA on the -1 floor was also a good place for some me-time. It isn’t included in the room rate, unlike the rooftop pool area, but I felt 50€ was fair for what was offered. It’s a city spa and not especially large, but the heated pool and whirlpools were delightful. The sauna and steam bath were fantastic, spacious, clean, and at just the right temperature. There was a lovely selection of dried fruit, nuts, herbal tea, and water. I was told the Helichrysum-infused water was an exclusive preparation for the Palazzo Tirso SPA, and it was especially good. The pass costs extra and needs to be booked; it also covers treatments and massages, and access to the gym, which is free of charge. That kept the spa from getting overcrowded. When I went from 6 to 8 pm, I had the place to myself. The staff deserve a mention, too. Everyone was friendly, professional, happy to help, and did it with a smile or kind word. They seemed good at matching their approach to each guest. Since I was travelling alone, I liked exchanging a few words at meals, at the SPA before and after my stay, and at reception. If you’re with someone or want to be left alone, they’re discreet and respectful without feeling stuffy. I’d love to name more staff, but I always forget to check or ask directly so I can remember. I do remember Federico from Cielo, and my experience with everyone was extremely positive. I’d picked two or three hotels before booking Palazzo Tirso and thought I might try another one next time, since I usually like to change things up when I travel. But I was so happy here that I’ll probably compare other hotels to it for a while. Whenever I’m in Cagliari, this is where I’ll stay.

The rooftop restaurant served lovely food, and the spa was lovely too, though small. The public areas were relaxing, the rooms well appointed, and the whole place very clean. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the location was perfect.