Scilla Maris Charming Suites

We had such a fun few days here with friends, renting all 10 rooms for three nights. The food was great, and we even had a pool party. Raimondo, the owner, was incredibly accommodating, and the chef and staff were just as good to us. We had a brilliant time and would absolutely recommend staying here.

You’ll need a car to get here, as Scilla Maris is several kilometres from town at the end of a gravel drive. It’s a quiet spot, though, with beaches, nature reserve walks and Marzememi nearby, plus Noto for plenty to see and eat. We had a very good stay. The couple who run the small hotel, Ilaria and Raimondo, and their team were welcoming. There are about 10 rooms and a pleasant pool with plenty of room to lounge or swim a few laps. Our room was a good size, clean, and had what we needed: a safe, fridge, sky TV and a terrace. Breakfast was simple but very good, with local fruit, yoghurt, pastries, cannoli, cold meats and cheese. The only cooked item was scrambled eggs. The restaurant is currently for residents only. We were able to have dinner there on three evenings, with a short list of mostly seafood dishes, and all the meals were very good. The other nights we went to recommended restaurants in Marzememi and Pachino. We’d recommend the hotel and the area.

The food was the highlight for us: eight courses of local dishes given a modern twist, made with fresh, simple, high-quality ingredients. It felt like a Masterchef meal, yet the quiet, charming room and tasteful modern decor still made it feel like a family lunch. The kids loved it and had a lot of fun too. Good value for that level of cooking.

The owners went out of their way for us when we arrived without a car. They drove us to vendicari and picked us up after our hike, and the owner's wife made us lunch even though lunch usually isn't served. It was one of the best meals I had in Sicily. Dinner was good too, including the few vegetarian choices. The countryside setting is peaceful and suits a night or two of relaxing, but you'll need a car since there's nothing nearby you can reach without one. A few things could be better: the shower is small despite the roomy bathroom, the standard room may feel cramped with lots of luggage, and the walls don't insulate much, so sounds from other rooms carry. Still, the staff were great, the location calm and the food good. We stayed on our last night in Sicily.